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Having to replace furnace, some questions
QUESTION:I am needing to replace the furnace in my house with a new one due to a
cracked heat exchanger. Now, I've been reading a bit and possibly I am
being taken for a ride. My furnace is a 20/30 year old GE unit and my
outside unit is from 1983 also by GE. I am considering replacing them
and have gotten a few bids for a Lennox, a Trane, and an Amana.
My questions are should I opt for a 12 seer or 13 seer system? I
understand that there is a payback curve and I am here in San Antonio,
Texas. We don't use the heat that much, but AC really gets used. Is
there some sort of rule of thumb/calculation I can use to determine which
to choose?
If I get a 13 seer, should I opt for variable speed? Naturally, this
costs a lot more and the cost is running close to $6000. This comes with
a 10 yr warranty as well which the guy claims is essential for this kind
of equipment. My bids are running from $3600-6000 depending on the
equipment used.
Next, I have been reading enough to know that equipment matters less than
the person doing the installing. The question is how do I know who is
good and who is bad? I don't see all these companies in the BBB. One of
the companies is a division of Service Experts, and they offer a 100%
satisfaction guaranteed deal for the first year.
ANSWER: Trane, hands down, among those three. Get three estimates
from locally owned companies. Make sure they do a load calc, Manual J
and Manual D ( duct sizing ), so your new system is the right size.
If you think you are being taken for a ride, by the company that is there
giving quotes..guess what? Dont use them.
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