Air Conditioning - Going from 6 seer to 10 seer AC--but it's a Goodman

I have an AC that was installed in the late 1960s and was told by a contractor that it was probably 6 seer.

Even though it was 6 seer I was very satisfied with its performance. It doesn't take much to cool my home down.

I'm looking to get it replaced and the lowest price estimate (for the airhandler and condenser labor/materials) was $1800--for a Goodman 10seer.

The price estimate (for the airhandler and condenser labor/materials) was $3000--for a Trane 10 seer.

Is Goodman really that much of a piece of junk?

:confused: Plane answer is no.
Goodman gets a bad rap from most high end contractors. I have installed all domestic brands and some forigne brands and goodman is no better or worse than any other brand. In cooling and heating your home there is a ceartin amount of "work" that needs to get done. How that "work" gets done is what makes it confuesing. Every manufacturer will say there way is the best way, and even after choosing a brand there are still a lot of decisions left to make. (What SEER rating should I get? Should I choose sinlge stage or two stage cooling? Should I use single stage or two stage heating with this? Should it be a variable speed blower or a multi speed blower or a single speed blower? Should it be gas heat, oil heat, electric heat, or a heat pump? If a heat punp than should it be an air source heat pump or a water source heat pump? You could incorperate hydronic solar panels on your roof!) Your decision can be made very dificult indeed.
I like the KISS method (keep it simple stupid). If you were satisfied with your old system as for as comfort and operating cost were concerned than you should stay with it and select the same type of system. As far as what brand to choose I think the most important thing to look at is WARRANTY. Goodmans warranties are as good or better than anyone else in the industry and they offer affordable extended labor warrinties. Check out there website (very good one).
But by all means the MOST important thing is PROPER INSTILATION!!!!!! The best equipment in the world (whoever that is?) will not work worth a hoot if not installed properly. Viceversa the worst equipment in the world (many will tell you this is goodman) will work great if installed properly.
By the way, You should be getting quotes for 13 SEER rated equipment, as of January of this year it is the minium allowed to be installed in residential instilations.
GOOD LUCK

Are you sure about the 13 SEER requirement? I thought that residences can have any SEER installed...it's just that manufacturers can no longer make less than 13 SEER.

No I'm not sure. I havent read the particulars. Just going on word from my suplier. There manufacturer supposedly stoped making 10's & 12's last october because they did'nt want to get "stock" with them?

At least in my area there are many 10SEER available at pretty good prices.

Didnt take much to find truth. Yess acording to D.O.E. rules all equipment manufactured after 1-23-06 must meet 13 seer. If before then, it can still be instaled.
Thanks for setting me streight

I agree goodman is a good system with a good warranty, the only problem with them is they are a bit noisy

I agree goodman is a good system with a good warranty, the only problem with them is they are a bit noisy
My current AC system is about 40 years old. I wonder how noisy that is compared to the 'average' system today... mine is probably much louder.

What part of the Goodman or any AC unit can be noisy? The fan in the air handler?

$1800 complete Goodman install...?? sounds like a quality install right from the get-go. i can GUARANTEE you that at that price...with that equipment...YOU ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE THE LOWEST RATED PRODUCT OUT THERE. you will be sorry. you have been warned.





http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/heating-cooling-air/furnaces-repair-history-205/overview.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=6&searchTerm=gas%20furnaces