Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Replacing heat pumps...advice needed

I am purchasing a home in Myrtle Beach with 2 17yr old heat pumps. One is not working at all, so we deceided to replace them. What brand should we go with?? we've gotten 3 different estimates for Trane, Goodman and Maytag. I thought we could go with just one heat pump and save some cash but don't know if thats the right way to go. The house has a very open floor plan so thats why I would go with just one heat pump.
Estimates range from $19k to $6k for replacements. Huse is 2500 sq ft. Thanks for any advice:D

If I were in your shoes, I'd go with two units. This will allow you more control over what areas to heat and when, and will save you money day after day. Not to mention that if one of your units malfunctions, you still have the other to keep you warm (or cool, depending on the season).

I live in a 2-story home. Two heating units, one for the 1st floor (living areas), another for the 2nd floor (bedroom areas). Programmable thermostats. I knock down the temperature on the first floor at night when we are all upstairs, and upstairs during the day when we are downstairs..and both floors when we are out.

So a combination of two units plus programmagle thermostats will work wonders. Yeah, you'll pay more upfront for the additional unit, but it's all savings after that.

Like said .If the home had 2 units in it for sure go that way again. It will more than pay you back in what you save in electric cost for sure. Boy from $19K to $6K just dont sound right for the same job?????????. you do want new blower coils inside to go with new outdoor units. Might have to run new lines if the units are R410a. For where you are I say go for a SEER of 15 or more with a HSPF 8.05 and a V/S blower . It will give you a better control over the humidity there in the home.

seatrain

17 yrs for a HP in a coastal environment like Myrtle Beach is excellent. What brand is it?

I would definitely stick with two separate units.

My minimum performance metrics for a HP system are the following:

15 SEER,12 EER, 9 HSPF
variable speed air handler, R-410 frig, scroll compressor
a thermostat like the Honeywell VP IAQ that controls the blower speed for superior dehumidification, full BTUs in both cooling and heating mode for your specific size.

I personally like Trane/AmStd because they hold up better in a coastal environment.

Your house will be year round,non-rental?

IMO
:)

thanks for the responses. It will be our primary residence. It is a rancher with an open floor plan. Goodmans are there now but I heard they are a bit loud...one HVAC says Maytags are better. :D

thanks for the responses. It will be our primary residence. It is a rancher with an open floor plan. Goodmans are there now but I heard they are a bit loud...one HVAC says Maytags are better. :D

Hi
i've been using a ruud HP for 20 yrs at the beach.
The goodman 14/15 has a sound blanket; that's the 1 i plan to get.
There is an advantage to a single large HP. When u wake up, u can close the BR doors and heat the rest of the house QUICKLY. (unless the BR's have return ducts, do they?).

Also 1 large can cost WAY less. I have a $20 space heater and a $90 window AC stored for emergencies(for 1 room).

Since 1 still works, maybe u can keep it 'til it dies, and go 1 new large.
If you like heat and AC that works FAST, u may end up with 2 large LOL. Just some food for thoughts and estimates!

I'm told Trane and am st. have ALUMINUM COILS- everyone else seems to use copper. Aluminum rots out fast in salt air.

I'm told Trane and am st. have ALUMINUM COILS- everyone else seems to use copper. Aluminum rots out fast in salt air.

False. Aluminum is all same metal, and they are less affected by the salt air. When you mix metal in that type of enviroment, it going to break down faster.

False. Aluminum is all same metal, and they are less affected by the salt air. When you mix metal in that type of enviroment, it going to break down faster.

info from Coles -#### He is an authorized Trane dealer, but won't recommend them for salt air because the coils etc wont hold up and LEAK after 5 years.
He is happy to use them on the mainland, however.

Another 2 dealers agreed, when i brought it up.

Post your source for your statement please!

"Aluminium is remarkable for its ability to resist corrosion" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium)

Look at pop cans now days, have you ever seen a rusted pop can?? How about those old steel type?

There are some units out there that has "Sea Coast" coating that may help the unit hold up in the long run, but when you have dissimilar metal, it will break down as you see below photos.


http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5257/dsc01358wi7.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/146/dsc01359yz6.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1097/dsc01355yo9.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1584/dsc01357vk1.jpg


http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1433/dsc01410wu5.jpg

Jay
Cool pics! Did they run like that?
Make my old ruud look great! Maybe i should fix it!
.
All aluminum is GREAT in theory.

But, for whatever reason, they(trane) are said to leak around here.

Jay
Cool pics! Did they run like that?
Make my old ruud look great! Maybe i should fix it!

Sad to say, yes, there are a few units down there running like this till they start to wonder why the home isn't cooling very well on a hot spell, or super high electric bills.

I can get 13seer goodmans for $6200 and any 15 seer with adj speed air handler will be at least $11k. Is it worth the extra money for the 15 seer or is it better to save $5k on the 13 seer? thanks:wall:

I can get 13seer goodmans for $6200 and any 15 seer with adj speed air handler will be at least $11k. Is it worth the extra money for the 15 seer or is it better to save $5k on the 13 seer? thanks:wall:

very easy to find out! just total your electric bills(get from power co) with the old HP's, get SEER and HPSF for them, compare to new.
I found the 14 w/ 3 speed blower was best value for 3ton

I can get 13seer goodmans for $6200 and any 15 seer with adj speed air handler will be at least $11k. Is it worth the extra money for the 15 seer or is it better to save $5k on the 13 seer? thanks:wall:

Those prices are absurd for the MB Grand Strand. I would have thought this area would be a competitive market. Keep looking for a dealer not wanting to rob his customer.

IMO
:)

Those prices are absurd for the MB Grand Strand. I would have thought this area would be a competitive market. Keep looking for a dealer not wanting to rob his customer.

IMO
:)


I agree with him.. That price seems very high for goodman.. What are they all doing?

these prices are for two 2 1/2 ton units. other heat pump prices have been from Matag, Trane and Payne. My concern is wether the 13 seer units will cool the house enough in the summer and de-humidify enough.:thinker:

1st, they all will AC about the same. more seer means less $$$$ for electric.
If only AC is important, why buy a HP? Just get AC.

2 units likely started out as 1, as calculated by a book schooled installer, for a penny pinching builder.
.
so 1
2.5 ton SHOULD do it, they say.
But the owner, like me, was NOT HAPPY.
.
Added 2nd HP, for DOUBLE the capacity. Now it works good, and the book schooled HVAC guys all assume it was spec'ed from the start. CHECK THE BLUE PRINTS on file with the county.

You can add a phenolic coating to condenser coils and make them worry free in salt air. Been there, done that in VABCH. Did it myself for large units (20 tons +) on government job. Very Messy, smelly job. Then found a company who would did the coil once I took it out and shipped it. Later on I found that York would ship and coat the coil before making the unit. In all cases, works great lasts long time.

But since your in MB, lots of ground water. How about geothermal? Higher install $$$, costs less to run, no outdoor coil to worry about. In fact maybe no outdoor unit at all.

www.fhp-mfg.com

I believe Trane sells an optional seacoast accessory kit for harsh environments.

Hi to all. I need some serious advice on this topic. Recently widowed & need to replace my 20 year old trane package heat pump unit. Pricing a carrier infinity 15 seer 5 ton that prices out at 10,000! Seems expensive to me. Another installer is quoting me 12,500 on a new rheem 16 seer that he says actually works like a 21 seer? I do need additional duct work to replace the 4 ton to a five ton. Can anyone compare the two brands for me. Need info soon.Thanks!

I have to add, those pictures are very interesting! I like the first on there, that old rusted York with most of it's fins in a pile beside it!