hvac BIG purchase help ?

[American Locomotive]

Well there you go. Do what you need to do to keep your family healthy.

Just remember that new doesn't always mean "reliable". If keeping the house cool or warm is an absolutely critical thing, you should have a couple of window air conditioners and a few space heaters stored away in the basement regardless.

 

[danski0224]

And "old" doesn't mean reliable, either.

Or functioning properly. Serviced many AC units that turn on and appear to "make cold air", but are inefficient because the compressor is shot. Some people understand and replace it, even though it appears to be "working".

Of course, finding someone to actually diagnose the equipment is the first difficulty.

 

[karoc]

Being new does give some peace of mind and since you have a friend in biz will also give you peace of mind knowing the install will be a good one. Like your other post, your shop will have heat/ac. I roll the dice on my system which serve me for over 30yrs and every summer I would keep my fingers cross. I just couldn't take it no more.

 

[Showkey]

Being new does give some peace of mind and since you have a friend in biz will also give you peace of mind knowing the install will be a good one. Like your other post, your shop will have heat/ac. I roll the dice on my system which serve me for over 30yrs and every summer I would keep my fingers cross. I just couldn't take it no more.

We had a standing joke in our home every spring .......will the 20 plus year old AC start and actually run/cool......that joke lasted 7 years. One DIY cap repair in that time.

 

[Bert_]

One other comfort note. At the same time I installed that I upgraded my old mercury thermostats to digital. Much better. This furnace will hold 70 degrees all day long. With the mercury t-stat there was likely a 2 or 3 degree swing before it would call for heat. So about the time you'd be chilly and pull on a sweater, the heat call would finally come and it would run until you were starting to sweat and then shut off. I guess it wasn't that dramatic...but anyone still using a round old style t-stat with the mercury tilt switch needs to take that to the proper disposal site and get a new unit.

Phil

I had a programmable Honeywell when I bought my house. Didn't like it. Found a used mercury thermostat and put it in. I'm happier with it and that's what counts.They have an anticipator to determine how much the temp swings.

 

[bwringer]

It isn't the brand, it's the installation.

Absolutely.

When we had our heat pump replaced last year, the install work was just plain gorgeous. The old system was just slapped into place and it was a pain in the **** for years.

I am just a homeowner but I found myself in a similar situation last Spring at the start of a heat wave when our AC Failed

Ended up going through Costco and their contractor. I get quotes from 2 other well known contractors in my area and no one could touch Costco's prices. (Costco was running a 15% discount at that time)...

Same here. The pricing from the Costco contractor beat the pants off the other quotes we got, PLUS we got 15% back on a Costco gift card, PLUS we upgraded to the "Executive" membership and got 2% back at the end of the year on this and all the other **** we bought at Costco.

And the service was superb. Zero BS, very neat, clean install, and when I had a question a few days later, they sent their heat pump ninja who fine-tuned a few things and found a duct in my attic that was leaking and causing problems (the fix was simple, so I handled it).

Even if you're not a Costco member, it would probably be worth it to join up. Or at least figure out which local company CC is using.

 

[Tica]

It isn't the brand, it's the installation.

What he said.

 

[nadogail]

It isn't the brand, it's the installation

I agree, our installer came out twice to fix a flood from the condensate pan, and repaired and refinished the ceiling afterwards.

They are not the cheapest service and installation company in town; they are tied for first place in quality of work and customer satisfaction.

 

[Git]

I agree, our installer came out twice to fix a flood from the condensate pan, and repaired and refinished the ceiling afterwards.

They are not the cheapest service and installation company in town; they are tied for first place in quality of work and customer satisfaction.

But shouldn't there have been a float switch in the condensate pan to shut the AC off to begin with? (That way, you never would have had a damaged ceiling)

 

[Dagny]

I have been a Heil dealer since 1984 and think their products are as good as any. But those saying the installer is more important than the product are spot on. A properly sized and installed furnace should last 15 years with very little expense in the next few years you may need a 2 to 4 hundred dollar part. All the parts get high as time goes by and some are just unavailable. They are just like the cars they last amazingly well for a bunch of plastic. Air conditioning here in northern Wisconsin last for ever if properly evacuated and are careful about cleanliness while piping cause they only run about three days a year.