Is this a good company for AC install?

[kingoftheapes]

I am new to this forum so advice is appreciated.

Getting quotes for a two story house around 2200 square feet.

Recommendations are all for a 4 ton AC unit with new duct work and new furnace. Very expensive to say the least!

I'm in Arcadia, CA 91006.

1. Has anyone heard of Comfort Climate Control in Azusa?

2. Is it really that much better to get variable speed rather than single speed?

3. Any other good AC specialists in my area that I should know about?

[leapfrog]

For what it is worth:
http://www.labbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Business/CompanyReportPage_Expository.aspx?CompanyID=130282 02

Licensed, insured.
http://www2.cslb.ca.gov/CSLB_LIBRARY/license+request.asp

Since this is California I believe a "heat gain / loss" calculation is required to insure the correct sizing of the HVAC system. Make sure you get one.

[hackmaster]

Personally I would suggest a (2) system install instead of one 4 ton system unless they are installing a zoning system. Otherwise you will never get even cooling or heating in this setup. 4 tons sounds a bit much but then again I know nothing about your climate or the insulating qualities of your home. Good luck.

[danglerb]

SoCal is a funny market for AC, finding a good contractor may take some patience. Arcadia as I remember gets nasty in summer, the inversion effects.

The pros here are big fans of doing a manual J to size the system, I tend to wonder about how well the existing system does when its working ok.

From what I hear the cool weather has been holding off the big summer AC rush a "bit", but it may have kicked off during the last week. If you "need" AC you need AC, but paying through the nose is going to be part of it, best you can hope for a very busy contractor that is willing to work for a fair price, good luck finding one.

[seatonheating]

Originally posted by danglerb
SoCal is a funny market for AC, finding a good contractor may take some patience. Arcadia as I remember gets nasty in summer, the inversion effects.

The pros here are big fans of doing a manual J to size the system, I tend to wonder about how well the existing system does when its working ok.

From what I hear the cool weather has been holding off the big summer AC rush a "bit", but it may have kicked off during the last week. If you "need" AC you need AC, but paying through the nose is going to be part of it, best you can hope for a very busy contractor that is willing to work for a fair price, good luck finding one.

Don't contradict what us pros say about Manual J. I've about had it with your comments, they aren't valid. Time for the mods to step in on this.

[dan sw fl]

Originally posted by kingoftheapes
Getting quotes for a two story house around 2200 square feet.

4 ton AC unit with new duct work and new furnace. Very expensive to say the least!
I'm in Arcadia, CA 91006.

1. Has anyone heard of Comfort Climate Control in Azusa?
2. Is it really that much better to get variable speed rather than single speed?
3. Any other good AC specialists in my area that I should know about?

1. No.
Did they mention heat pumps?
Did they mention life cycle cost evaluation?

2. Yes.
3. No, it does not take a 'specialist' to install A/C.
It takes Experience and knowledge.

How old is your house?
Does it have adequate insulation?

Do you have any windows? How many?
Do the windows facing west have tinting?
Just a minimal start ...

[smokin68]

Originally posted by seatonheating

Originally posted by danglerb
SoCal is a funny market for AC, finding a good contractor may take some patience. Arcadia as I remember gets nasty in summer, the inversion effects.

The pros here are big fans of doing a manual J to size the system, I tend to wonder about how well the existing system does when its working ok.

From what I hear the cool weather has been holding off the big summer AC rush a "bit", but it may have kicked off during the last week. If you "need" AC you need AC, but paying through the nose is going to be part of it, best you can hope for a very busy contractor that is willing to work for a fair price, good luck finding one.

Don't contradict what us pros say about Manual J. I've about had it with your comments, they aren't valid. Time for the mods to step in on this.



Easy Seaton. He states the pros are big fans of Manual J's, which I agree totally. He's not, get it? If someone wants to risk a large sum of money without doing a load calc, that's fine. Just don't complain later if it's capacity doesn't work.

[seatonheating]

Ya, but there is more to it than just capacity, we all know this. What the previous system did(yes, I'm harping on things that have been said a million times on here) doesn't matter. Did it cool the house, yes...but how efficiently?

[kingoftheapes]

My house is old (>50 years) and has poor insulation and lots of single layer glass. 6 west facing windows without tinting.

Arcadia routinely has 100 degree temps in the summer.

