? for HVAC guys

Webbinator

Webbinator

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
York, SC
Need to replace my 12 year old RUUD heat pump. It's finally just not going to make it any longer. I got a quote from a local HVAC contractor that is suggesting a Grand Aire unit. He quoted us an installed price of $3600 for a 13 SEER unit. I've also gotten quotes on Trane units which are through the roof in comparison. Anybody here deal with HVAC and have any feedback on the Grand Aire brand? Thanks.
 
what size unit?

13 SEER just denotes the efficiency rating. don't be fooled, 13 SEER is now mandatory minimum and is the bottom of the line. For a 1 ton unit, I guess thats OK. Make sure he quotes the duct connections. Has he inspected the ductwork? older units' duct rarely mate up to existing ductwork. Many times the duct is not sealed correctly either before and even after the new install.

I'm not familiar with the Grand Aire units. Do some research, many of the units out there are made by Goodman. DO get a Goodman quoted. They tend to be a little louder but are great for the $$$. I changed mine myself and got an Armstrong. It was $100 more than the Goodman but had a much better warranty. Since I was doing the ductwork upgrades myself, I opted for a unit that also worked well with mating to my existing ductwork.

Make sure the "pad" they set the unit on is correctly sized. I se a lot that the installers just carry a standard size and just put 2 down and it looks like crap. Make sure they get the right sized pad. I couldn't find the pad I liked and many of them were cheap fiberglass, so I formed and poured my own out of concrete.

Make sure they have allowed for a permit and make sure they do pull it. I've seen mechanical contractors bill for it and never pull the permit.

If you are even remotely capable of doing any work, the unit is easy to do yourself. Maybe the hardest part would be the ductwork. Call the supply house and check the cost of the quoted unit. Honestly, for a complete install on any new unit, less than $4000 is not too bad. I had a ( I think) 1 ton unit and it was nearly $2800 wholesale plus I spent about $100 on ductwork from our shop and maybe $200 on other items, like upgrading the thermostat and electrical.
 
I'm thinking it is a 2 ton unit. His price included a new run of duct from the unit and tied into my existing duct work. The only hesitation I have is that I've never heard of that brand and can't find a whole lot on line about them. Thanks for the info.
 
I would stay away from a brand that I haven't heard of. We got our house back in 2005 it was a spec home that was just being finished. Well the AC Unit locked up in 2009, It was an Anderson I think, Of Course no one had ever heard of it, Even the guy that installed said he got it because the company was trying to get into the industry. The unit was never a good one, From day one we had issues all the way till it died, He was out 3 - 4 times trying to make it work. It died and I installed a new one, with the help of my neighbor who has a HVAC, But didn't do my house.

I believe there still running the tax credit, Up to 30% or $1500 for units that are high efficient, Mine is a 16 sheer, The higher the sheer the better. That might help you in your decision making. I paid $3500 or so, and that was doing most of it my self.
 
I work for a commercial mechanical engineering firm, and I've never heard of Grand Aire. I'd stick with one of the more well known units with a better warranty. You can;t even find good information on that unit in a Google search. I'd stay away.
 
So what about Trane equipment? I've got two installers pushing that product hard. Quite a bit more expensive too. I've read that if you have a problem, replacement parts HAVE to be Trane.
 
Webb,
Contact Tommy Bratton at Palmetto Comfort.
He is in Hickory Grove and a good friend I grew up with, does great work and you wont beat his prices...I dont have his number in front of me but I know he is in the phone book or I can shoot it to ya later.

Tell him Ron said to all and he will help you....
 
I have a trane on my house, it works well but uses the same capcitors as any other unit thats all I have had problems out of. Other parts are train specific, but the good news is the trane east coast distribution center is on 49 in south charlotte, so its usually a very short wait.
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Webb,
Contact Tommy Bratton at Palmetto Comfort.
He is in Hickory Grove and a good friend I grew up with, does great work and you wont beat his prices...I dont have his number in front of me but I know he is in the phone book or I can shoot it to ya later.

Tell him Ron said to all and he will help you....
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks Ron. I'll see if I can track him down in the phone book.
 
I was between a Trane and a Goodman unit, I end up with a Goodman Unit. I work in the Construction field and I had noticed that the Goodmans were being installed in the high end houses, That and my neighbor that helped me install it has one also.

Check the warranty on which ever one you get. Both of the ones I was looking at have a 10 year parts and labor warranty.

To repair the first unit I had would have costed me close to what the new one was, and I would have still had a crappy unit.
 
I'd personally stay away for both the Grand Aire and the Goodman. Never even heard of Grand Aire andGoodman is a very low quality unit that contractors install because they are cheap. Had one in my townhouse in Raleigh and it was LOUD! Inside of 1 1/2 years it started acting up. I fixed a neighbors after about the same time. Everyone claims they have a great warranty. It is for PARTS only! Labor is on your dime. Guess which is cheaper. I put a $12 main contactor (relay) on my neighbors that would have cost her over $200 under warranty. The unit was less than 2 years old at the time. When it comes time for me to get one, It'll be a Lennox or a Trane. Yea, they're a bit more $$ but I think they are much higher quality.
 
I have a 2 year old Goodman outside my bedroom window...no troubles so far...vent right here under my feet & bout to run me outta here...I got a quote for a Trane too...much higher $ for same Quality...quoted to me from several HVAC coworkers & installers
 
I hope I did the right thing here, but I am going with the Grand Aire unit installed at $3600. I HATE to be so price driven with this, but with the way things are right now, I can't justify spending 5 or 6 grand on this. Hope I'm not kicking myself later. My installer also sells Goodman and says that the Grand Aire are just a step up from them. He said that they are built by Nordyne. They do have a 10 year parts and labor warranty. The only stipulation is that you have to keep records for twice a year service inspection, one in the spring and one in the fall. I would say that would be the case with any warranty though.
 
I researched the brands when I replaced mine, And the Goodman was by far the best with out getting into a high price range.

I read many reviews on my choices and kept going back to the Goodman. I not saying that the Grandair is a bad choice I am just saying be sure you look into your options. Just hate for you to be in the same boat I was with the Anderson unit.

Here is one of the sites I looked at:

http://www.furnacecompare.com/heat-pumps/reviews/
 
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