Top of the line Amana or Carrier?

[jongaro]

I am in a quandary in terms of which system to go for. Here is what my friend quoted me for the Carrier setup:

1.) Carrier 58MVB100-1-20 94.1 % AFUE.
2.) Carrier 38TDB048-3 15.5 SEER/13 EER.
3.) ADP High Efficiency Coil.
4.) Honeywell Media Filter & 3 ea. Cartridges.
5.) 1-1/8 X 3/8 Line Set.
6.) 1F95-371 & 3 ea. remote sensors.

For the Amana:

1)4 ton 16 SEER ASX16
2)ACV9 93% AFUE 92k btu
3)CSCF Series
4)Amana ABB media air cleaner & 3 ea cartridges
5)1 1/8 x 3/8 line set
6) same thermostat

Now I realize the Amana is a more efficient unit and may be elligible for a higher tax credit than the Carrier, but the pricing differential is less than a grand.

I plan on staying in this home for a long time. The amana warranty is much better than the carrier, and I believe the install we definitely be quality.

This all wouldn't have been an issue as the carrier normally is MUCH more expensive and going the Amana route was a no brainer. now that pricing is similar... i am second guessing myself.

any thoughts related to ONLY these two models is appreciated.

thank you

[mdharris68]

amana seems to be the choice especially if it's around a grand less. should have lifetime replacement warranty on both heater and condensor to original purhaser. I was always anti amana till goodman bought them and seem to back the product well. just my opinion, and i am sure that for every opinion like mine, there is one opposite.

[jongaro]

thank you for the quick response. i do like the longer warranty of the amana but here on the west coast i'm not as familiar with them as carrier. i trust my friend to provide a top notch install and i understand that is where problems arise regardless of model.

forgot to mention we both have a friend who works for Carrier here locally which might aid in any potential warranty issues.

thank you

[smokin68]

You shouldn't mix business with friendship;) , that said, make sure you buy an extended labor warranty for whatever you purchase. Only thing with the Amana is I'd definetly want a top quality t-stat to control the system. JMO.

[jongaro]

it isn't that kind of friendship. we do trade as i'm a commercial electrician. not sure there would be a need for an extended warranty with the amana.

i've read about some quality issues with carrier, or that quality has gone down a bit, but am unable to determine if this is more than usual or people just talking smack. obviously all manuf. will have their issues as no product is perfect.

[MIMatt53]

I am facing almost the exact same choice, and I have a thread asking the same question. I had decided to go with the Amana as well, when my Carrier guy called to tell me about customer-direct rebAtes from Carrier on the Infinity line that start next week. Up to $1100! It didn't close the price gap for my system completely, but made them pretty close. At this point I am leaning towards the slight extra cost of the Carrier system.

But I thought you should know about the rebates!

[MIMatt53]

Here are the two threads I inititiated on my furnace/AC choice...

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=131565

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=131095

Some useful info from the pros in there...

[jpb2]

Amanna all the way. I am a distributor rep for another brand and will say Amanna v/s. Carrier ..... no way to willis now. what a pos

[dash]

Amanna all the way. I am a distributor rep for another brand and will say Amanna v/s. Carrier ..... no way to willis now. what a pos

Carrier Infinity all the way!!

[chillbilly]

Carrier

[Mr Bill]

Ruud

[dash]

Ruud

Come one alreday,that wasn't a choice!! lol!

[comfortdoc]

Come one alreday,that wasn't a choice!! lol!

Good point.



Go Rheem! :D

[Mr Bill]

Good point.



Go Rheem! :D

Yea I know it wasn't one of the choices but I thought I would throw a little better
equipment into the mix and for a better price. :eek:

[lolson]

go for the warrenty i tell my customers if the price is close to being the same

[jongaro]

i am leaning towards the carrier as my friend has been in the trade quite a while and installs carriers, although he doesn't have any bias, and a mutual friend is the local carrier rep. so if i do have issues i can have them expidited.

i totally understand how everyone has their preference but very rarely do people give concrete reasons as to why a particular brand is their favorite. maybe that would be a great thread. a breakdown of the different brands and models along with real and unbiased info as to pro's and con's of that particular model.

for example, a lennox guy mentioned that although his company installs them all, they favor lennox. obviously lennox pays to have stuff put on their truck, would give them better price breaks if they only carried lennox, etc. but he said that he'd go amana because quality is comparable and the warranty is better with amana along with less proprietary parts. that makes more sense to me verus the guy who says trane, or rheem, or whatever, without substantiating it. by making very broad statements without backing yourself up, you hurt your credibility.

[chillbilly]

Endorsing any one brand over the other is nothing more than preference and is a broad generalization.
Everyone has their preferences. Warranties are very close throughout.
The key is quality installation and services.
If you have someone close by who is a Carrier guy, you certainly won't sacrifice anything at all by deciding on Carrier.
There's not a manufacturer out there that is any better overall, IMO.

[jpb2]

Endorsing any one brand over the other is nothing more than preference and is a broad generalization.
Everyone has their preferences. Warranties are very close throughout.
The key is quality installation and services.
If you have someone close by who is a Carrier guy, you certainly won't sacrifice anything at all by deciding on Carrier.
There's not a manufacturer out there that is any better overall, IMO.



Wrong just plain wrong. Carrier is not the quality leader they once were.

[4l530]

None of them have the quality they once did.

[amd]

Remember that the Amana has a tubular heat exchanger and a more durable ignitor. Carrier = crimped clamshell - probably more prone to failure.

[catmanacman]

i would pass on the amana

[aircooled53]

Carrier is the right choice to make your comfort level equal.:)

If you needed a warranty for the long term with Carrier I would suggest you buy extended warranty, but it would not be needed.

The reason Amana/Goodman offer a long warranty is because you will need it to get warranty parts for repairs of there system. I have installed and serviced both and I would agree that Amana has a good furnace but,with a system you would be better off with Carrier.:D

That is just my opinion!

[jpb2]

God willis has a sweet 80+ line .... not the fail shell and the infijunk that all dealers have been spoon fed... for most applications the 90+ amanna/ goodman would be much better.

[Mr Bill]

None of them have the quality they once did.

Thats what my wife says about me. :D

[chillbilly]

Wrong just plain wrong. Carrier is not the quality leader they once were.


Not according to the sales report spreadsheets I see.

Oh and BTW,
Who lied and told you that the Infinity Lines are junk?

[davidr]

http://www.*************.com/images/smilies/loltard.gif A box is a box is a box.

[aircooled53]

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9475/58mvb1le1.jpg
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7234/cnv0002vy7.jpg
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6944/continfilgwb1.jpg

It's not just the name; it is the product! Carrier..:D

[30XA]

Personal opinion I think you will be more satisfied with the Carrier system