Commercial RTU Replacement - Can it be a different brand?
For a commercial RTU, is it okay to change brands as long as the specifications are the same as the existing RTU? What else would need to be changed/modified? (i.e. controls, curbing, etc.).
Carrier, from the 80s on, have had a standard footprint. All the others have a Carrier footprint model in their line to compete with Carrier. Otherwise you have to use a curb adapter, which sometimes can get pretty ugly. So like 99 said, details of what you have is the best start.
If you don't have a common unit, a GOOD dealer would look for a unit with a very close match to the old one to avoid a hideous adapter which can hurt airflow. Against my wishes, my boss sold a Rheem Carrier footprint unit to replace a Trane. The curb adapter was UGLY. He could have replaced with another Trane or Lennox for a very short adapter.
We have an Engineered Air RTU with a Prairie Controls thermostat. It is a large beast and very expensive. I'm wondering if everything would have to be changed if we went with a different brand. (i.e controls, thermostats, communication software, curbing, etc.). Let me know if you need more info.
That might be the newer version? I think ours is from 1993 and quite a bit longer. I can’t figure out how to post pics on here. I would post a pic if there was an obvious button like “add attachments”. If there is, I can’t find it.