HVAC Brand?

Yay!Gurrr

Yay!Gurrr

Better Faster Stronger
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Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
N. N. Raleigh, NC
Whelp.... House hasn't been cooling down the last 3 days, hadn't really noticed it since the heat has dropped off...

House is 16 years old so I can't really complain. I'm actually just glad it lasted through the summer.. Every year I figure it will go mid summer... Sounds like pump is seized up...

The unit is 'Janitrol', aka cheapest ass unit they could find to install when the house was new... I'm almost the last house on the street of 19 with an original unit.

So......

What brands are really good?
What brands can you readily get parts for?
What type of refrigerant is in use these days?

Any current trends with new style/types of hvac configurations or installations ?

Are some units more efficient than others?
 
I had a similar problem about three years back but it wound up being a $100 capacitor, not the pump. Any chance that could be your problem?
 
I just had whole house A/C put in when we built our addition. They put a 3.5 ton Goodman system in and I have been REALLY pleased with it. I have been able to take a piece of paper and place it in my hand at the farthest run from the unit and hold it up about a foot over the register with only the wind resistance holding the paper to my hand. Holds temperature VERY well even with a crappy insulated house (one of my next big projects)
 
The condensor fan motor quit on mine about a month ago...crazy thing is it would work sometimes...like every time I looked at it....then it would quit & get hot inside while I was trying to sleep...part was under warranty which was the only good part of the experience.

It is a Goodman, R22 refrigerant...which, when I bought it, I priced the Trane and Goodman and talked to some other HVAC guys they said just as good as Trane for less $...same warranty, etc.

I have heard the Heil/ICP was a good machine too.
You also have Carrier, Amana, York, a host of others that I am not familiar with. They are rated by SEER numbers in terms of efficiency and of course, this affects price. There are different configurations, ie heat pumps, split systems etc..but I'm no expert on the different setups.

We have a Big Honkin' 5 ton Gas-Pak(gas heat/electric AC) which is the same size as what I replaced. A slam wore out/rusted out 25+ yr old Ruud unit that I kept band aiding for a couple years until it died.
 
How do you tell if its a capacitor? I have some parts I scavenged from a neighbors dead unit... Outside fan is working and air circulates inside... Guess I could just go out and swap in the other one and see..

That said i figure now is a good time to get it replaced... This thing is so old and crappy I really think id be fixing something else soon anyways..

Any experience with geothermal? Have room in the front yard and/or back yard for a coil slinky loop... Searching on them now.. I know how they work, just curious as to prices, installation etc...

Fact is I also really need to re insulate the crawl space and put up a vapor barrier under the rafters, and insulate the attic more too...
 
2 years ago I had my whole unit replaced with a lennox unit . when i priced them out it was the middle of the price range .
1.goodman 4k installed
2.Lennox 5k installed
3.Trane 7k installed
I used service experts they did very good work and were fast .
 
yager said:
Any experience with geothermal? Have room in the front yard and/or back yard for a coil slinky loop... Searching on them now.. I know how they work, just curious as to prices, installation etc...

Fact is I also really need to re insulate the crawl space and put up a vapor barrier under the rafters, and insulate the attic more too...
Click to expand...

Both of my brothers went that route two years ago when the tax incentive was pretty fat for geothermal systems. They both love them, very efficient heating/cooling 55 degree water vs trying to heat/cool outside air to the inside temp your trying to reach. Seems like they needed two wells but not sure why, they both have tiny back yards so i don't think room is necessarily an issue. That being said, do you think you could get a drilling rig in your back yard?
 
Mine did something similar saturday and it turn out the contactor in the condensor was bad $40 part and it is running good as new. Keep in mind if you decide to get a new one mine is 5 year old Goodman. I haven't had any other issues in 5 years.
 
Geothermal is expensive and not more efficient than a high-SEER heat pump.

Insulation is overrated. Figure you've got R13 in the walls, R30 in the attic. You could put another 10" of batts in the attic and not see a difference in your power bill.

We've got Carrier. It's nice. It's quiet. I've never done anything to it.
 
yager said:
How do you tell if its a capacitor? I have some parts I scavenged from a neighbors dead unit... Outside fan is working and air circulates inside... Guess I could just go out and swap in the other one and see..

That said i figure now is a good time to get it replaced... This thing is so old and crappy I really think id be fixing something else soon anyways..

Any experience with geothermal? Have room in the front yard and/or back yard for a coil slinky loop... Searching on them now.. I know how they work, just curious as to prices, installation etc...

Fact is I also really need to re insulate the crawl space and put up a vapor barrier under the rafters, and insulate the attic more too...
Click to expand...
i had a buddy replace the capacitor on mine. mine got hit by lighting and it pooped its guts out but im sure you could hook a meter on it and if dont shoot anything than its bad but if your fan works then it probably aint that
 
Just about every capacitor i have seen go bad looks swollen. Thats a dead giveaway. If i remember correctly, the outdoor unit will have a dual capacitor. One side for the compressor the other side for the fan. The ratings ar typically 35-45 microfarad on one side and either 5 or 7.5 on the other. The larger side will be for the compressor. If you want to check it just disconnect power, disconnect the wires from the capacitor and put a meter accross it. The reading should be close to what the casing says. Its usually a good idea to discharge the capacitor before getting a reading by touching both terminals (short) with an insulated handled screw driver that way it wont bite you.

Sometimes compressors lock up and the need a hard start kit which is just essentially another capacitor.

