Air Conditioning - Buying a new AC unit

Hello everyone!

My 12 year old Ruud system is leaking freon and after 2 service calls and one nitrogean test later, it was determined that I need a new coil ($1,000 estimate) (it is pitted and rusted out). I decided it was more practical to just purchase a new unit. Received first estimate about a half hour ago for a 10 SEER Amana 2.5 ton $2850. Also received a quote on a 14 SEER 2.5 ton Amana for $3300 + $300 rebate with utility company. THese both include reclaim freon, installation, new pad with disconnect and recharge. My question is, is this a decent price? Second company is coming Monday but I don't want to get ripped off.

Eric in NJ

eric_k2001,

10 SEER was considered top of the line operating efficiency over 10 yrs ago. I would definitely insist upon a 12-14 Rated SEER. For information Amana is considered bottom of the line budget/builder model equipment. Same as Goodman. Insist upon a written Manual J heat/cool load calc for properly sizing equipment. This gives both you and dealer a certain measure of protection. Your prices include both outside and indoor unit? How do you heat your home? Purchase from authorized dealers. Quality equipment pays for itself in the long run.

My opinion.
Good Luck!
:)

Thanks for your info TigerDunes, I didnt know Amana was bottom of the line. The quote was for both the exterior condensor and internal coil. I'm not familiar with the proper terminology, but my (heating & cooling) system is located in a closet in my balcony ( I live in a townhouse) and the AC fan is outside.

Eric-

Tiger,

FYI, Amana is not builder's grade.. Goodman is.

Eric

Amana are good equipment.. (not comomon around here), price do seem somewhat high, but it all depends on the area.. next year SEER rating will be 13 and over.. 10 will be phase out.

Make sure the dealer does a heat lost/gain on the home for the right size equipment.

won't hurt to get 2 or 3 quotes.

I am in the process of replacing a 15-year-old Lennox 10 SEER with a Trane XR12, both 4 ton. This is conventional R22 A/C with natural gas heat. The heater is a 60% efficiency unit that was available then. I will be replacing the furnace with a Trane 80% single-speed heater, since I have 214 cooling days compared to 10 heating days annually in north Texas.

You stated 2.5 ton cooling capacity. Is your intent to just replace the outside condensing unit and the A/C coil, leaving the air handler and heat system intact?

I was offered a Goodman unit by one company; it's the same as Janitrol but not the same as Amana. It is the builder's model; not recommended.

Hi IBM,

Yes I plan on leaving the air handler and heat system intact. The quote os for the coil and exterior compressor.

Eric-

FYI Amana owns Goodman. Goodman has been around just about the longest. Goodman is just the name all parts are made by GE, Siemons, Scroll etc. they are basically a Trane! Goodmans are yes considered a "builders" model because they are cheaper not because of poor quality but because Goodman does not spend millions of dollars on advertising like the other big names etc etc thats way the others are so expensive you are paying for all that advertising and marketing relationships between companys like Trane and HomeDepot and all the franchised A/C contractors...

Goodmans are FINE its the install and the service that makes the big difference!

Amana® is a trademark of Maytag Corporation and is used under license to
Goodman Company, L.P. All Rights reserved. Copyright© 2003 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.

I have been told that Amana HVAC was purchased by Goodman Mfg sometime around 2001. If one looks on the website of Amana and Goodman, you will notice the similarity of their sites and the identical picture of units in their product lines. It is still my opinion that Amana and Goodman are builder/budget type equipment. Others may disagree. Yes, quality installation of HVAC is important whether product is top of line, mid-tier, or builder/budget models. Yes, there is a great deal of advertising/merchandising cost from many companies such as Trane, Carrier, Lennox. But I disagree that these budget models are the same quality as some of the top of line manufacturers. Yes, some of the components are similar if not the same but the manufacturing and assembly are different. Some manufacturers build quality into their equipment, produce higher efficiency systems, and are more innovative as far as R&D. I am not saying something is wrong with builder/budget equipment. Everyone should be able to make up their own mind but generally you get what you pay for. Just make certain the consumer/homeowner is informed.

:thinker:


.

I am in the process of replacing a 15-year-old Lennox 10 SEER with a Trane XR12, both 4 ton. This is conventional R22 A/C with natural gas heat. The heater is a 60% efficiency unit that was available then. I will be replacing the furnace with a Trane 80% single-speed heater, since I have 214 cooling days compared to 10 heating days annually in north Texas

IBM5081 For what you say there id go for a SEER of 16 drop the furnace go just heater strips in the unit .like I have here and a hot water recovery on the unit . That will give you free hot water for the 214 days the unit is on and also kick up the seer on the AC unit for you.

ED

hello from MN .. i have a thought or 2 .. i made the mistake of putting in a 3 ton unit, because the house was always hot..worked good for a few years.but now after i put 12 inches of cellouse insulation in the attic, and plugged all the air leaks, i find it is WAY too big!!
it runs only a short time to cool the house, which does NOT remove the humidity. MY belief is that the BEST match for ac is that it run 100% of the time on the worst days ...that mode will keep it cool an DRY for the LEAST cost....
soo i wonder how "big" is your place, and what do you have for insulation?/
i have discovered that fiberglas in not even a good air filter .. and if the RH is over 10% the r valve of "glass" is almost nil!! i really was surprised and pleased by the change in the heat load from the sun!!!! the last two months the house has not required heat or ac !!!! dddon

dddon,

I have fiberglass insulation in my attic and also my place is 1500 square feet, it is a 3 level townhouse.

Eric-

eric_k2001

A question and observation.

What kind of heat do you have?

Did your quotes include a matching evaporator coil?

Make certain you get a written Manual J load calculation.

:)

Ok here's the deal....I went with the best quote and timeframe (this saturday) because it is 90+ in my house and I cant wait for anymore estimates.

I went with a 2.5 ton 10 SEER Comfortmaker system for $2550 (coil and outside condensor). That is for removal of old system, freon, and installation. Any opinions on Comfortmaker and also the price I got? The tech talked me out of getting anyting above 10 SEER because he said it was a scare tactic used by other companies to sell u the newer units. I wont be here more than 5 years so a 10 SEER suits me fine. Im just thinking he must have had a bunch of 10 SEERs in stock and was trying to unload them. :)

Eric-