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QUESTION:I want to replace my furnace and install central air. I've had five
different companies out to give me estimates. Every one of them has
conflicting opinions. I don't know what to do. For reference, my
house is 1000 sqft and I live in southeast Wisconsin. My current
furnace is a forced air Bryant and is approx. 15-18 years old.
One says Carrier is great and Rheem is crap.
One says Rheem is great and Carrier is crap.
One loves Goodman/Janitrol, thinks Carrier is over priced and fails
often, and thinks there's typically a two week wait to get replacement
parts for a Rheem.
One quoted me on a Bryant (which I now know is Carrier).
One quoted me on Ducane.
Three think I should go with a 10 SEER AC and four think I should go
with an 80% furnace. They all think 12 SEERs break down more often
and I won't make up the price difference for at least 10 years. They
think 90% furnaces break down more often and don't heat the house as
well as an 80% does. One has said the type of Freon used in the 12
SEER Rheems have been having issues. It's more corrosive than the
stuff used in the 10 SEER unit and has been eating away at some of the
parts. Everyone else has never heard of that an thinks it's a bunch
of bull. One says 90% furnaces only benefit larger homes.
One thinks 12 SEERs break down less than 10 SEERS (this is the Carrier
dealer).
Three think I should get a 1 ton AC and 75k BTU furnace.
One thinks I should get a 2 ton AC and 70k BTU furnace.
One thinks I should get a 2 ton AC and 100k BTU furnace.
The one who thinks I should get the 2 ton AC showed me a sheet he uses
for judging AC size. The sheet he got that copy from was very old
made on a mimeograph. It showed that up to 850 sqft should have a 1
ton, 850-1200 sqft a 2 ton, 1200 - ? a 2 ton. I don't remember the
rest.
Carrier has a 10 year warranty on their scroll compressor and a 20
year on the major furnace part (I don't remember what it's called)
Everyone else seems to have a 5 year on the AC and a 10 year (if I'm
lucky) on the furnace.
I can't find any information on the internet to begin to figure out
any of this. It seems I need to take these people's word for it. On
top of that, my realtor mother says she hasn't seen any new furnaces
that were less than a 90% in the homes she's been selling. She had a
90% put in her own house 6 years ago. It seems the 80% are quiet old,
as well as the 10 SEERs. Seems silly to put in old equipment.
The prices are approximatly:
$3100 for the Ducane 10 SEER, 80% furnace
$4000 for the Janitrol 10 SEER, 90% furnace, & chimney liner (this guy
thinks I may need a new liner due to the appearance of the clay part
of my chimney on the outside.)
$4000 for the Carrier 12 SEER (38TZA), 80% furnace (58STA/58STX).
$4600 for the Rheem 10 SEER, 80% furnace.
$2600 for the Bryant 12 SEER. Didn't get a furnace price from this
guy. He would suggest a 90%
The one thing I have decided is the Ducane is out of the running.
That rep was at my house for no longer than 5 minutes, recommended I
get the 2 ton, 100k BTU setup, and commented on my not being married
at my age (29).
Other than that I am completely confused. I just don't know what to
do. Can someone please help me figure this out.
ANSWER: Well, in the real world, when a company hires a secretary they go through all the legal stuff, take
typing tests and
performance tests. Then when it comes to hiring the right woman, they hire the one with the biggest
chest....
So, furnaces are about the same, except Goodman and Janitrol. They all are nice and pretty and do
the work intended until after the honeymoon. Then all heck breaks loose, they seem to get a headache
after awhile. Some bigger headaches than others.
Goodman and Janitrol are terrible, period. Turtle almost crawled back into his shell because of all
the warranty work he had to do.
So, here is what you do.
You get the quotes.
You compare the quotes
You then look at what savings each efficiency will provide you over the other one. Make sure you
have them use REAL and current energy rates for your area.
Lastly, you hire the best looking salesman who has the best BS and then complain in three years
because they didn't do the job that the guy who looks rough and didn't have a uniform did for your
neighbor.
We can only tell you about equipment. I like certain brands, but just about everybody hates the two
I mentioned.
As to the companies, have a woman salesman come out and you won't be affected by looks as we men are
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