Need a new home central air conditioner

[jinman]

If I were in Oklahoma and needed an air conditioner, I'd sure look into York. They have a major manufacturing plant just off I-35 in Norman, Oklahoma. I also think there are other good brands, but you know York parts don't have very far to ship.

 

[Western]

My Cousin is an HVAC tech, 2 yrs ago my outside unit was shot, a 1995 model. He recommended that I change both the A frame and the outside complete. I double checked with the HVAC supply house and they recommended the same thing. The idea I guess is the efficiency is better?? don't know

So I bought the A frame and the outside piece, enough pre-filled tubing for the run and installed it myself in under an hr. was $1400 less than even my cousin quoted me.

I paid $1533.22 with tax for a 4 ton

 

[kenmac]

If you replace the condenser & leave the evap coil. You will have a mis-matched system. The new condensers R22 or R410 are 13 seer. Again, The R22 units will be shipped with nitrogen.The unit will have to be charged with R22. AS an HVAC contractor, I wouldn't install a 13 seer condenser on a Evap. coil that was connected to an 8,9,10, etc, seer condenser

 

[kenmac]

My Cousin is an HVAC tech, 2 yrs ago my outside unit was shot, a 1995 model. He recommended that I change both the A frame and the outside complete. I double checked with the HVAC supply house and they recommended the same thing. The idea I guess is the efficiency is better?? don't know

So I bought the A frame and the outside piece, enough pre-filled tubing for the run and installed it myself in under an hr. was $1400 less than even my cousin quoted me.

I paid $1533.22 with tax for a 4 ton

Only Refrigerant lines that I know that are pre charged are for M.H. It takes me more than an HR just to pull the correct vacuum

 

[grsthegreat]

We installed a Goodman 4-1/2 ton R410a heat pump system about 2-1/2 hears ago.... I put in the highest efficiency and highest SEER rated unit that they had. LOVE it. No issues and great heat. The heat pump heats the house until its about 25-28 F outdoors, then the gas heat backup would kick in. I went gas instead of elect backup cause i want the generator to be able to heat the house in an emergency.
I have a wood stove for main heat, so this is all just backup.

Goodman and Amana are the same company. Goodman has the scroll compressor for reliability. My good friend installed it for me, and he installs many different brands, He recommended this unit cause he said he see's very little issues with them, and he doesn't want to lose me as a friend.

 

[Western]

If you replace the condenser & leave the evap coil. You will have a mis-matched system. The new condensers R22 or R410 are 13 seer. Again, The R22 units will be shipped with nitrogen.The unit will have to be charged with R22. AS an HVAC contractor, I wouldn't install a 13 seer condenser on a Evap. coil that was connected to an 8,9,10, etc, seer condenser

That was the reason, I remembered now that you mentioned it. I knew it was something with the efficiency. Thanks

Only Refrigerant lines that I know that are pre charged are for M.H. It takes me more than an HR just to pull the correct vacuum

You are correct, a Coleman system.

 

[kenmac]

Our AC guy said he flushes out the lines with nitrogen I think. It that how they do it ?

Depends on what happened to the old compressor. You could have Acid through out the entire system. Which, then would require Acid driers & an additive to rid the system of Acid. If you use the same coil & refrigerant lines & don't perforn an Acid test & you have Acid in the system. Your new unit will have a very short life. There's more to A/C than just plug & play. I know you said $$ is tight but, sometimes it can cost you more $$ taking the short cut route... Not trying to be a smart **** just letting you know some important info

 

[kenmac]

Goodman and Amana are the same company. Goodman has the scroll compressor for reliability..

Many manufactures use the scroll compressor these days
Here's you a list of who owns what brand. of course this can & does change



History of the Industry Brands

 

[Sigarms]

If you replace the condenser & leave the evap coil. You will have a mis-matched system. The new condensers R22 or R410 are 13 seer. Again, The R22 units will be shipped with nitrogen.The unit will have to be charged with R22. AS an HVAC contractor, I wouldn't install a 13 seer condenser on a Evap. coil that was connected to an 8,9,10, etc, seer condenser

BINGO!

You forgot to mention how the coil volume ratio between the evaporator coil and outdoor unit could also cause some service related issues that will be non stop (particularly for a heat pump) for as long as the system is running.

One other thing people tend to forget is that of all the dry ship units I know of, they only come with a 5 year warranty.

 

[Sigarms]

I probably spent a little more money than I needed to, but I paid a little extra for a 10 year parts and labor warranty; not from Goodman, but from the company that installed it. And then I pay them $12 a month for their "club" membership, as they call it. That's for them to come out twice a year to check everything without me calling them or having a problem.

I can only assume that you also paid a higher upfront cost for the labor warranty ADDED with the $12 a month fee?

I'd call Goodman to verify that your system does not have a 10 year labor plan on it from Goodman. Contractors have been known to add a labor plan from the manufacturer and not inform the homeowner on it, letting the homeowner think that the contractor is taking care of the labor themselves. With Goodman, the labor from the manufacturer is transferable if the home is ever sold, but if the contractor doesn't let you know, that means they will be off the hook so to speak for the labor. The practice of not giving you the "truth" on what they're doing per extended labor is also illegal in some states.

I do like how they break the fee down to $12 a month. Less pain than $120 a year. Also a great price if they clean your coils once a year with air filter change and electrical check. People tend to forget that HVAC systems are "running machines" like an auto, and having it serviced once a year isn't a bad idea. That, or they're getting no air and you find out that the air filter has 2" of dirt on it and it hasn't been changed in 5 years LOL People also tend to forget that generally, labor isn't included with a warranty. Take a compressor or reversing valve changeout eight years down the road, and you could drop 1k in labor alone even though the part is under warranty.