OK... it looks like a new heat pump is in my very near future... an all in one Package Unit type (AC and Heat).  I think I've narrowed it down to:
Carrier
Trane
Rheem or
Lennox.
 
Any comments?  Complaints?  Raves?  Advice?
 
Thanks.

I was looking in to replacing my furnace recently and was told that in a couple of years it will be Federal Law that all heating unit's be 98% efficient.

Not sure how that's going to effect the cost of current/future units, or if that applies to Geo-Thermal.

Depending on yur skills for later maintainance down the road, Name Brands like Train, Lennox, Rheem are great until you have to replace certain components. Alot of proprietary parts that need exact replacements and usually the cost sky rockets compared to Carrier, Bryant, etc...

Research the Warranties before jumping to the more expensive options such as Train.

Most will have a 5 year on the Compressors, smaller parts will have a 1 year or so.
Reversing Valves, Circuit boards, Contactors,  etc...  Id check there warranty good as well (They are the most common to require work do to storms, surges, insects)

Id also check with the company installing as to what if any Annual maintenance they will throw in or provide after install.

Heat pumps are a great efficient heating source AS LONG AS THE SYSTEM is cleaned and serviced each year. I used to tell my customer not to go more than 2 years with out a good cleaning and check out. Heat pump (and AC) are designed to run the best CLEAN (All the coils-Condenser and evaporator, and all airflow inside the house set correctly and filter clean) and system PROPERLY charged with refrigerant.  DO NOT close off vents in rooms that are not used much, leave the vents open as set by the installers.

The biggest mistake I see happen that costs customer the largest chunk is when they DONT leave the thermostat alone (especially if converting from a gas furnace to a heatpump).  Find a temp that is comfortable for everyone and lock the thermostat up.  Many think that when they crawl out of bed in the morning and want to bump it up to get warm are actually kicking in the heat strips running electric bills through the roof. (Bad move LOL) 

OK enough of me rambling on,  Id just check warranties real good and go with what you think is comfortable for your needs.

My wife and I got a new heat pump this fall and so far it's working well.  Ours is a Fujitsu ductless style, which suits our house's open floor plan.  We had a forced air furnace, but the old duct system was really leaky and it would have made the whole project a lot more expensive if we'd had to fix the ducts.  As it was, we just sealed up the registers and the cold air returns.

Of the traditional American brands, out here in my part of the country we see more Lennox than anything else.  I can't comment from first-hand experience though.

John

Quick question for you digi2ns ... seems like you know a lot about this stuff ...

I'm hearing a hissing sound from the vent on the regulator on my 500 gallon LP tank, and I smell a lot of gas. Is this normal or should I call the gas company? I'm reading conflicting reports on the net, some say it's ok, some say it's not.

??

Bub


I was looking in to replacing my furnace recently and was told that in a couple of years it will be Federal Law that all heating unit's be 98% efficient.

Not sure how that's going to effect the cost of current/future units, or if that applies to Geo-Thermal.

Thats a great point Bub on efficiency,


Im sure the salesmen will explain SEER ratings, co-efficients and efficiencies to you of each unit.  Heat pumps are figured off of a different system than furnaces. 


Higher efficient systems will have larger coils, expansion valves instead of pistons to meter refrigerant, variable speed motors, etc...  
The higher the efficiency-the GREATER the initial cost and repair costs as well.  Something to consider. 

Ive been out of it for 10 years now so Im sure alot has changed

Hope some of my past experience can help  

 I can tell you know your stuff pretty well Mike.
 
Bub I recently put in a gas furnace and thats when I heard about the new rules. Not bad necessarily to require a certain efficiency but to get there some of those parts are expensive.

 Here is where I have a problem with anything rated for super high efficiency...... Say heat pump A costs a lot less and is a  14 seer. Heat pump B is an 21 seer but more expensive up front. In a 10 year life span it will save x amount of money over the 14 seer. What they don't tell you is that when the blower motor eventually dies that it costs 5 times more to replace than the motor in the 14 seer unit. The cost difference just ate up double the energy savings. This is true in many cases with the parts in the lesser compared to the parts in the higher efficiency units. Don't get me wrong all of those parts can be expensive and they will  all wear out but when it comes repair time you probably lost your energy advantage in parts. The difference between a high and a lower efficiency unit is usually smaller than you would think anyway.

Geothermal is a great way to go if you happen to personally know a well driller who owes you a favor...otherwise the up front investment isn't worth the payback.

    Some heat pumps will allow you to pick the electric heat package size in your unit on an air exchange unit. This can make a huge difference in your electric bill because heat pumps turn on that electric package to defrost and to make up the difference when the regular heat pump needs help. Some manufacturers allow you to pick anywhere from a 5kw up to a 15 kw. If you live in Tennessee a 5kw might be all you need.

 I am not sure of the electric rate where you are Tony but here rates are going up 20% this is making me reconsider other options.

 Nordyne is one of the better manufacturers of heat pumps in the residential market and they make them for a lot of name brands. 

  A 10 year compressor warranty is a good one. The compressor is the most expensive part in the system. The parts are usually marked way up...those guys need to make a living too I guess. I have been out of the residential end for awhile now and am working in the commercial end of things,although the place I work sometimes has residential equipment to install and service. I have seen things change a lot over time. The equipment is getting more complex but is made of cheaper lighter gauge steel. Many of the parts are not as well made as they once were.

 Once upon a time you could get good parts made in your country, now the parts come from India, China,Korea. Are not made as well ,cost more and when  repair time comes may be more difficult to find.

 My last furnace install was really frustrating because the circuit board in it needed a special plug to tell the board what model and size the furnace was. It was supposed to be shipped with the unit but was missing, so I told the vendor who I believe thought I lost it and billed us to order a new one coming on the slow boat out of China. In the past you hooked it up and it worked.

Thanks guys!  Some really good stuff in here.

Bub- Get that gas leak looked at!!!!!

Mike-  My 27 year old RUUD heat pump has about a million miles on it, and I shamefully have only had it maintained when something on it broke down...and that has been the blower motor only.  (3 or 4 of them)  I did have a small leak or 2 over the years.  I am sure it is a very inefficient unit, and a new one should greatly outperform this one.   You should see this thing-  I have used cans of "Great Stuff" to replace the floor around the coils...the floor rusted out years ago...LMAO.

Starise- I think my unit has 20kw strip heater max in it (it brings strips on as required.)  I usually go for a mid-level or one notch up when I buy something because that's usually in my budget.  I'd like to think a higher quality brand, new unit, would not have major part breakdowns, but I am leary of some things that are newer.  The reversing valve in my RUUD has been sticking ever since it was new-  except I was too young (and uninformed) when I bought it so I didn't know it had a problem until the warranty had run out.

We have no gas in my area, and I'm not going the geo-thermal route, although it's an attractive alternative to all-electric.

And God help us all....it appears that every single bill we pay will be going up in 2013.

Thanks again.

I generally choose the more common brands with the highest efficiency rating (SEER) that I can afford at the time. 

Heat strips will spin the meter like a top..... so small changes to the t-stat are best.... 

Here at the house, I have 3 units.... 2 are heat pumps and one is a gas pack. (Long story)  ... but I have installed programmable t-stats on all 3.  My wife comes home and runs the heat up to 72.... and in the summer the cool down to 69 on the gas pack. That sucking noise is dollars flowing out of my bank account. 

It's an older 3 ton unit that I installed along with the duct work.....when it finally quits, I will have it and the ductwork replaced with a much smaller, more efficient gas pack. It no longer needs to heat & cool the whole house.