Any home HVAC professionals here?

[caseydog]

I need to replace my downstairs AC system -- including compressor unit outside and evaporator inside. My current furnace and blower are fine, so that is not being replaced.

I am looking at Lennox and Trane, and would like some opinions. Both systems will cost the same.

The price quotes for either brand for a two-ton, 14 SEER 410 system is $4,500, installed.

Any advice appreciated.

CD

[Steve_Cox]

CD,

I am not a professional, but I did install my own heat pump and air handler in my house. I was able to save about $2500 on the replacement installation and also upgraded to an air handler with a soft start variable speed drive. It was pretty easy to do. The outside unit was pre-charged so there was no guessing about freon or any of that stuff. That was 5 years ago, and so far no problems.

[bobhenry]

I need to replace my downstairs AC system -- including compressor unit outside and evaporator inside. My current furnace and blower are fine, so that is not being replaced.

I am looking at Lennox and Trane, and would like some opinions. Both systems will cost the same.

The price quotes for either brand for a two-ton, 14 SEER 410 system is $4,500, installed.

Any advice appreciated.

CD

I had led a charmed life with furnaces until I installed a new TRANE unit in 2001. To date 2 pre combustion blowers. Out of balance blower motor. Mysterious loss of freon for A/C side. And best of all it sounds like it's name , a train. You have to turn up the television when it kicks on if you want to continue to hear the program. I was so sick of it I installed 2 free standing 99.6% effecient gas fireplaces. Furnace ran less than 2 week this winter.That's the way I like it my gas bill has been cut at least in half by avoiding the use of the pig.

[Dooner]

I worked in HVAC from 1983 to 1996. In that time, I have seen a lot with different brands. All brands have their lemons. You can't get around that.
$4500 for a 2 ton AC unit and coil sounds a little high to me. We just replaced 4 systems (3-5tons and 1-4ton), furnace, coil, and condensor, and they were around $5000 for each system.
I would stay away from Lennox unless you are going to buy the top of the line most effecient unit they make. You can't beat it. But going with a 14 seer AC, I would check on some other brands. Tempstar is good. Goodman and Janitrol are two of the cheapest priced and cheapest made units that I know of, and seen them last 15+ years and work great.
My advice is to shop around some more. Forget about the bells and whistles. Another thing to remember is when you are talking to the salesman, if he says anything bad about another installation company, think twice about them. If he has to make others look bad to make himself look better, he must not be that good to begin with. Let the workmanship do the talking. Doesn't matter what brand you go with, if the installation is not good, it will not work up to it's potential.
Good luck.

[asianflava]

I had led a charmed life with furnaces until I installed a new TRANE unit in 2001. To date 2 pre combustion blowers. Out of balance blower motor. Mysterious loss of freon for A/C side. And best of all it sounds like it's name , a train.

Like Dooner said, all brands have their lemons. My house in TX was built with a Trane in 1998. When I sold the house last month, the inspector measured the temp drop and operation. He said it was working like it was brand new. The second year we lived there, we had a leaky schrader valve that caused the freon to leak out, but that wasn't the fault of the system. Other than that I never had a problem.

A few of my neighbors started having problems with a control board burning up. All the houses were built at the same time. The replacement board had an upgrade to prevent this. I never had that problem, I don't know if it was due to the electronic thermostat that I installed.

[Amish Classic]

Agree with Dooner,$4500 is to high. I am replacing my 1.5 ton ,both evap. coil & condenser for $2700 for Trane 14 seer,installed including old unit disposal, in a few weeks. A very little modification of phlenum,and pad set up outside for condensing unit,or electric. It is not known if you have to upgrade electric service, pad installation,or stand,or any duct work needed to install,but still shouldn't be that much.I would check around. Commercial/Industrial HVAC 1986-1994{no longer refrigerant certified}

[caseydog]

Agree with Dooner,$4500 is to high. I am replacing my 1.5 ton ,both evap. coil & condenser for $2700 for Trane 14 seer,installed including old unit disposal, in a few weeks. A very little modification of phlenum,and pad set up outside for condensing unit,or electric. It is not known if you have to upgrade electric service, pad installation,or stand,or any duct work needed to install, but still shouldn't be that much.I would check around. Commercial/Industrial HVAC 1986-1994{no longer refrigerant certified}

My old evaporator is an Allstyle unit, which is a cheap coil-in-a-box. They will need to replace it with a separate evaporator and plenum. To do this, the furnace and blower unit has to move about one foot to the right, so everything will fit. To do that, they have to relocate the return-air duct and add some length to the furnace flue.

I'm switching to R-410A so they will have to clean the lines, too.

Outside, the compressor/condenser will sit where the old one was, so no beg deal.

I did some research, and got some other prices, and they were all pretty close to the same thing, apples to apples. The company I want to use has a good reputation. They have done service work for me in the past, and I have been happy with them. I know just enough about HVAC to know when someone is trying to BS me.

Thanks to all of you for the good advice.

[Luckey]

I have been in heating and cooling for a little over 5 years now ans have worked my way up the "ladder" from install to tech. Alot that has been said about the install part is right, if it's not done right then it won't work right. Now about the line that they need top clean, I have been taught that the different oils that make up R22 and R410a should not come in contact together and won't work right if the lines aren't cleaned well enough can cause problems. If we are changing from 22 to 410a we always always always change the line set. It might cost more now but it can keep problems away later. Just some food for thought. Thanks for listening.

Jarred

[Steve_Cox]

I have been in heating and cooling for a little over 5 years now ans have worked my way up the "ladder" from install to tech. Alot that has been said about the install part is right, if it's not done right then it won't work right. Now about the line that they need top clean, I have been taught that the different oils that make up R22 and R410a should not come in contact together and won't work right if the lines aren't cleaned well enough can cause problems. If we are changing from 22 to 410a we always always always change the line set. It might cost more now but it can keep problems away later. Just some food for thought. Thanks for listening.

Jarred

Jarred,

on changing the line set. I'm not a professional, but I like to do a quality job myself. I had my wife helping change the lines, that was a fun job. Had her in a hole in the ground by the house foundation feeding in the new lines as I pulled out the old ones under the garage floor.

[asianflava]

Jarred,

on changing the line set. I'm not a professional, but I like to do a quality job myself. I had my wife helping change the lines, that was a fun job. Had her in a hole in the ground by the house foundation feeding in the new lines as I pulled out the old ones under the garage floor.

And that was after she passed the "Sea Trials"? Man, you're tough!

[Grumpeyyy]

Caseydog

They should replace the lines as Luckey said the oils are not compatible and I don't care how well you clean them there still is a chance of some major ploblems down the road.

I am a self employed HVAC contractor. The install has more to do with how things work then the brand. I have installed and worked on most all brands and you can get good and bad with any of them. But a bad install can make the best system a peice of junk.

As far as price in western Pa where I am at, $4500.00 is way high. I would be lucky to get 3000.00 around here.

[Steve_Cox]

Jarred,

on changing the line set. I'm not a professional, but I like to do a quality job myself. I had my wife helping change the lines, that was a fun job. Had her in a hole in the ground by the house foundation feeding in the new lines as I pulled out the old ones under the garage floor.

And that was after she passed the "Sea Trials"? Man, you're tough!

Not as tough as she is..... she's always got my back