Looking at a new furnace...Trane or Carrier?

Not a particular supply house...

I've seen Goodman systems for sale online!

 

Goodman.

 

Didn't know that, interesting, but it doesn't really change my opinion. Good shit is good shit. No offense if its your industry, but licensed doesn't go very far in my book. The biggest rip off in my history of having to deal with my HVAC systems was by the largest, most licensed HVAC business in town.

 

1 - Go with the outfit that has the best factory warranty on their product.

2 - Go with an installer that has the best service reputation in your area.

 

Built up a decent base/foundation for our new Trane 18LXi...so damm hot here but slugged my way through it. Started at 7am and finished this morning just before 11am. I like to use rebar to hold my block in place after leveling everything up. Blocks stay put with rebar driven down through it. Then a nice thick weed block and then a few hundred pounds of natural river stone to accent. I had the install tech use a gravity drain line to my basement plumbing for the condensate line. I don’t like pumps and I don’t like water laying around the grass outside unit. 90 degrees here, dam glad I am finished.
The Trane 18XLi is really quiet, happy.



The little green light on my 220 box is a surge protector. I had these installed both on the inside furnace and this exterior unit. A no brainer.


A great touch screen thermostat...I can program the unit from my phone or iPad. A very cool feature, pun intended.



This stat rocks!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cI9QJvv9D9g#fauxfullscreen

 

Wow. Thats the best designed compressor base I’ve ever seen.

 

And some systems are set up for both (like mine). If I switch my unit they just need to flush the lines and it's good with the 410.

Also, Trane and American Standard are the same, both owned by Ingersoll.

 

I agree and buy the three pack cheap filters but change every month.

 

Yup, what he said. Don't buy into the $30 thick as shit filter.

 

Or the annoying Media Refills which are a pain to replace...(Aprilaire)

 

All of this. Most brands are essentially the same. Problems are typically from installation or piss poor duct work, insulation. Find the best warranty combined with the best price in your area and choose a reputable contractor.

Also, for filters, the cheapest will give you the best airflow. About $3 each, change them often

 

When you call your buddy who does AC's "on the side...."

 

This video has gone viral! It's already all over Facebook!

 

I have a 12 year old Bryant system that's never had so much as a hiccup. I know they're owned by the same outfit that owns Carrier, so I'd imagine they're probably similar--if not outright the same, just with a different badge.

As to the filter comments, I'd say it depends a LOT on where you live. I'm in the Nevada desert and it can get just a bit dusty around here. I always bought the $17 filter and changed it every two months instead of their recommended three months. When I had a tech out here doing a checkup some years back, he told me that my filter was causing a 65% decrease in airflow. That's obviously a substantial figure, so on my next change-out I went with the next lower filtration level. Within two weeks every exposed surface in the house was covered in dust--even the clothes hanging in the MBR walk-in closet (has its own HVAC vent) were filthy. I immediately returned to the higher filtration and haven't looked back. My system may be having to work harder to suck in that air, but it's never complained.

 

Send my your friend's business info. I may be in the market soon, and I also have friends ask my advice on home improvement and fixit related issues.

 

I cant even begin to understand how thats is even possible. Short of forgetting he put his spare lawn mower gas in the unit, how did this happen. I have been there when compressor terminals blew out, have seen capacitors explode, seen motors short direct to ground, except for the compressor oil nothing is flammable. So now did all the oil fall out all at once and how did it ignite?

 

Did someone ask about a Trane?

 

I'm curious what everyone is installing more of these days and why. Carrier, Trane, Bryant, York, etc... When we were doing more new construction we installed a lot of Carrier but lately we've been installing more Tranes.

 

For new houses here in Southeast PA, it's a tossup between Carrier and Goodman, with Lennox probably coming in second; Goodman is also really common as a replacement unit around here, or when being installed in an older house that didn't have central air. My parents' house was built in 2015-2016 and unfortunately came with Goodman (2 A/Cs and 2 gas furnaces since it's a fairly large house); I rarely see York in new construction anymore. Bryant is also really popular around here and my friend's parents have a 5-ton Bryant Evolution 16 SEER heat pump, installed in 2010 in a house that was built in 1987, that I helped them pick out. Almost 13 years later, it's still going strong, so I like to think I picked the right unit!

 

I'm definitely no expert. All I can say is that the Carrier unit (R410a) we bought back in 2008 has been running strong for almost 15 years now, aside from two capacitor replacements.

I can ALSO say that Nest is crap. LOL. I run one right now but literally the next time it sh*ts the bed I'm switching to something basic like a Honeywell.

 

Just replaced our South unit with a Daikin. So far, so good.

 

Damn, that was a great post, still believe this 100%, only repair done on my 2 goodman package heat pumps since this post was one od motor.

 

They’re all pretty good machines. All depends on how it’s installed. If going from R22 to 410A change the line set. Make sure installer purges the lines with plenty of nitrogen while they braze the copper. Make sure installer gets a very tight vacuum of 500 microns or lower 250 microns would be a plus. Stay on them don’t let them take any short cuts because if installed correctly either machine will last a long time. Don’t forget to keep the filters changed regularly and keep the in door evaporator and outdoor condenser coils clean. If above is followed they last. Just my 2 cents.
My Carrier heat pump was installed new in 2009 and has been very reliable. Hope this helps.