Homeowner dilemma

[Tigerbotia]

My contractor recently installed a First Company air handler 18HBXB-HW with R-410A TXV-HP installed. This unit heats and cools and sits in an unfinished part of my basement. He quoted a Rudd system. The air conditioning compressor will be a Rudd....should I be concerned? Does Rudd make a superior air handler? Also, the unit sits horizontally directly on the basement floor; is this proper installation? Any help is much appreciated.

[Tiger93rsl]

They all use pretty much the same parts made by the same manufature, with the exception of a few parts. All manufatures make a "superior air handler", if your willing to spend the extra money for all the bells a whistles. If your willing to spend the money for the top of the line equipment, regardless of who the manufature is, your going to get good equipment. I would recommend going to the websites of other manufatures and compare their units to the one you are looking at. Look at specifications and the waranties that are offered. The VFD air handlers are the top of the line. Then you have your ECM and then varable speed beeing at the bottom.

[superheatrman]

My contractor recently installed a First Company air handler 18HBXB-HW with R-410A TXV-HP installed. This unit heats and cools and sits in an unfinished part of my basement. He quoted a Rudd system. The air conditioning compressor will be a Rudd....should I be concerned? Does Rudd make a superior air handler? Also, the unit sits horizontally directly on the basement floor; is this proper installation? Any help is much appreciated.....Rheem does'nt make air handlers with hot water coils..
After looking at their products, it appears that First Company does'nt yet sell outdoor units to match their air handlers, Rudd, produces a great line of outddor units..First Company lists a matching Rudd heat pump in their data link......Mounting/setting any unit directly on floor concerns me, Rubber isolation pad can reduce vibration, corosion to cabiniet parts, aid in leak detection, would stongly suggest them.http://www.mason-industries.com/masonind/private/files/pdf/SW.pdf Look under Rudd to find matching outdoor unithttp://www.firstco.com/products/efficiency_ratings.asp

[Green Mountain]

Also, the unit sits horizontally directly on the basement floor; is this proper installation? Any help is much appreciated.

Maybe he is not finished yet. You said that the outdoor unit is not installed yet! Surely he knows that he will need some elevation in order to install the condensate drain. Maybe he just hooked it up temporarily so that you would have some heat until the rest of the equipment arrives.

Why don't you ask him?