Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 169 posts · 29 votes
The brand (Carrier, Rheem, Lennox, Trane, etc) or the company that installs it?
I'm starting to have companies give me estimates for replacing my two rental units HVAC systems and after a little research have come across the notion that the installation has a lot to do with the long term quality of the AC and furnace.
I would understand not having a handyman doing the installation but can there be an actual difference between professional companies doing the work?
While there are differences between brands, they are not as great as many people imagine. I has this conversation with one company which made sense to me. If you break down the box (heating or AC) there are several 'modules' that go into it. A company may make the heat exchanger but not the electronics, pumps or compressors. All of the major components can be and are outsourced or spec'ed out to 3rd party OEM's.
What that means in practice is that most (if not all) of the box is from 3rd parties that any manufacturer can buy from. The engineering they put behind it to make sure the parts work together and the marketing they put behind the brand is the differentiation. Once in a while, there will be a real breakthrough and that brand will have an advantage.
Also, as another tech put to me; a good tech can take bad equipment and make it work. A bad tech can take the best equipment and screw it up.
I would think so. During the prime season, HVAC companies staff up to meet the need. I am sure some of the hires are getting on the job training or recent graduates of trade programs and may not have a lot of experience. Duriung the off season they lay off. Check sites like Angie's List and Yelp for reviews. Also see who other people are using. The installation is everything. I have had "experienced" HVAC companies install shoddy systems that don't fully cool. Reputation is everything.
You'll definitely want to do your research. I've heard horror stories where sketchy AC install companies install used systems when you're paying for a new one. You really don't want that!
I am an HVAC contractor in Nashville Tennessee and buy far the person who installs the unit is more important than the unit itself. HVAC contractors do not lay off in the winter time there is no supply of technicians out there but there is plenty of demand so we will pay our people even if we don't have work to make sure that we don't lose an employee and I'm sure other contractors are doing the same thing.
@Account Closed the nice thing about having Lowes or HD install your unit is that they guarantee their work. Not always the cheapest option, but they will stand by their work.
@Account Closed the nice thing about having Lowes or HD install your unit is that they guarantee their work. Not always the cheapest option, but they will stand by their work.
I have had installation issues with HD and Lowes in different departments. They did fix the issue, but the item should have been installed correctly the first time. Also, I have found HD and lowes to be about 2 to 3 times more expensive then what the cost should be. Exception being flooring.
Personally, I wouldn't even consider having either store install something like a HVAC system.
@Christian Bors I hear ya. I had them give me a quote for one window replacement and Lowes was 3 times more expensive than anywhere else and HD was almost 4 times as much. I didn't go with either.
While there are differences between brands, they are not as great as many people imagine. I has this conversation with one company which made sense to me. If you break down the box (heating or AC) there are several 'modules' that go into it. A company may make the heat exchanger but not the electronics, pumps or compressors. All of the major components can be and are outsourced or spec'ed out to 3rd party OEM's.
What that means in practice is that most (if not all) of the box is from 3rd parties that any manufacturer can buy from. The engineering they put behind it to make sure the parts work together and the marketing they put behind the brand is the differentiation. Once in a while, there will be a real breakthrough and that brand will have an advantage.
Also, as another tech put to me; a good tech can take bad equipment and make it work. A bad tech can take the best equipment and screw it up.
Go with servicer/installer reputation first, then brand. There are definitely some builder grade crap brands out there, so stay away from those. The thing is, there are enough bad reviews on any brand or model, it's hard not to be scared off even a top tier brand. A good HVAC company will provide a warranty(1-2 years) along with the manufacture warranty(10 year). Usually, if a unit is going to have problems, it will start within the first year, and you'll want the installer to be the first guy to go to.
Forget about Lowes/Home Depot, a local guy with a good reputation has more on the line and more accessible, than a corporation.
I like mini split heat pumps from eBay because they are easy enough to install yourself and operate down to about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. They are about $900-1000 for 2 tons or $500-600 for 1 ton. They come pre-charged for up to a 25 foot line set so all you have to do is install it and release the charge. Some of the 1 ton units will plug right into a wall socket but normally you power them from the outside unit. I don't think brand matters too much because they come with a decent warranty but I've been told Mitsubishi and Fujitsu are better compressor brands.
I replaced my own last year and had an HVAC contractor come handle the start up. By doing it this way I was able to save several thousand dollars (compared to what my neighbors have paid). Check locally and online retailers to determine the best deal. I use AC Wholesalers but there are several others. I went with a Goodman unit on the recommendation from my contractor. It was the unit originally installed which I was able to keep going for 13 years. They are supposed to be more likely to have repair parts for in the future where the big-name units are obsoleted necessitating system replacement when a part could fix the problem if it was available.
Many brands come off the same assembly lines. Goodman/Amana, Lennox/Armstrong/Concord, Trane/American Standard, Carrier/Payne/Bryant/Tempstar.
Most internal HVAC equipment is made by fewer manufacturers...Emerson, Honeywell and Johnson Controls.
IMO, the biggest difference is the installer and the reason why some brands get higher ratings by consumers is they are selective about who they allow to install their brands.
Check out this link. The internet is dangerous for research but this article helped me. I have no affiliation with them. http://asm-air.com/airconditioning/top-10-air-conditioner-brands/
It's all about the install as long as you stay away from Goodman. Other than Goodman the brand means zilch.
Your best bet when it comes to HVAC is finding a reputable contractor through word of mouth. I would never use a lowes or hd store for hvac, because the contractor's that install for them are the contractors who can't seem to keep busy on there own. And trust me, a good hvac company has more work than they can find techs to keep up. I rank hvac with roofs and foundations. Either pay now or pay later. Paying now is always cheaper. Oh yeah, did I mention, stay away from Goodman. Best of luck.
We use Carrier and Trane for commercial projects, I would say look for a reputable service company for installation, or through referral. Installation through "professional" tech does not mean anything, it comes down to technician's experience and attention to detail to get the units installed right. reputable company is more like an insurance for the follow up service in case tech screw up in field.
referral is likely the best option, just need to search who you have in the area.