quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Need to start thinking about a system replacement - what brand/model to get.

And down the rabbit hole we go...

I've been reading about this here and there, mostly on SF but some tidbits outside as well. System is 18 years old so I'm anticipating failure any year now. And it's a 13 seer model I think.

This seems very complex and knowing myself, it's going to take some time balancing features/capabilities/reliability across brand/make and what's offered by various 'good' installers in the area. Seems like an installer will focus on 1 or 2 brands (and what's weird is that they don't seem to carry sub-brands - like an installer won't carry both Carrier and Bryant).

Interesting is that the installer for my current system is not well respected in the area. And I have what might be called a non-top tier system. Still, it has lasted basically 18 years trouble free. I had one inspection/tune-up a few years ago (coolant recharge) and no issues throughout the life. Other than the system is likely undersized for my house.

What makes AC so complex? Maybe I should start with who are the good installers around here, find out what they install, and decide from that subset.....

Outside unit is running ? NOT the condensate drain . Anything running ? NOT the thermostat , air filter . NOT ants in the outside unit either .
Prime suspects are fan motor or fan relay , capacitor .

quote:

What makes AC so complex? Maybe I should start with who are the good installers around here, find out what they install, and decide from that subset.....

This, get an estimate of damage and repair costs, from multiple vendors.

One of the "reputable" ac companies in this area came by my daughters, wrote up a repair order for parts, then told me he would get his sales team in because the unit was so old it needed to be replaced, since it runs R12 and they don't carry R12 anymore.

Basically they are using the R12 mandate to push people to change out systems...

Had a smaller mom and pop company drive by, top off the R12 and it's cooling perfectly, yeah there is a leak somewhere but it's small and $100 gets her through the summer without issues.

I'm standing there while the outside unit comes on and he tells me it needs a capacitor...

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
What makes AC so complex? Maybe I should start with who are the good installers around here, find out what they install, and decide from that subset.....

The safest thing is usually to find the most highly recommended installer and follow their advice when considering your needs.

I've found that good installers won't install sub-quality equipment as how it reflects on them is more important than a larger profit margin...since most of their business will come from referrals

We just went though this, though our problem was the condenser unit. Fan would randomly run backward, and would always start with a nasty noise, whether it ran in the right direction or not. Fan motor and condenser replaced. The compressor died. (Apparently this is not uncommon.)

Furnace and A/C were 22 years old. Furnace is still working fine--or was at the end of the heating season. Now we have a new A/C unit to the tune of $3500.

I expect we'll replace the furnace in the next three years or so.

Brands: All the HVAC guys I talked to said stay away from Trane. (Our 22-year-old furnace and our old A/C.) Recommended Carrier, Bryant, and Tempstar. The latter two are re-branded Carrier.

Our regular HVAC people, which have an excellent reputation and I will probably use for the furnace replacement, that sold us Trane 22 years ago, now sell Bryant.

^^^^^^^^
I think the brand of Air Conditioner they suggest is based upon some sort of kickback. Maybe not a kickback so to speak but a way to maximize profits for the firm installing the equipment.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
^^^^^^^^
I think the brand of Air Conditioner they suggest is based upon some sort of kickback.

One of the guys that made that suggestion to me, my next door neighbor to one side, sells no A/C. He installs whatever the customer buys elsewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

One of the "reputable" ac companies in this area came by my daughters, wrote up a repair order for parts, then told me he would get his sales team in because the unit was so old it needed to be replaced, since it runs R12 and they don't carry R12 anymore.

That's like saying your reputable butcher no longer carries hamburger.
R12 was for cars (1994)
R22 is the old HVAC refrigerant (2010)

BTW, there's plenty of R22 refrigerant in the supply chain.

quote:

I'm standing there while the outside unit comes on and he tells me it needs a capacitor...

Just because it comes on and runs, doesn't mean the capacitor is good and doesn't need to be replaced.
Ex. A 35 mfd cap can measure 10 mfd, yet the compressor will run. Cap is still bad.

just curious. do all motors require a cap? what does a cap do in terms of motor function? and how does level of capacitance affect motor function? why does it degrade over time?