Would a contractor answer these questions?

[Jack2007]

If I called a contractor and asked the following questions for a specific heat pump that you sold (without asking for a quote) would you give me the answers?

EER,
Electrical draw in first
and second stage,
COP figures,
BTU's for each stage,
BTU output for OD temps 25* to 40* and
whether the condenser fan is variable.
.

[GreenDude]

Sure, why not? Easy questions if the contractor knows their stuff.

[I_bend_metal]

Why??

[Jack2007]

Why??

I sent an email to a manufacturer and received this reply;
""We do not have the technical training in this office required to properly answer your questions. Your best source to assist with your questions is a local dealer.""

I thought the manufacturer would be happy to answer these questions. A contractor on the other hand has "paying" customers to take care of.
.

[I_bend_metal]

Are you looking to purchase a new unit(s)???

Are you doing a report for school???

Are you "big brother" trying to keep the MAN down???

Why would you be needing information like this???

[Twilly]

Twilli would start speaking in spanish and hang up

[I_bend_metal]

Twilli would start speaking in spanish and hang up

You can't speak Spanish!! You can barely speak English!!! :p :p ;) ;)

[Twilly]

Twilli says si

[Jack2007]

Are you looking to purchase a new unit(s)???

Are you doing a report for school???

Are you "big brother" trying to keep the MAN down???

Why would you be needing information like this???
Trying to get meaningful information, (to purchase a new unit) instead of relying on "advertising" to compare units.

Maybe I've been reading too much here, but SEER seems to be a controversial way to compare units. Such as this thread; http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=169146

.

[Freezeking2000]

Trying to get meaningful information, (to purchase a new unit) instead of relying on "advertising" to compare units.

Maybe I've been reading too much here, but SEER seems to be a controversial way to compare units. Such as this thread; http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=169146

.


I do not think published data is misleading. I do not know what you would be hoping to achieve by going into such detail on a purchase of a home comfort system. Let the sales people guide you.

[I_bend_metal]

I do not think published data is misleading. I do not know what you would be hoping to achieve by going into such detail on a purchase of a home comfort system. Let the sales people guide you.

Agree 100% with this. Get some quotes....ask the sales people these questions. If you have been lurking on this site for a while then you should also know that 70% of the purchase is the install....I have seen systems that are hacked in and running at worse efficiencies than what they replaced!

Talk to people....ask questions....trust me...you will know when you find a good one.

Oh and some of those questions will also depend on what size unit your situation requires.

[Twilly]

Twilli is "the man"

[I_bend_metal]

Twilli is "the man"

Well....when is "the man" gonna get some new Glamour Shots done??? Bout time for an update!

[Twilly]

Twilli get a new glamour shot when you give up tjat nascar theme.....

Twilli got a Nascar song for you though..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffqgyxc0QW8&feature=related

[Twilly]

Twilli get a new glamour shot when you give up that nascar theme.....

Twilli got a Nascar song for you though..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffqgyxc0QW8&feature=related

[GreenDude]

Interesting comments!
I took the original post as a test of the (hypothetical) contractor's knowledge and attitude. If I asked an HVAC contractor these questions and they came back with a defensive attitude or a condescending "trust me" answer, I'd know to look elsewhere. No need to get an estimate from that guy.

However, it is agreed that this level of data doesn't add a lot of value to the typical (oops maybe we shouldn't assume that) homeowner buying decision.

[hangfirew8]

If I called a contractor and asked the following questions for a specific heat pump that you sold (without asking for a quote) would you give me the answers?


I would call a contractor and tell him what EER I wanted, get a quote, and then come here and ask the rest of the questions about the equipment he quoted.

-HF

[arc8]

If someone ask me those questions, i would not give them any of those specific answers! Period.

Let's meet and talk about how i can help you Jack with your problem/s.
I'll bring all my info. What time can we meet?

[captaincaveman]

It's not knowing all the answers that matters, it's knowing how to find them. I work in a city with plenty of engineers(rocket scientists). If they want to ask "anal" questions i answer them, and then i deposit the check.

