Air Conditioning - Getting confused or educated?

:confused: In trying not to make the same mistake twice and have a unit that lasts only eight years, Im doing my research. Yet it is getting a little complex. I have no idea what caused my Carrier to die after 8 years and in frustration I said I would not own another one, but now I have read that the installer, not the brand makes the difference. I read that you should not let anyone install the unit that does not perform a manual J & D or T on your home. Someone on another site said the 2 ton (which was sold to us) is standard for our size home. As lay people we never even heard of the installer doing a manual. We just told them our square footage and they sold us the 2 Ton. Here is the deal, there was a coupon for so much off on the unit in our paper and that is what we bought, using the coupon. The coupon was for that unit. Now I do not only feel confused as to what brand unit to go with, but even if I should use this same installer??? :confused: Also, I have read that manufactures will be required to switch to a refrigerant, puron by 2010, and Carrier and Amana Prestige Ultra are leading the way to phase that in. :rolleyes: Should I consider a different installer? A different brand name? I feel like Im taking two steps forward only to take three back. As a lay person Im beginning to feel at the mercy of the system, despite my research.

What you will want to do is get at least three quotes from reputable dealers that have been around for a while. Don't go through HD or Sears as they will just sub the work out to a low bidder and truthfully I don't know if I'd go with the past installer with the issues you've had with them. Right now you will be fine with either refrigerants so don't let that make a difference in your choice. You will want them to do a load calculation on your home to be sure they size the equipment properly and ask for a print out of it when they are finished. Also post back here with the quote results.

If you don't want to go with Carrier again there are plenty other good systems out there. Examples are American Standard, Trane, Rheem. Good luck and keep us updated.

If you don't want to go with Carrier again there are plenty other good systems out there. Examples are American Standard, Trane, Rheem. Good luck and keep us updated. The first installer said that they would put a traine in for twelve hundred, another local installer said he would put in an Arco Air for twelve hundred and as he talked to us further said he would put it in for one thousand. Someone is calling us tommorrow on a quote on a Rheem. No I think we have decieded not to go back with the first installer. He spent alot of time talking with us but he was very wordy about his experiences, rather than case in point. Sort of like talking to a group rather than an individual customer and their situation. I would think if he had been really interrested he would have waived the eighty dollars we paid him for his workers two minutes to tell us it is shot. The second person I have mentioned did say that he believed the capistor should be checked first and offered to check that for us free. Yet the capistor is not the problem, we did check it and it is fine. I guess the compressor was bouncing all over in the case, when my friend first looked at it. Yet I will say this, when I even mention having a manual done.....none here in Michigan felt it was important. They more or less say that a 2 ton is standard, perhaps a 2 1/2 ton :confused:

Go to www.hvaccomputercom where for $50 you can buy a homeowner version of the manual J program and do the calculations yourself. It's not difficult and no one knows your home better than you do. The price quotes you have been getting- is that for a whole new system or just the outdoor section? BTW- forget the Arco Air, stick with Trane, American Standard [same as Trane], Rheem, Lennox. Refrigerant 22 is being phased out and you should consider going to an R-410A system.

Christine kudos to you for being so persistant!
From what I've read in your multiple posts, your compressor being dead is probaly BS. As I said compressors don't "clank".

But, if you want to change, go ahead. American Standard and Trane are the same as American Standard owns both companies. The model numbers are just different, just like York, Luxarie, and Colman.

In 2010 the production of R-22 will stop as will the manufacture of A/C units with R-22. For the next 10 years only recycled R-22 will be available. Much like R-12, R-22 will cost buckets. 410A will be the norm. So, if you change your system go with 410A.

And remember that while 410A does operate at higher pressures, a lot of the parts are the same. All that's done is the unit has a 410A compressor and expansion device, and bango another $500 profit.

I forgot the Manual J stuff.

The rule of thumb is 600 square foot per ton of A/C. Thus 1800 sqft is 3 tons, very basic. The manual takes into account each and every room. Also the struture, insolation, windows, even the north south orientation of the home.

These are known as "load calcs". Where you figure out exactly what heating and cooling needs a space really has.

Comparison of the Montreal Protocol and United States Phaseout Schedules Montreal Protocol United States
Year to be Implemented % Reduction in Consumption, Using the Cap as a Baseline Year to be Implemented Implementation of HCFC Phaseout through Clean Air Act Regulations
2004 35.0% 2003 No production and no importing of HCFC-141b
2010 65.0% 2010 No production and no importing of HCFC-142b and HCFC-22, except for use in equipment manufactured before 1/1/2010 (so no production or importing for NEW equipment that uses these refrigerants)
2015 90.0% 2015 No production and no importing of any HCFCs, except for use as refrigerants in equipment manufactured before 1/1/2020
2020 99.5% 2020 No production and no importing of HCFC-142b and HCFC-22
2030 100.0% 2030 No production and no importing of any HCFCs



Just a little FYI. In 2010 they will just not be making "new units" with R-22. They will still produce it and import it untill 2020. But like said I have no doubt that the price per pound will go through the roof just like R-12 did.