Which brand central air unit to buy?

[flusher]

We will soon need to replace our 15 year old Lennox central air system that has been wonderful. One local quality guy installs Ducane brand but the on-line reviews are only 2 out of 5 stars. Another local quality guy installs Lennox but they also got only 2 out of five stars. What gives? Lennox used to be one of the best. Are they all like this? Harbor Freight gets more than 2 out of 5 stars.

Anyone put in or replaced a central air unit in the past few years that has anything good or bad to recommend or not recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Replaced a Trane 4 ton reciprocating compressor AC in July 2014 after 9-1/2 seasons. Compressor had a 5 year warranty. For the same price I paid in May 2005 for the Trane, I got a Ruud 4 ton scroll compressor AC. That compressor has a 10 year warranty.

Go with a scroll compressor and the better warranty.

Good luck.

 

[techman]

I will maybe be the odd man out. I install Goodman. Not a big flashy name, but good units. They are using all name brand parts (Copeland compressors, etc) and you can a 5 yr warranty/10 compressor on most units. I have not had afailure of one I have installed over the last 10 years, except for one capacitor. They are generally lower cost that the big names.

Most of the issues with early problems can be traced to poor installs, so spend your money on an installer with a good rep.

paul

 

[dmccarty]

When we built our current house we went with Goodman. I have heard good and bad about them back then but we rolled the dice. So far so good. The capacitor went out one long hot summer when we had 10 or so days of temperatures over 100 degrees. The service call was about $100-150 including the replacement capacitor. This last winter that capacitor failed and I replaced it with a unit from Amazon for $25-30. I have a replacement capacitor in the drawer waiting for this one to fail in a couple of years. The system is 10 years old and works just fine except for the capacitors that fail every few years. I think the ones I am getting from Amazon are from Mexico.

Later,
Dan

 

[sixdogs]

What is wrong with the current lennox? And why not repair it?

Buying a new unit, you will pay for alot of things that are probably still good on your unit

A Mennonite fellow services it and he said something to the effect that I have three wires to the capacitor? and that two have burned off. When the third goes, I have to replace the unit. Lots lost in translation and I wasn't paying close attention because I thought new units would be better than the old and that it was time to replace it anyway. I would love to fix the old one but it's 15 years old.

Eddie--which brand would you say are the most reliable? I hear Carrier and Trane from the trades guys I know and some mention Lennox. I know the guy that does Lennox and he is first rate but I am concerned about the low ratings on the internet. The guy I like around here installs Ducane but I never even heard of them.

I'm not going to do a heat pump because we are retired. Maybe if I was 25. I just want to buy a reliable unit that works and doesn't fail.

 

[Loadstar]

Capacitors fail like light bulbs. Know what you have and how to change it. Amrad and Titan HD are made in America. Much better option then Chinese maypops.

 

[sixdogs]

I wonder if people are buying brand names but lower-end units and maybe that's a part of the low ratings problem? Maybe you get what you pay for?

 

[tman1020]

I have used York, goodman,Bryant,luxaire,& Duane. The Bryant's were old and seemed like junk to me. I was nervous about the Goodman but did not have any problems but did not have it very long. Have had four Yorks for quite a long time with very few problems. My installer swears by Luxair. And for the most part have had good luck with them. I am very unhappy with a heat pump from them. Lately we have been using Ducane. Probably for the past four years. We have 5 currently in Service and so far no problems. When I had a expensive Luxair heat pump installed it came with no name on it. I asked my installer about this and he said that several brands use the same products and they just install the tag at time of installation. So I think as others have said it's more about who's installing it than what you're installing. Pick the guy you like bye what he recommends call him to fix it when it breaks.

 

[LD1]

A Mennonite fellow services it and he said something to the effect that I have three wires to the capacitor? and that two have burned off. When the third goes, I have to replace the unit. Lots lost in translation and I wasn't paying close attention because I thought new units would be better than the old and that it was time to replace it anyway. I would love to fix the old one but it's 15 years old.

Eddie--which brand would you say are the most reliable? I hear Carrier and Trane from the trades guys I know and some mention Lennox. I know the guy that does Lennox and he is first rate but I am concerned about the low ratings on the internet. The guy I like around here installs Ducane but I never even heard of them.

I'm not going to do a heat pump because we are retired. Maybe if I was 25. I just want to buy a reliable unit that works and doesn't fail.

Personally, I'd just drop in a new compressor and be done.

What refrigerant is in there now? If you have an R22 system now, you are gonna need more than just a new unit set. The coil in your furnace will also need changed if you go to a 410a unit.

Before I did anything though, I'd get a second opinion.

 

[JRobyn]

I have two Carrier "conventional" units now about 10yrs old that have been excellent. R410, high SEER, scroll compressors, variable speed air handlers. Had to replace one contactor that ants got into.

At the new house, have two high-SEER, two-stage scroll compressor Rheem heat pumps with variable speed air handlers. Went with those, like others have said, because my chosen installer recommended and readily services them. So far, one of the condenser fans has failed, and now one of the evap coils is leaking. Installer tells me that Rheem has known about the coil leaks and the cause for several years (due to an assembly lube/procedure that results in corrosion), but has done NOTHING for customers with the bad units. Their warranty only covers the replacement parts, no labor. In defense of Rheem, he says that other manufacturers do exactly the same thing.

- Jay

 

[Loadstar]

I have two Carrier "conventional" units now about 10yrs old that have been excellent. R410, high SEER, scroll compressors, variable speed air handlers. Had to replace one contactor that ants got into. At the new house, have two high-SEER, two-stage scroll compressor Rheem heat pumps with variable speed air handlers. Went with those, like others have said, because my chosen installer recommended and readily services them. So far, one of the condenser fans has failed, and now one of the evap coils is leaking. Installer tells me that Rheem has known about the coil leaks and the cause for several years (due to an assembly lube/procedure that results in corrosion), but has done NOTHING for customers with the bad units. Their warranty only covers the replacement parts, no labor. In defense of Rheem, he says that other manufacturers do exactly the same thing. - Jay

Recently there was a big problem with units having copeland scrolls. A company building parts for them used a nonspecified rust inhibitor that gums up in the thermal expansion valves. Once the valve was changed the new one would do the same. This sent a shockwave out because manufacturers, contractors, and customers were being ate alive by warranty problems/cost. Finally it was figured out and a chemical fix is out. It's unfortunate these things happen.