Goodman? Ruud? A/S? none??

[kojak]

About ready to bite the bullet and replace our 18 year old Lennox split system (~9-10 SEER now maybe? has TXV, 80% gas furnace) for a heat pump...gas prices headed up and it seems I have to fix something on the old one other every year so don't want to put any more $$ in it. Electricity cheap in this area, so paying high gas bills feels like throwing money away. My installer is super and willing to do whatever, but is high on A/S and Ruud, not too excited about Goodman/Amana. Did a thorough load calculation and estimates about half a ton less than is installed now (3 instead of 3.5).

Here are the options without actual cost:

Goodman 14 SEER (CPLT/AEPT) - $xxx (10 yr parts wty)
Rheem 14 SEER (UBHK/UPPB) - $xxx + $900
A/S 14 SEER (Heritage) with A/S humidifier - $xxx + $1300
A/S 18 SEER with A/S humidifier - $xxx + $2600

Wouldn't even think about A/S except they have no pymts/no interest till 2007 and throw in the humidifier (could choose filtration system, but we’re tired of the dryness in winter). Only considering the real hi end system because some say it could help home resale in 4 - 8 years.

Are the differences between these systems enough to justify buying anything but the Goodman? The demand defrost sounds better than Goodman’s timed defrost, but maybe that’s no big deal. Somewhere heard mention of tax rebates coming next year on hi eff systems…maybe should wait another year? or do nothing till the present system seriously breaks?

[airworx]

is the price for a goodman or an amana its not a goodman amana.im guessing since hes using goodman amana its a goodman and goodman is the cheapest built a/c in the industry and by the time you do all the repairs and then have to install a new unit or coil in 6 to 10 yrs you could have bought a good unit.

ruud is ok american standard is the best of these.
but for what you can get an amer.standard you can get a carrier performance series ht.pump and the best system in the market. some may argue trane but coils are hard to clean and we clean more coils,change more capacitors and motors on trane than any brand other than goodman.
oh yea american standard same as trane.

[kojak]

Thanks airworx, sorry I wasn't clear...my tech said he doesn't care for either Goodman or Amana, but the system I listed was Goodman, not Amana.

How is Carrier heat pump different? Interesting that you see so many repairs on Trane-A/S...I keep seeing the Consumer Reports stuff that put A/S first and Goodman last.

Robo, is that CR info based on earlier Goodman systems?

[RoBoTeq]

The CR report is virtually worthless paper and ink but, yes, is based on a survey of homeowners about previous systems. By CRs own admission, their margin of error exceeds the difference between the highest rated and the lowest rated of the brands. Absolutely no equipment was ever tested or even looked at for this survey. There is not one tangible bit of data in that report. The fact that there is a difference between Rheem and Ruud brands, which are identicle, shows that it is a bogus and flawed survey.

Aside from that; go with the brand that the contractor you want prefers. It's all the same stuff if the same efficiencies and features are available. Every manufacturer had issues with demand defrost in the past and every manufacturer switched back to time/delay for at least a period of time. Demand defrost is just one of many tools for manufacturers to tweek the SEER ratings a bit.

[BobbyBJr]

I agree with Robo about the CR report. I get a chuckle out of one everytime I read it. There are a lot more brands out there than there are makers, so some makers make several different brands such as Rheem/Ruud and Trane/A/S and Carrier/Bryant and others. Now, there are some subtle differences in some of these brands, but in some it is very little. Personally, I don't have a favorite brand. I sell and service several and tell my customers that the design and installation is more important than the brand. Basically, I feel I can make any of them run and give decent service for a reasonable period of time. None of them will run forever and they all break down from time to time. Go by the Cadillac dealership and check out the service department....they will be there and they will be busy....lol. Having said all that, I usually steer my customers to the brand that offers what they tell me they want and fits into their budget. Lets's face it, we don't all drive Cadillacs....

Bobby

[mavericknga]

check for the goodman. i think the higher seer rated units have a lifetime warranty

[RoBoTeq]

Originally posted by mavericknga
check for the goodman. i think the higher seer rated units have a lifetime warranty

Yes they do, on the compressors.