Tempstar vs Amanah vs Rheem

[FLHC]

Ok. I have a 14 year old AC unit in my home (original) that is on the fritz. My power bill was ridiculous last month and my inside temperature is about 80 or a little more. Time for a new AC.

I have gotten 3 quality quotes, all from reputable contractors. I was just curious as to what the best bet would be.

1st:

Tempstar 16 seer R-410 two stage split system
Condenser T4A436GKD
Air Handler FVM4X4800A

2nd:

Amana 16 seer R-410 two stage split system
Condenser ASZ160361
Air Handler AEPF313716

3rd:

The other was for a Rheem 15.5 SEER system - but the contractor did not write down the model numbers

Your input is appreciated! I do not know all the right questions to ask, so I appreciate any help you can provide. If I can give more info that would help, please let me know!

Thanks.

[KruKut]

I like the consumers report that tells you that Rheem is rated #1 and Rudd (they are the same) I would go on the rheem web site and find another dealer to bring you some litriture on there systems.

[achero0224]

its Ruud and it is a good system

[allstar08]

they are all good, pick the contractor you feel will do the best job.

[FLHC]

How about the outside unit? Does it matter that on the Rheem and the Amana, the coils are more enclosed? On the tempstar, they are more like chicken wire, but really close together. Does that effect anything?

So do you think I would be safe with the Tempstar? I know the contractor (he is a neighbor) and front what i've heard, does quality work. He quoted a good amount less than the other two as well...

[wahoo]

If you plan on staying in the house the rest of your life, the Amana has a "lifetime" complete unit replacement warranty if the compressor ever fails to the original owner. If you're not staying for long, then probably not a lot of warranty difference! Most all will have 10 yr. compressor, 10 yr. parts, and recommend you get the factory extended labor warranty coverage if available! Do not recommend an extended Labor warranty of not through the equipment company. Don't buy Equiguard Warranty!
Make sure what brand you buy is puchased through the factory distributor, and not through a local wholesale supply house. Problem with local wholesale houses is that they change brands every two or three years, and what you buy from them may not be what they handle when you need warranty coverage years from now. If your neighbor is an established dealer, with a shop, insurance, licensed, and experienced, then you may be safe with him. If he's working from his house, and his pickup is his shop/office, run, run, run! Oh yeah, if his business phone is his cell, run faster! Enclosed coils on outside units are more difficult to clean, but give more protection from hail, and thrown damage (mowers).

[achero0224]

If you want something thats cheap and going to break all the time i would go with amana or tempstar. if you want a good quality unit go with ruud or american standerd. You can pull up comsumer reports and look at the ratings for most brands they range from least repairs to most.

[andserco]

The condenser on the Tempstar is a 14 SEER single stage AC, if you want 2 stage the unit should be T4A836GKC and the seer rating with the indoor unit listed would be about 17...IMO alot of garage info in several of the posts...when comparing qoutes be sure the scope of the work is evaulated to have a fair comparision...

[FLHC]

What does that mean, "a lot of garage info."

I mean, all these units seem to have similar warranties, similar coverage, similar savings rating. Is it all just the quality of the installer?

I'm coming from an 8 seer, 13 year old "Coolmaster" or something. I want to save on the power bill and heat in the home. My power bill last month was $270.00 and my thermostat is having a hard time getting under 80!

[andserco]

sorry, alot of "garbage" info.......people start knocking equipment brands and contractors that they do not know........IMO.."garbage"

[seatonheating]

What does that mean, "a lot of garage info."

I mean, all these units seem to have similar warranties, similar coverage, similar savings rating. Is it all just the quality of the installer?

I'm coming from an 8 seer, 13 year old "Coolmaster" or something. I want to save on the power bill and heat in the home. My power bill last month was $270.00 and my thermostat is having a hard time getting under 80!

Find a contractor that will come in and not even mention his brand. A good contractor will come in and talk about his company, how he is going to design you a system that works, and is going to show you why.

P.S. On a sidenote, I used to sell jobs this way before the customer even knew what product they were buying..:). A good contractor can rip the label off of his equipment and it makes no damn difference.

[udarrell]

What does that mean, "a lot of garbage info."

I mean, all these units seem to have similar warranties, similar coverage, similar savings rating. Is it (NEARLY) all just the quality of the installer? YES, it certainly can be!

I'm coming from an 8 seer, 13 year old "Coolmaster" or something. I want to save on the power bill and heat in the home. My power bill last month was $270.00 and my thermostat is having a hard time getting under 80!

Everyone posting HVAC questions in this forum ought to list the state they live in & the specific area, such as SW/NE (etc.) FL or TX, etc.

That helps us identify the climate's humidity & seasonal run-time, etc.

Due to initial cost & possible install oversights & many more things to go wrong, - I am somewhat leary of two stage compressor systems for a lot of situations. Some will agree, some may disagree...

If you select a condenser with a Scroll compressor & two speed fan, along with a variable speed (VS) air handler & with a TXV metering device on the cooling coil; there can be a lot of BTUH variation in that system, toward meeting those needs. Some will agree, some may disagree...

If it were me, I'd ask all the contractors to provide me a quote on that setup.

