Home and Auto Air Conditioning Question

OmahaChief · 08-02-2010, 02:10 PM

So it looks like I in need of a new A/C for my home. Will be the first time I have had to make sure a purchase and thought I would get input from my buddies here in the lounge. My home is 1700 square feet and built back in 1984.

Any thing I should specifically look for in a new unit?

Any idea what prices are for things like this? I am going to get some quotes but want to make sure I am not being taken.

Any brands that are recommended?

**gblowfish** · 08-02-2010, 02:18 PM

I put one in my house last year. Been thru all this.

1) Figure out how much furnace and AC you need. AC measured by SEER, Furnace measured by efficency. I bought an 80% furnace and a 14 SEER.

If you want tax rebates, you have to buy really high efficency stuff. Costs a bunch more, and it will take several years to get that money back in terms of energy use. Be careful not to over-buy.

2) Brands: I bought American Standard. It's made in Texas by the same company that makes Trane. Goodman is cheap shit, York is not as good as it was a few years back. Rheem and Ruud are the same company, both are OK. Rheem is made in Arkansas. Carrier is mostly for commercial property now, residential Carrier is very expensive.

3) Make sure you hire somebody who knows what they're doing on the install. On the AC, I recommend spending a little extra for a variable speed blower motor. I also recommend avoiding heat pumps.

You'll hear a lot of different and conflicting advice. Pick a company that you trust, ask for references if you're not sure.

**Bugeater** · 08-02-2010, 02:29 PM

Whatever you do, don't waste your time calling Climate Control. I wouldn't buy a used box fan from that guy.

OmahaChief · 08-02-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Whatever you do, don't waste your time calling Climate Control. I wouldn't buy a used box fan from that guy.

Any suggestions here in town Bugeater?

**Bugeater** · 08-02-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmahaChief

Any suggestions here in town Bugeater?

I had D & K put my system in a couple years ago, they were pretty reasonable with their prices, but I'm not overjoyed with what I got from them. I wanted them to put a larger unit in than what I previously had and they talked me out of it, and now I wished I would've pushed them harder for it or gone to someone else.

Extra Point · 08-02-2010, 05:24 PM

Call Comfort Products at (402) 334-7777, and tell them what you have, and ask them for the name of a good residential contractor. That outfit knows their stuff; they are an HVAC components distributor. Without knowing your layout, I'd say 2.5-3 tons would do you.

Capricorn · 08-02-2010, 05:41 PM

What you need is a burden test. Meaning that you need to know what your heat load is. The size of your windows, whether single or double paned makes a significant difference.

The burden test takes your R values from the attic, walls, floors, windows, etc. The R values are composed of insulation values and what they mean. This is the only true way to size an A/C appropriately.

Any legit Company will perform this service for free.
Tell the company that you are searching for free estimates, if they are not willing to do so, shine them on!

I have been doing this kind of work since 1988.

**bevischief** · 08-02-2010, 07:08 PM

Get more than 1 bid and ask for references from former clients.

08-02-2010, 02:10 PM
OmahaChief Down with Nino Brown Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Omaha Casino cash: $9245000	Air Conditioning Question So it looks like I in need of a new A/C for my home. Will be the first time I have had to make sure a purchase and thought I would get input from my buddies here in the lounge. My home is 1700 square feet and built back in 1984. Any thing I should specifically look for in a new unit? Any idea what prices are for things like this? I am going to get some quotes but want to make sure I am not being taken. Any brands that are recommended?
Posts: 3,620

08-02-2010, 02:18 PM	#2
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16886178 VARSITY	I put one in my house last year. Been thru all this. 1) Figure out how much furnace and AC you need. AC measured by SEER, Furnace measured by efficency. I bought an 80% furnace and a 14 SEER. If you want tax rebates, you have to buy really high efficency stuff. Costs a bunch more, and it will take several years to get that money back in terms of energy use. Be careful not to over-buy. 2) Brands: I bought American Standard. It's made in Texas by the same company that makes Trane. Goodman is cheap shit, York is not as good as it was a few years back. Rheem and Ruud are the same company, both are OK. Rheem is made in Arkansas. Carrier is mostly for commercial property now, residential Carrier is very expensive. 3) Make sure you hire somebody who knows what they're doing on the install. On the AC, I recommend spending a little extra for a variable speed blower motor. I also recommend avoiding heat pumps. You'll hear a lot of different and conflicting advice. Pick a company that you trust, ask for references if you're not sure.
Posts: 41,016

08-02-2010, 02:29 PM	#3
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	Whatever you do, don't waste your time calling Climate Control. I wouldn't buy a used box fan from that guy.
Posts: 70,546

08-02-2010, 05:24 PM	#6
Extra Point MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prairie Village, KS Casino cash: $10004900	Call Comfort Products at (402) 334-7777, and tell them what you have, and ask them for the name of a good residential contractor. That outfit knows their stuff; they are an HVAC components distributor. Without knowing your layout, I'd say 2.5-3 tons would do you. __________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." --Satchel Paige
Posts: 7,845

08-02-2010, 05:41 PM	#7
Capricorn Rookie Join Date: Mar 2010 Casino cash: $10004900	Get a free quote! What you need is a burden test. Meaning that you need to know what your heat load is. The size of your windows, whether single or double paned makes a significant difference. The burden test takes your R values from the attic, walls, floors, windows, etc. The R values are composed of insulation values and what they mean. This is the only true way to size an A/C appropriately. Any legit Company will perform this service for free. Tell the company that you are searching for free estimates, if they are not willing to do so, shine them on! I have been doing this kind of work since 1988.
Posts: 19

08-02-2010, 07:08 PM	#8
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $7729352 VARSITY	Get more than 1 bid and ask for references from former clients.
Posts: 27,771