Need opinions on replacement hvac unit

[kenthagler]

I have decided to update my 1997 Hvac unit. Was curious on what brands and warranties that seem to be the most reliable.

My system now is a 5 ton Carrier unit with the gas furnace in the attic laying sideways. 10 seer model that is used for the lower section of the house. I have 18 ft ceilings in the living room 400 sq ft, approx cooling area is 1900-2000 sq ft. The rest of the ceilings are 9 ft. We keep the up stairs shut off and rarely use the 2nd unit. Location is North Dallas, Texas. Winter gas bills are not that bad but the summer time cooling bill is killing us.

[psychometric]

A high seer rated Trane may be right up your alley if you want to save cash on that electric bill.

[BaldLoonie]

And a high SEER rated model of any other brand won't? :D

[kenthagler]

I was thinking about the trane or the carrier, my only concern with the carrier is the last one lasted only 7 years until the compressor went out, also the a coil is all rusted up pretty bad on the ends of the core.

[psychometric]

From what I've seen- and I do little to no residential- is that the Carrier and Bryants real high eff units are the size of small dumpsters! Huge units. I'd look at size of these beasts if it were my house. I don't think the Trane's are quite as big. Some of the residential guys could help a little more on that subject...

[allstar08]

personally it is up to you. i prefer trane, mostly due to the fact that most of the other stuff i have put in has not been as good. i have installed and serviced gear for 14 years, and trane is the best compressor bearing equipment in the biz. a high seer unit is a must in your situation, and nothing would be better than a trane or american standard. consumer reports is a great resource for your questions on reliability and quality. good luck!

[Mr Bill]

Originally posted by emoney1971
i have installed and serviced gear for 14 years, and trane is the best compressor bearing equipment in the biz. a high seer unit is a must in your situation, and nothing would be better than a trane or american standard. consumer reports is a great resource for your questions on reliability and quality. good luck!

consumer reports? OMG! let me get my boots! It may be hard to stop a Trane but when they die it's hard to get them re- started. You must be the son in law of Mr. Trane. :D

[4l530]

The quality of the install contributes to more to the longevity of the system than the brand name. Of course they all crank out a lemon once in awhile. IMO you should shop installers more than you should shop brands.
Warranty wise they're all about the same for the most part and different models will have different warrantees.
Any higher SEER model of any brand will probably do fine.
If installed correctly.

[allstar08]

consumer reports is a bible to buying good merchandise. the only people that don't like it are the ones not in it or ant the bottom of the list. yes, a bad installer can make good equipment bad. the only reason trane can be slammed is the poor quality of some of their dealers. i do believe lennox and goodman are in consumer reports, but i didn't read down that far.

[Mr Bill]

Originally posted by emoney1971
consumer reports is a bible to buying good merchandise.

Well now if consumer reports could get the publications out like the Bible has they might be on to something.
You ever wonder were consumer reports gets there reports? from the consumer right? well if you have ten folks that say Trane is the best out of 15 and you only interview Trane and Rheem consumers were is that going to put Trane? You have to know a lot about there research in depth to know how fair they really are.

One example below:
"Consumer Reports, America's widely respected buyer's guide, will be forced to defend its own credibility in a trial that started yesterday in federal court here. Isuzu Motors Ltd. has accused the magazine and its nonprofit parent, Consumers Union, of rigging tests to show that the 1995-96 Trooper sport-utility vehicle displayed a propensity to roll over when making emergency turns," reports The Washington Post.

[allstar08]

funny thing about that test, it was the same one they performed on the suzuki. the same law suit and i am sure the verdict will be the same. consumer reports will be exonerated. oh wait a sec! this was a question on hvac not consumer reprts. i will say this.. if you follow what consumer reprts says 8 times out of 10 you will be satisfied with the equipment they say is good. Now if trane was not on the list next year, i might argue, but as things go it is a great sales tool.

[kenthagler]

Hey guys,
Is it true that American Standard bought out Trane?

[kenthagler]

why do the carrier infinity and bryant evolution have seer ratings from 16-20 and 17-21. Why don't they just give one number seer rating?

[a/c doctor]

Originally posted by kenthagler
why do the carrier infinity and bryant evolution have seer ratings from 16-20 and 17-21. Why don't they just give one number seer rating?

The final "seer rating" of your sytem does just come from the outdoor unit but rather from a combination of condenser, coil and furnace as a whole. The range of seer you are talking about is the potential that system has depending on how it is matched.

[Mr Bill]

Originally posted by emoney1971
if you follow what consumer reprts says 8 times out of 10 you will be satisfied with the equipment they say is good.

Yea guess your right good thing were not discussing parachutes, that 8 out of 10 times would not look so good. :D