Hello all, this is my first post on this board. I am looking into getting my A/C unit in my home replaced probably after the first of the year and I have a few questions I would like to get some answers to.

Details first: I have 2 separate units in my home. One for upstairs and one for downstairs. The upstairs unit is a 2-ton unit 10 seer that is only a couple of years old. It is working fine and I don’t have any issues with it. My downstairs unit is a 3 ton, 10 seer unit that is 5 years old (same age as the house). It is working ok so far but I have had to have repairs done on the unit a couple of times in the last year. I was told by 2 separate guys that came to my house that it is a piece of junk unit. It is a bottom of the line Goodman. I don’t know anything about the line but both of the guys that came out from different companies said the unit was not very good and they usually don’t last past 7 to 10 years.

First question...Should I go with Puron of R22. And is there a big price difference in the R22 vs. Puron?

Is there a particular manufacturer I should stick with? I have read some good things about Trane and Carrier but I don’t know much besides what I have read in the last week. I think from what I have read that I want a variable speed unit but other than that I am unsure.

I got a quote from the guys that came out this weekend on 2 new carrier units I’m not sure of the model numbers but they were both carrier units. One was an Infinity 17, 15 seer variable unit. The other was a carrier 13 seer unit. The Infinity quote was $9700.00, which included duct cleaning. The 13-seer unit quote was $8000.00. Are these prices what I can expect to spend? I was kind of sticker shocked when I got the quotes.

 

I don't really know what makes a good heat pump versus a bad one, but I can tell you that at my last house, I had a Carrier unit. It only lasted about 8 years, and it had to have a board replaced before that. When service techs would come, they would say that Carrier was a piece of junk. I said I thought Carrier was supposed to be good. Their reply was that if I put a product on the market and spent what they do on advertising, I could convince people my product was good too. I have never heard anything bad about Trane, which is part of American Standard. I'd certainly take a Trane over a Carrier any day. I have a Trane heat pump on my top floor now and it seems pretty good. I had a Trane furnace and air conditioner on my main floor, but I ripped it out to put in geothermal, as propane was just way too expensive. Geothermal is the way to go, but if you can't do that, Trane seems to have an excellent reputation. Whatever you do, go for a high efficiency unit with a variable speed blower. Dual speed compressor units are even better and I'd say worth the extra cost.

 

Id say Trane or lennox. Best buy is the Trane
XL15i with a V/S blower that comes with a humidistat control that will pull more water out of the air for you and has a SEER of 15.10
Now R22 & R410a thats Puron.
Stay with the R22 it will be made till 2030. R410a cost to much. If you have a bad leak then it all has to be pulled out fixed and all new R410a put back in $$$$$.

Go to and read

http://www.toad.net/~jsmeenen/freon.html

ED

 

Thanks for the info and responces guys! Its funny how it depends on who you talk too as to what recommendation. That is why I like these boards because you get some unbiased information (after you get through owner loyalty).

After reading that article I have just crossed that company from my list. Do you have any links to a geothermal system. I have never heard of them. Sounds like something I might want to look into. I will google them when I finish here. Thanks again Guys.

 

Might look at http://www.amgeo.com/

to start with


ED

 

look at www.geoexchange.org for the industry trade site. Then look at www.hydrodelta.com and www.waterfurnace.com as two units with good reputations. Trane also makes geo units, but I'm not as familiar with their offerings here.

Geo systems cost more to put in upfront, mainly due to the cost of the wells, but they are extremely cheap to run over time. They are also all premium systems with dual staged or dual speed compressors and variable speed air handlers so they aren't cheap, but other than the wells, they aren't much more than premium air exchange units with the same features. If you decide to go the geo route, stick to water loop systems, not the direct exchange systems which don't have as good a reliability reputation. Talk to anyone who owns a geo system though and they'll tell you they're the only way to go. I love mine and especially compared to propane, the cost savings is incredible. My break even point for the cost of the system is only about 4 years.

It's funny that most people haven't heard of geo. It's a fantastic technology and most government and many commercial buildings are going this way now. It's not as big in the residential area, but is growing as more people realize that there is a huge payback over the upfront cost.

 

According to the EPA's website chemical companies will not be allowed to manufacture R22 after the year 2020. After 2020 it can only be obtained from recycled sources. It will not be allowed in new equipment as of 2010.
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html