It gets terribly hot in the second floor because Arcadia is damn hot in the summer. the upstairs is around 90 degrees in the summer with the current AC on full blast.

They recommneded at Trane XL14i and XT80. the price difference with the XL19i is at least XXXX dollars.

also, these guys are through Home Depot which was slightly cheaper than Sears.

[Edited by arpa on 06-20-2006 at 09:05 PM]

[smokin68]

Originally posted by kingoftheapes


also, these guys are through Home Depot which was slightly cheaper than Sears.


Uh-oh.

[seatonheating]

Originally posted by kingoftheapes
.

also, these guys are through Home Depot which was slightly cheaper than Sears.

[Edited by kingoftheapes on 06-20-2006 at 03:03 PM]

BIG uh oh.

[Steve Wiggins]

It never ceases to amaze me that homeowners think companies install equipment. People install equipment. Did you get the right person is the question you need to be asking.

[cn]

Originally posted by kingoftheapes
My house is old (>50 years) and has poor insulation and lots of single layer glass. 6 west facing windows without tinting.

Arcadia routinely has 100 degree temps in the summer.

It gets terribly hot in the second floor because Arcadia is damn hot in the summer. the upstairs is around 90 degrees in the summer with the current AC on full blast.



Besides doing all the good work of Manual J calculation and size the system properly. Check the New calc against your current system strictly for comparison purpose, as your current system may be oversized and therefore, a smaller unit (and less expensive) can do the same job.

TINT your windows, either DIY (cost of film + your labor) or have a professional do it.

TINTING saves me big buck already.
- Last year May 2005: electricity bill $150/month (5500 SF home)
- This year May 2006: $100/month (with windows tinted 2 months ago).

Hope this helps.

[kingoftheapes]

I have noticed people don't like Home Depot but the work is subcontracted to a HVAC specialist.

They have a AAA rating on the better business bureau for california.

Is there something specific about Home Depot or this particular installer that I should be worried about?

[danglerb]

I have no clue how home depot operates, but the common practice is that the refering company gets paid a 5 to 20% commission that gets added on to the contractors cost, its not a quality issue, it just costs more.

Many of the pros here are very knowledgable guys who have been doing HVAC for many years, the grain of salt I suggest you take along with their advice is that few, seems like none really, are from our area with experience in the climate and contruction we have.

Find good contractors, don't worry too much about brand, and get a minimum of 3 bids.

[kingoftheapes]

So, are there any good HVAC guys in my area (91006) that anyone can recommned?

[danglerb]

Thats a question that deserves a thread of its own,

How to find a good contractor. <posting it in a minute>

[kingoftheapes]

I didn't mean to divert the thread. Seems like that contractor should be okay from the threads here.

I have some serious sticker shock regarding the price, though.

Even XXXXX dollars would have been reasonable but they are asking for XXX....

[Edited by arpa on 06-20-2006 at 09:00 PM]

[danglerb]

Whoever said life is cheap never owned an old Porsche. ;)

Get some more bids, my highest bid came from a contractor that wanted to sell me Amana (which is now really Goodman).

Decide what you want, a pick up truck and few weekends of yardsales and you could buy enough window units to cool your house fine for a cheap price.

If you have plenty of money, give Hugh Hefner a call and see what it costs to have a few bunnies sent to HVAC school and do the job.

****************

Do you really need the AC replaced now, or does it need fixing maybe to last out a summer and replace it after thanksgiving?

How important are the energy costs, and even cooling over the whole house?

[seatonheating]

Originally posted by kingoftheapes
I didn't mean to divert the thread. Seems like that contractor should be okay from the threads here.

I have some serious sticker shock regarding the price, though.

Even xxxx dollars would have been reasonable but they are asking for XXX....

For one, no pricing, (site rules). For two, XX could be a very good price if they are offering you quality and peace of mind.

XXX is very, very cheap, anybody that will do that job for that is either cutting corners or not making any money. Both bad things. I recommend you put the price in the back of your mind and just judge each bid based on how comfortable you feel that they will do a good job. Remember, if you try and get people to drop their prices you will end up getting a job that represents that...good luck.

[Edited by arpa on 06-20-2006 at 09:07 PM]

[kingoftheapes]

why did they edit out the $ amount?

[ARPA]

Please read...


http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys2/033102sor_1_prv.gif (No pricing, due to site rules (http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?threadid=1241) )

[kingoftheapes]

sorry. won't happen again.