Not sure if this is the year or not, but sooner or later, probably sooner than later, my HVAC system will have to be replaced. Currently I have a 3 ton Trane system that have worked well.
I know I cannot always used how it was built 22 years ago to gauge how systems are built today, but are they still good like some installers say or is there better products now out there.
Like all major appliance, I try to put in the time and do the research. What I am finding is the research is all over the place as how the AC units are rated, mainly by them. Sometime Trane and Carrier are near the top and in other articles they are in the middle. Couple Carrier articles listed them near the bottom. Hum!
Normally I try to see if the person writing the article is tied to a certain brand, which may make his comment bias or it could be he truly believes in this brand.
Anyway, I am looking for comments from members that had one brand or another installed and what are your thoughts.
Also what about brands like Amana or American Standard?
One local contractor who gets excellent reviews swears by Amana. I have not seen many Amana units through my community. The one neighbor that I did asked said it works fine.
One main opinion I am looking for is any brand that I should not even consider.
I have been in the HVAC industry for 24 years, and owned an HVAC business. True 10 years ago some mfg were better than others. Now most parts come from Asian countries or Mexico, few parts or components are made here in the states. All mfg warranty the parts for 10 years if the system is registered. Be careful of what you read on the Net...usually complaints are not based on equipment problems but "equipment" problems based on crappy installation. The biggest difference today is NOT the mfg but who and how it is being installed, again not the equipment, can't stress that enough. When we installed a system, we conducted a heat load/loss, sat down with different mfg capacity data and chose the one that best matched the load calc. We were not partial to any mfg, as that did the customers no good. To meet the minimum efficiency standards (14 SEER for cooling) and or higher efficiency ratings, two things had to be done, the surface of the coils was increased and the heat exchanging surface (again the coils) had to be made of thinner material. Maintenance is absolutely required due to the larger thinner material, a light coating of dust/debris on the indoor or outdoor coil can decrease efficiency by 12%. Most mfg use the same mfg compressors (Copeland) which are more hardy and efficient due to the scroll design, however they cannot overcome a poor or mediocre installation. If you opt for a 10 Year labor warranty (which you pay extra for) watch out, there are only two mfg who provide their own labor warranty; Goodman and York all other mfg provide a labor warranty through a third party and this can be wrought with fine print. Although some mfgs might be slightly better than others, this is not really important, again the installation is the driving force behind how well, how long the equipment will perform and last. The heat load/loss calculation in an absolute necessity. I taught HVAC at the local community college here in Norfolk, Va, so between that, my field experience and running a business I have been exposed to lots of information. The HVAC industry is running at an 80% shortage of QUALIFIED technicians, for every 8 leaving 2 are coming in. It is so very difficult to find good to very good technicians. Ask your HVAC company what qualification their techs and installers have. A CFC (refrigerant) qualification means nothing. A NATE (North American Technical Excellence), or a state Masters license are comforting, but not the panacea to ensure things will be done as stated. A detailed Contract and proof via pics and video during the installation will prove or disprove the quality of the install. Replacing the particular tonnage system with the same size is just wrong. For example a 3-ton system from yesteryear has a very different capacity than todays equipment, and too, the capacity, using the 3-ton example, from mfg to mfg varies. The installing company should have no trouble performing a load/loss calc then proving to you why a particular mfg was chosen. The existing ducting needs to be assessed for condition and size. Airflow is King, nothing about the cooling system can be right (the refrigerant charge, dehumidification, comfort and utility costs) without proper airflow. Doing all of this right will provide you with a longer lasting system, improved comfort and lower utility bills. I could go on and on about what separates a good/very good/stellar installation from a mediocre/poor one but that would take time and lots of writing, but I already have gone on and on, lol. Suffice it to say, I obviously have no vested interest in what you choose to do, but what I have listed are some of the most important details for a consumer to consider when choosing an installation. Hope some of it helps or causes you to consider who will do what and how for YOU. Not because they are beholden to a particular mfg to meet revenue goals for that mfg, get kick backs for selling a certain amount, get sent to Cancun for their sales volume, etc., etc. A good resource is
www.ACCA.org, the authority for our industry, they along with ASHRAE are responsible for writing standards. they are a non-profit dedicated to providing resources and training to contractors who have paid to belong and have good info on their site for consumers as well.
