ok ... hope this doesn't turn into a Ford vs. Chevy type debate - but if there are any HVAC guys on here, i'm in a situation where next year i'm going to have to replace my 13 y.o. system at my house ... it's a Goodman & it has a leak in the coil in the unit under my house ... i've been limping it along now for years by having my go-to HVAC guy re-charge the unit ... this year has been one of those years where i've had to get him to come out twice to re-charge it ...

he's partial to Heil & American Standard, but can get any brand (except maybe Carrier?) ... i'm VERY price sensitive b/c i'm more than likely going to be selling my house in a couple years & i don't want to pump a bunch of money into it ... but having said that, i don't want to cheap out & get another system that requires a bunch of service calls to jack with my system ...

i mostly heat my home w/my fireplace/insert during the winter times, so for the past several years, i've not run the heat pump at all ... but it'd be nice to have that option again ...

recommendations pls; thx in advance!
BGD

I would go with American Standard.

Every brand will have a wide range of systems in various price ranges, so you should be able to find something in your range.

#1 Trane
#2 American Standard

I have a Goodman with the 10 year warranty. Works fine for me.
If you need someone around Montgomery I have a guy you can use. I’d bet he’s the best price you’ll find and does jam up work.

I have been doing Heating and Air for 20 years. I run my brothers company now. In my experience a "good" system comes down to how well you maintain the system and if it was installed correctly. I have seen Tranes have trouble and I have seen the cheapest models run for over 20 years. If you are selling the house then the cheapest option is the best way to go. I seriously doubt you will get your money back out of it in the end. I'm not saying that you can't but its doubtful. With that said any system that is properly installed will serve you well. Wittichen Supply has a very inexpensive unit that is basically the same as a Rheem, its called sure air I believe . Same components but different name plate. In fact, American Standard and Trane are the same unit with different name plates. If you are not 100% sure you are selling then I would buy what has the best warranty because you will, at some point need it. They don't make systems like they used too.

In fact I live not far from you if you need someone to look at it for you.

what are you thoughts of replacing the coil under the house? i'm being told i can do that for FAR less; it would mean retaining the old refrigerant, but according to my HVAC guy, everything in my system is working fine ...

You would then have a new evaporator coil with a 13 year old compressor, condenser coil, etc. I guess it may not matter as much if you're selling in a year or two.

i'm not particularly a fan of the coil replacement idea for precisely what you wrote above -- so ya, my main inclination is to bite the bullet & get a new system ... but it's a fairly significant chunk of change ...

thx for the votes on American Standard; that was the brand i was leaning towards, as well

Most all brands are made by the same company, they just put different stickers on them.

Except for Trane and American standard.

i would not install a heat pump they arent as efficient as they claim to be they claim 300% and you might get that if its 55° outside when you run the heat i personally dont run anything until it gets down in the 40s and once it gets cold enough to actually need the heat 45° and below youre gonna be running the emg heat anyway. also your running the compressor all year long instead of only during the hot months and wearing it out faster and IMO a reversing valve is one more thing to break in addition to the added cost of buying a heatpump. Id install a straight A/C with electric or gas heat.

A lot of the Trane and American Standards are made in Panama City, Fl.

point well taken & based on empirical experience with my heat pump i've got now, i completely agree with you. however, i'd prefer to still get a heat pump - just in case - as a back-up to my primary sources/means of heating my house ... one thing i learned a long time ago -- you cannot have enough redundancy when it comes to HEATING your house ... just my $0.02; i'd still only run the heat pump in the rare cases that i need it for short periods of time during the winter, mostly in a supplemental capacity until i can get my other heat sources back up to snuff ...

Yup.

All the condensers are manufacturered in Tyler tx. Air handlers in Vidalia Ga. got some plants in Arkansas for the package systems. Some up north for the furnaces. And a plant in Panama City for something.

I’ve been to the main headquarters in Tyler Tx, they run a very nice operation over there. Got some really cool test facilities.
I’d go with:
1. American standard
2. Trane

They are the same system, cosmetic is the only differences.


Bryant, carrier, Heil are basically the same.


Rheem and Rudd are the same.

That would be the way to go then. That is if they can find a replacement coil. Several of the R-22 evaporator coils are hard to find. If found, they can be pricey. Do you know if they have one on hand to replace it with?

no sir, i do not know if they have one on hand; but they've dealt with Goodman for years so i'm assuming they could get me one ...

There is a major plant in Clarksville Tennessee as well.

If you send me the model and serial of the indoor unit I can check for you.

sunday, i went under my house & all of the labels/tags on the unit have faded so bad i cannot read 'em ... is there a hard/metal plate somewhere on the unit or is there another way to grab the model/serial # w/out opening it up?