Want to replace HVAC, Recommendations?

[dionisios]

My home and HVAC is 8 years old with a 4 ton Goodman 10 seer AC unit, in Northern Virginia. I have lived in the house for 4 years but the AC has never been able to cool the house during the hot summer months. During the summer the AC runs continuously and if I am lucky it will cool it down to 77 when it is in the mid to high 90s outside. The system has been serviced once due to a leaky valve and then again due to a blown capacitor during both occasions Freon was added to the system, which only made a slight difference. I decided to no longer service the unit and start looking for a replacement unit last summer.
Only one out of the 5 contractors, that provided estimates, did a load calculation. He confirmed that the system was sized correctly. The others just quoted prices for replacing my existing system.

I was originally only looking at these Trane systems:
XL15i w/xv80
XL16i w/xc95

One of the contractors recommended the following Lennox as well:
XC21 w/G60UHV
XC21 w/G71MPP

I have heard many positive things about Trane but not much about Lennox. Every house around here that replaces an AC seems to be going with Trane. Does anyone have any experience with Lennox? What about those specific models?

I was originally looking at the 80% efficient models but with the new tax credit it brings the price of the 95% models down to just about the same as the 80% units.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
D

[2old2rock]

Please edit out the pricing.
And remember, the installation is more important than the brand.

[sktn77a]

I've owned both and I think both are good manufacturers. I find most Trane dealers are over-priced in my area so most recently I went with Rheem (which is replacing an existing 20 year old Rheem system). If the prices and equipment are comparable, I might go with Trane in your instance as it sounds like there are more Trane dealers in your area (service, knowledge, etc).

[RyanHughes]

The Lennox Signature series equipment is very good from what I've heard/read. Put a good thermostat with it (Honeywell IAQ or Lennox's 7000) and you'll have a good system, top of the line. The Trane systems would be good as well. Which dealer did the load calc? If the old 4 ton didn't do so well, ask the dealers why. Could it be your ductwork needs revision (a common cause of poor performance), or was it simply due to the incorrect refrigerant charge? I would be asking questions such as these before I looked at brands.

[sandpipertech]

I disagree with the comment that it doesn't matter what brand as long as the installation is right. Fact of life - HVAC systems CAN and WILL break down. One important question to ask is what kind of warranty you can get.
Right now Trane and Maytag seem to offer the best standard warranties. In fact, our company in North Carolina is currently able to offer a 12 year COMPLETE labor/parts warranty from Maytag to our customers. Trane is offering a 10 year parts coverage, standard.
I've never had a good experience with Lennox. At least when dealing with warranty items. But, that doesn't mean that you can't find a company that deals with Lennox regularly. Personally, I'd say go Trane or Maytag. Can't beat the warranties and the equipment is top notch. Avoid dealing with Goodman. Any jo-schmo can go get a goodman unit and install it. You have to be certified/approved by the better manufacturers (ie Trane, Maytag, Carrier) to purchase and install their equipment. So my advise would be to choose companies that distribute equipment such as Trane Maytag Carrier Lennox....etc

[dionisios]

The Lennox Signature series equipment is very good from what I've heard/read. Put a good thermostat with it (Honeywell IAQ or Lennox's 7000) and you'll have a good system, top of the line. The Trane systems would be good as well. Which dealer did the load calc? If the old 4 ton didn't do so well, ask the dealers why. Could it be your ductwork needs revision (a common cause of poor performance), or was it simply due to the incorrect refrigerant charge? I would be asking questions such as these before I looked at brands.

The dealer that did the load calc was also the most expensive, over higher then the next lowest quote. He also looked at the duct work and although he said that it could have been better he did not see anything terribly wrong.
The one thing that all the contractors said was that it sounded like my AC was working way to hard and refrigerent lines that should not be hot were, which meant that there could be blockage.

I basically decided that i was not going to pay to traoubleshoot this system any more and instead put that money in a new system. The one thing that all the contractors said was that it sounded like my AC was working way to hard and refrigerent lines that should not be hot were, which meant that there could be blockage. Neighbors that have replaced their systemn which was the same as mine seem to be satisfied. So far they have gone with Trane.
Thanks,
D

[fenian]

"...I basically decided that i was not going to pay to traoubleshoot this system any more and instead put that money in a new system"

two things: avoid brand-bashing techs

and second, it doesn't sound like much of a diagnosis when someone who should know better apparently says "that it sounded like my AC was working way to hard and refrigerent lines that should not be hot were, which meant that there could be blockage"

if the unit is properly sized, and was properly serviced and maintained, then your approach might just be a bandaid. While your neighbors 'seem' comfortable now they might not be so come August in one or three years' time.

[qwerty hvac]

Remember if the system is not installed right it will not work properly and your warranty will not mean much if you have a tech out every other week. I would go with the guy that did the load calc.

[RoBoTeq]

I find it interesting that someone who considers themselves a professional would claim that because Goodman sells to more HVAC professionals of all calibers of expertise, that really good HVAC company's installing Goodman equipment should be avoided.

This is exactly why it is the application, installation and service that matters over brand.

The same Goodman brand basher promotes equipment with the best warraties as being better, then negates the fact that Goodman products not only carry some of the best warranties in the industry, but have been the leader in better warranties in our industry. Until Goodman came along, all HVAC equipment warranties were 1 year overall parts and 5 years for the compressor.

Since Goodman was not a choice of the OP, I am not even sure why the brand basher felt the need to bring it up. I certainly would never hire anyone who has such an attitude about any particular brand.

[wahoo]

PLEASE, do not confuse "advertising" with equipment quality!!! Just because the advertising is everywhere, that does not correlate to high quality equipment, nor does it mean they have the best warranties. Only that the company feels the "need" to be the top advertiser of their equipment. The "Goodman" brand that an earlier poster attempted to "Trash" is the single largest selling brand of equipment in the USA, and one of the smallest in terms of public advertising. They advertise in the "trade" publications, but not over the radio, or TV. Look into the company's equipment, and you find "lifetime" compressor and unit replacement warranies!! Just be careful of huge advertising campiagns!! After all this country has seen in the last 6 months, we should know better than believe any public advertising!!!