System problems can wipe out any marginal gains obtained with the higher cost two stage systems, & I'm betting you could not feel the difference in comfort between what I'd ask for, - & a two stage compressor set-up.
Some will agree, some may disagree... :CU: :pop: - Darrell

[jjust61]

If you plan on staying in the house the rest of your life, the Amana has a "lifetime" complete unit replacement warranty if the compressor ever fails to the original owner. If you're not staying for long, then probably not a lot of warranty difference! Most all will have 10 yr. compressor, 10 yr. parts, and recommend you get the factory extended labor warranty coverage if available! Do not recommend an extended Labor warranty of not through the equipment company. Don't buy Equiguard Warranty!
Make sure what brand you buy is puchased through the factory distributor, and not through a local wholesale supply house. Problem with local wholesale houses is that they change brands every two or three years, and what you buy from them may not be what they handle when you need warranty coverage years from now. If your neighbor is an established dealer, with a shop, insurance, licensed, and experienced, then you may be safe with him. If he's working from his house, and his pickup is his shop/office, run, run, run! Oh yeah, if his business phone is his cell, run faster! Enclosed coils on outside units are more difficult to clean, but give more protection from hail, and thrown damage (mowers).




Everyone's business starts somewhere Mr Wahoo, even sometimes in a single truck. Slamming other Contractors that you know nothing about does our Trade no good.

[FLHC]

I am currently residing in South Florida - near Cocoa Beach.

I'm not too familiar with the variable fans, dual compressors, etc.

The Amana that I got quoted on, the ASZ16, has a two stage Copeland UltraTech scroll compressor

The TempStar TX5400 unit has a Copeland Scroll but is not listed as having a Two-stage compressor.

Is this seen as being important?

Also, is having a french drain ok, beneficial, or just a matter of preference and overall drainage.

My air handler also is in a closet inside my house in the hallway. Very restricted space. Is there any special considerations I should keep in mind when putting a new unit it? They have already discussed putting the intake vent on the outside wall instead of in the closet and having it suck through the door which it does now.

Should the contractors be rebuilding the whole platform that the unit sits on? Also, right now there is a black flex tube inside. Most have said they would take that out. Should the be putting anything special in there?

As far as warranties, both the Amana and the TempStar seem to offer good warranties...any input on them?

[andserco]

[QUOTE=FLHC;4598582]
The TempStar TX5400 unit has a Copeland Scroll but is not listed as having a Two-stage compressor.


As I posted earlier, the TX5400 is a 14 SEER, single stage...You will have to get the T4A838GKC-(STX series) to get the 2 stage.....


If you do go with variable speed indoor unit,IMO you living in So. Fla, I would ask your contractor about dehumidification controls, the equipment you are looking at will do this, just need to put a T-Stat with this feature..


Good luck, I know there is a lot to considered and its gets confusing at times..that is why, picking the right contractor is so important..

[FLHC]

So what do you do if you have two different contractors, both reputable, but offer different brands?

One is offering Tempstar and the other is offering Amana.

About a $500.00 difference between the two. Both offer rebates with our power company and qualify for the $1500.00 tax break.

What would be your recommendation?

[andserco]

Which company would you go with if they were installing the same brand and the price was the same money??

[FLHC]

Point well taken. I appreciate your honest remarks.

[davefr]

If he's working from his house, and his pickup is his shop/office, run, run, run! Oh yeah, if his business phone is his cell, run faster!

I also don't understand this comment. What's inherently wrong with a small or one man operation?

At least you're unlikely to be interfacing with secretaries or salesmen and their overhead may be lower. I can see pros and cons on both sides.

[wahoo]

If tempstar warranty is the same, and actually will replace the entire outside unit if compressor ever fails (to original owner) then I would be surprised! Never have heard of another company offering this warranty coverage, but could be out there. Not "knocking" small one man operations, just have seen a LOT of them "come and go" in the years we've been in business. We've always had a secretary, and always had an office, but others might have different opinions. I'm sorry, but 1 year out of "tech" school does not qualify as "experienced" in my book! :eek2:

[udarrell]

I also don't understand this comment. What's inherently wrong with a small or one man operation?

At least you're unlikely to be interfacing with secretaries or salesmen and their overhead may be lower. I can see pros and cons on both sides.
In all the years since the mid-1970's that I witnessed work done by various companies, it was the smaller even one man operations that seem to do the better work.

I made a living following the large companies doing fast work, apparently using too many cheap hires. Some appeared to be in it to condemn compressors & coils to make a small repair job into a major equipment replacement.

Never judge an HVAC tech by how old the vehicle is, it's their character & tech skill abilities & test instruments & tools that count; judge them by what they know concerning putting your needs first, & by how they respond to your qualification questions, - your interaction with them.

As a consumer, you need to educate yourself so you have sufficient knowledge concerning the sequence order of HOW things need to be done, or you won't have the know-how to qualify a company, or know if a tech is doing things right & proper.

The smooth talkers trained to sell, are also good at taking your money & leaving a figurative time bomb of down the road costly service work.

Therefore, the size of the company & how long they've been in business are both irrelevant, because I've seen that combo keep doing far too many things wrong, or NOT doing what ought to have been done in the right way.

Therefore, initially put them all on equal footing with a fair opportunity to prove to you that they are qualified to do the job right & to your full satisfaction.

The best contractor will only suggest what is best to do in your situation & will only suggest the best equipment combo & explain & do a quality install, - that will be the best investment for you over its longer service years. :pop: - Darrell

[andserco]

Never have heard of another company offering this warranty coverage, but could be out there. :


So , you comment about stuff that you are un-famaliar with to the OP, who is asking very good questions .......amazing...

You need to reread Udarrell posts,he is dead on.....

[lentz]

I have saw some of the same problems, the larger the company is the sorrier their work is. They are in and out with no thought if the systems work or not.

[andserco]

The size of the company is trivial, the finished product is what is important..