Central A/C - brand name advice

[smartcdn]

-Kenmore
-Carrier
-others...

[fireguy9]

Keeprite in last home purchased new, and just replaced older keeprite in my new place with a 14 seer high eff keeprite unit. You will save $ with keeprite versus the higher name brands.

[pladwa]

I just replaced my furnance and a/c units with TRANE... no complaints at all.

[sunnybono]

-Kenmore
-Carrier
-others...

Bryant or Pane Both are owned and manufactured by Carrier at a fraction of the price for a carrier a/c unit!!!!

sk

[Ockham]

There are half a dozen major manufacturers with fifty or so brand names out there. In alphabetical order: Goodman, Lennox, Nordyne, Trane, United Technologies/International Comfort Products, York. Each manufacturer will make a range of products based on price, features, warranties, etc. For example, Carrier (United Tech) makes a builder-grade piece of dog poop, all the way up to industry leading quality. Keeprite (ICP) used to be a great brand, but has been dragged down since acquired by United Tech.

Here's the catch: a good contractor can install any of the available brands and the consumer will get their value out of it (depending on which price/features unit purchased). A dubious contractor can find a way to screw up anything. The installing contractor is probably eighty percent of the equation. Some contractors don't even mention equipment brand name due to this irrelevance.

I forget the manufacturer of the plumbing fixtures in my house, but I know who to call when I need a plumber. I don't know who made my dentist's teeth cleaning equipment, but she knows how to use them properly and that's all that matters to me.

[Ockham]

-Kenmore
-Carrier
-others...


Kenmore is made by UT/ICP (Carrier) privately labelled for Sears. Sears Home Comfort is a division of Sears and not their primary business interest.

[pkguy]

If I go on the assumption you don't know a lot about central air here's some tips to root out good/bad contractors
Always get at least 3 in home quotes.
Ask for references
Play ignorant to a point but keep a note pad as to what they tell you.

Before they come to give you a quote try at least to know the exact square footage of your house and if you do don't tell them unless asked.

A good contractor will measure the square footage of your house, count windows, perhaps ask what type of insulation, how many occupants etc.
He should actually follow a guide line to calculate the heat load which takes into account such things including what direction the house faces, size of windows, shade trees over the house etc.

If he just comes in and eyeballs the house and tell you off the top of his head from a cursory look that you need "such and such tonnage" follow thru being polite and when he's gone scratch him off the list. You don't want to end up with a unit too small or too big. A unit sized too big will quickly cool down your house and then shut off before it's had a chance to properly dehumidify the air leaving you with a cool or cold but clammy house. In some ways a unit sized smaller can actually be more comfortable. A dry 25 deg house is often more comfortable than a house that is 21 or 22 but too humid.

Normally the condensor and the evaporator coils on a central air conditoner are matched, for example 2 ton condensor, 2 ton evaporator. BUT with some makes and models it is possible to somewhat "mismatch" them in order to give you better dehumidification and not make the house too warm or too cold. so he could suggest a 2 ton condensor and a 2.5 ton sized evaporator.This is important because some people don't want their house to be freezing inside but want to get rid of as much humidity as possible.
A good contractor will mention that.

In the end just beware of the guy that comes in and sit down, doesn't ask many questions or do any measurements and just tells you he's done hundreds of houses identical to yours and what you need is such and such size air conditioner.

[mart242]

Rheem / Rudd!

Saw only good stuff about them. That's what I bought.

[Ockham]

Whoops...forgot Rheem/Ruud. Yes, they are a good manufacturer.

Good advice from PKGUY. I would add the following to contractor screening: how long in business, insurance, licenses, TSSA number, service department, community involvement. Word of mouth is usually the best determining factor. A good contractor will value their reputation and act quickly to resolve any customer issues.

Load calculations are required in many States, but not here in Ontario (except new construction heating). Square footage, windows, and the ductwork system are critical compontents to determining equipment size. However, the manufacturers only make equipment in 6,000 BTU increments so there will usually be some designer discretion for the selection. Anytime I've actually used a computer program or pencil and paper for a load calculation, the result works out to be what I "eye-balled".

The ultimate responsibility for equipment selection rests with the homeowner. The homeowner enters a contract with the air conditioning installer thus authorizing the equipment selection. I don't know of any court settlements where a homeowner has successfully sued a contractor for mis-sizing, but it sounds fair. This is why selecting a reputable contractor is far more important than manufacturer brand name...or best price.

[mart242]

This is why selecting a reputable contractor is far more important than manufacturer brand name...or best price.

And then you hope that they don't send a mickey mouse contractor to perform the installation...

[Ockham]

A reputable, and local, contractor can't afford to have mickey mouse installers or they will soon lose their good reputation.

[smartcdn]

If I go on the assumption you don't know a lot about central air here's some tips to root out good/bad contractors
Always get at least 3 in home quotes.
Ask for references
Play ignorant to a point but keep a note pad as to what they tell you.

Before they come to give you a quote try at least to know the exact square footage of your house and if you do don't tell them unless asked.

A good contractor will measure the square footage of your house, count windows, perhaps ask what type of insulation, how many occupants etc.
He should actually follow a guide line to calculate the heat load which takes into account such things including what direction the house faces, size of windows, shade trees over the house etc.

If he just comes in and eyeballs the house and tell you off the top of his head from a cursory look that you need "such and such tonnage" follow thru being polite and when he's gone scratch him off the list. You don't want to end up with a unit too small or too big. A unit sized too big will quickly cool down your house and then shut off before it's had a chance to properly dehumidify the air leaving you with a cool or cold but clammy house. In some ways a unit sized smaller can actually be more comfortable. A dry 25 deg house is often more comfortable than a house that is 21 or 22 but too humid.

Normally the condensor and the evaporator coils on a central air conditoner are matched, for example 2 ton condensor, 2 ton evaporator. BUT with some makes and models it is possible to somewhat "mismatch" them in order to give you better dehumidification and not make the house too warm or too cold. so he could suggest a 2 ton condensor and a 2.5 ton sized evaporator.This is important because some people don't want their house to be freezing inside but want to get rid of as much humidity as possible.
A good contractor will mention that.

In the end just beware of the guy that comes in and sit down, doesn't ask many questions or do any measurements and just tells you he's done hundreds of houses identical to yours and what you need is such and such size air conditioner.

thanks so much, pkguy! you've mentioned some invaluable tips and how to detect good from bad contractor. i'll definitely keep this in mind when i get them to come...

thanks to everyone else who contributed good tips - we do have to watchout for the mickeymouse contractors