If you need to replace i personally think its best to go with a standard DX system. Geothermal is so expensive due to the wells that need to be drilled. Id look at Goodman just becuase of the availability of off the shelf parts and their warranty is good. If you have gas available id take a good look at a dual fuel setup. That will help save on electrical costs.
 
Some units have two capacitors some have a dual stage, some have 2 dual stages.
none of them cost more than $20.
They will look pregnangt or popped and spilling their guts.
Caps usually pop on the hot ass days,
 
Went out thei AM early and took covers off.. main cap look fine, even swapped in the known good cap off the parts unit I scavenged a few years back... still no cool air. Can hear pump actually starting up fine, all fans are moving...

I could re grade in the back and knock that row of short scrub trees down. That was all bare 6 years ago, just small pines and ceders I've let grow up to screen off the back area.. BUT have to see what the costs are... The 30% tax credit w/ no limit is good until 2016..

Have to make a few phone calls today.
 
I didn't see anybody mention freon? Mike have you had it checked? My mom and step-dad had a buddy fill theirs twice a year and dragged it out 3 more years before replacing.
As for a new unit, everybody told me I was getting Rheemed when I went with a Rheem. 16 years later now and going strong. Cheaper than most other brands. Progress Energy had a deal back then where they gave low interest and put it with my bill.
Always been told to go a little bigger than house spec (like anything else) and it won't work as hard and will actually use less electricity?
 
6BangBronk said:
Always been told to go a little bigger than house spec (like anything else) and it won't work as hard and will actually use less electricity?
Click to expand...

You want it to cool but you dont want it oversized. Oversized causes short cycling of the compressors and shorter run times can cause humidity issues inside.
 
The R12 was topped off ~3-4 years back when it was fading... The current unit can't keep up with the 100+deg days and we usually dial it back so its not running full on.. And ease it up once the sun goes down..

I appreciate all the help with fixing this one.. I'm ready to replace it.. Even using some rough #s the likely poor ratings on the current one will be quickly offset with a much more efficient newer unit... I think geo isn't going to happen this go round.

Goodman does look like a pretty good line... but still looking...
 
Better have a license number handy if you plan on recycling the old one Mike... New rule put into effect a couple of months ago at all the scrap yards to clamp down on all the AC unit thefts. I give my AC demo's to my brother now.
 
yager said:
Went out thei AM early and took covers off.. main cap look fine, even swapped in the known good cap off the parts unit I scavenged a few years back... still no cool air. Can hear pump actually starting up fine, all fans are moving...

I could re grade in the back and knock that row of short scrub trees down. That was all bare 6 years ago, just small pines and ceders I've let grow up to screen off the back area.. BUT have to see what the costs are... The 30% tax credit w/ no limit is good until 2016..
Have to make a few phone calls today.
Click to expand...

That's just the Federal. North Carolina offers an additional 35% until 2015. Geothermal HVAC + water heating is a smart way to go if you plan on staying in the house for a while.
 
Man ! What a racket !

$4200 on a 3ton goodman unit installed... WTF its a 100% outside unit with flexible ducts w/ power and controls hooked up... (permits extra)

vs online vendor selling unit for $2600
http://ingramswaterandair.com/goodm...at-pump-gph1536m41-multiposition-p-17094.html

Dang that just seems like a lot of labor to install a full outside unit. One guy said the online units don't have the warranty. But the online sites clearly say they do? WTF!

Good to know on the NC rebate also... We plan to be in the same house forever... I've been in it for almost 12 now..
 
Try Armstrong, very similar to others with a decent price and warranty.

Some things to consider:
Permit is required to do the work
Somt towns only allow certain SEER units to be installed
Check your electrical, it may likely need upgrading to meet current code
Pour your own pad, the ready-made ones are never the right size
Check inlet and outlet configuration of each unit you are considering. Some may be opposte than what you currently have and may interfear with bushes, trees, deck, etc.
Some units have round inlets vs square, more labor and materials will be needed.
Electrical may need to be lengthened if configured different (likey)


If you install yourself, buy wholesale from a reputable supply house.
 
CONFUSING, IS'NT IT !

One of those things, you get what you pay for, & you want a pro to handle it, & a rep. co. you can call, to handle the warranty work, when something goes wrong. You will find at the Warehouse, many cheaper brands, are the same; just use a different Badge[name]. Not sure if Goodman is one. Also know a subdivision all installed with 5 yr. Cheap Goodmans. Lucky to get 5 yr. Other people have no problem! I would prefer top brands, like Carrier, Trane, Amana. New units have new freon; forget the #. Geo is best,if you can recoup the set up cost. I was told , could cost me $15K, for drilling closed loop system.
On replacing the unit; I been told both inside & out have to be changed, due to matched set. Been told DOESN'T have to be matched! DON'T KNOW! Power Co. will set you up, & take it out on monthly payments, but I believe they add 10%[or more] to price. Then again, they have to stand behind it! MYSELF; I'm still running a top of line Carrier,installed in 1981!
Just can't afford to do different, till it dies, & I'm forced to.
 
yager said:
One guy said the online units don't have the warranty. But the online sites clearly say they do? WTF!

Good to know on the NC rebate also... We plan to be in the same house forever... I've been in it for almost 12 now..
Click to expand...

When I was looking into buying an online system and having a friend install, the warranty was only good if a "professional, licensed installer" installed the system.
 
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