[jpb2]

ARI . org. clears up the issue of seer vs/ eer. Seer ratings are at 82 oa temp eer is at 95. Funny how the ratings add up. Seems like a bit of a hoax the ultra high seer performs better. Would you rather have the efficiancy at 82 or 95 ?

[beenthere]

If you called me with those questions.
I'd set up an appointment to come out and see what you needed, and then give you the information the information you need and want. Along with my quote. :)

Keep in mind, not all manufacturers have a full break down of their BTU outputs, accorss alot of different OD temps.
Amp draw would be the manufacturers rated, but wouldn't be what yours will actually draw.

Without a load calc, the info you want, won't tell you what unit will perform best for your house.

[beenthere]

Ahh. lets see. We hit 95*F OD temp, twice a year maybe.
We average low to mid 80's, I'll take SEER.

Both EER, and SEER at at an indoor 80*F DB and 67*F WB. How many people set their stats to 80*F in the summer?

[mrs reb77]

So, original poster, are you calling the salesman, the contractor or who ever answers the phone? As the person who answers a phone I can tell you that I would be more than willing to talk to you about what your needs are, when we can schedule to talk to you about those needs but, technical questions are not in my realm. That doesn't mean that those questions (or others) could not be answered by our company but, supplying information such as that is not in the realm of the person you called.
Fair enough?

And as others have said--why? Hopefully the professional you choose to supply your comfort needs will ascertain exactly what is needed for your situation. You won't have to try to do it yourself.

[smokin68]

I'll answer any questions you have...but I can't afford 4 hrs of research when you pass my info to the low-ball bidder, so all questions will be answered in writing as soon as you sign....;)

[Jack2007]

OK. My purpose is to find out what equipment is "economical" as well as, "efficient" and right for my situation.
(are they the same thing??).

Some are of the opinion that two stage units are NOT economical but rather for "comfort".
After reading about two stage units, the "advertising" suggests "economical".

Which is it??

My impression (after reading advertising) is the first stage operates for 70% of the time, thus economical. When OD temp goes over 90* second stage operates.
(thus my electrical draw question).

Is this NOT accurate??

Some equipment I'm sure uses more electricity than others. Is that NOT so??

Seer seems to depend on "matching" equipment, and other things like ducts etc..
However some advertising suggests a variable speed fan motor can compensate for wrong sized ducts.

To complicate things even more, I received a quote (last year, manual J) in which a contractor said the equipment he quoted will only yield 17 seer even though the "rated" seer is 21.

Whew.
Yes "heatpumpguru" did suggest a dealer near me (thanks guru), but I still wanted to know some facts BEFORE calling anyone else.

There is a saying "opinions are like.........".

Well, figures are facts if used correctly.


So,
why can't these specifications be made available by the manufacturer for SPECIFIC equipment?
.

[dash]

"Well, figures are facts if used correctly."

I was always told,"Figures never lie,











but liars figure".

Questions aren't that hard to answer,might not get someone to look it up from just a phone call,but if they gave you a proposal,I'd think they'd be happy to supply the info..

[beenthere]

Not only are these units used in this country, but in others. So the operating conditions vary too much to list performance for every temp. So the manufacturers provide the ARI standards. Some have extended, so don't.

2 stage is comfort. The small amount of savings you will have won't pay for the increase in cost. Sometimes people can set their stat a degree of 2 higher because of reduced humidity, and they save alittle more.

Different stats use different methods to determine when to bring on second stage. A stat that requires a 2* drop, will use first stage for longer then a stat like the IAQ.

The current draw of a 2 stage units compressor in first stage at 75* OD temp is lower then it is at 85* OD temp. The same with second stage at 90* its not the same as it is at 95*. So the current draw won't tell you anything.

All energy efficiency ratings are LAB ratings. What you actually get will vary with your ducts, grilles, line set size and length, what temp you set your stat at. etc etc.

Plus, until they know what size they need to put in, and what coil match up to use, they can't look up the info.