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All HVAC scammers must hate you for all that information you providing to all of us .Thank you very much .George Z
I sincerely wish the Hvac scammers would ALL get proper training, and become quality companies, sadly, they can scam, and charge a fortune, as we quality companies don’t have the resources to serve everybody.
@whochecksthis There needs to be more or better laws in place. Maybe certified. It's bad. I am a smart diyer and trying to find a hvac company that actually knew there stuff was hard. I am in a hot climate.. so we are flooded with hvac companies. Just no reason I should have the problems I end up with. I look bad as a customer because I am fishing. I am sure I have lost a couple good companies because of that. I get it.. it's annoying. But so is shitty work that I need a company to come back 6+ times or I have to fire and hire someone else.. or learn it myself and do it myself. I look back at 100year old houses that are still solid. Then look at modern houses that don't last more than 30 before they are beyond repair. I guess there were swindlers then.. just damn!
As a former HVAC business owner, you are offering good advice, and you are right on with your brand recommendations and advice about hiring an HVAC contractor. Way to Go!!!
Was able to walk in off the street and buy Durastar (Furgeson Plumbing’s Reem rebrand). Small gas furnace only, no AC for $900. The lowest quote we got here in Seattle to do the job was $8500. Thanks to your videos, I replaced it myself last summer!
Anyone with a sound combination of Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical and Tin Smithy fundementals can do these jobs. However, I sure hope that you had a Pro Furnace Contractor come in to do a full inspection for, 1) Correct sizing of furnace to the house. 2) check for correct "gas certified" teflon tape/dope used as you never use white plumbing teflon! 3) Test for gas/fuel leaks. 4) Proper venting both fresh make up air and flue exhaust. 5) Emissions leakage around the furnace and ducting. Never fail to do these things! 👍👍
I think your 8500 was including the whole system or 95afu
About 4 years ago, my small HVAC Contractor replaced my existing 2 Goodman units. 2 new Goodman units. We put a package unit downstairs and a split 96% gas furnace with 16 seer AC. We increased the upstairs unit by a ton. All for $11,500. After it was installed, I decided to create a network with 3 zones. It was a fun project! I am saving tons with energy efficient units. We are empty nesters and it is great cranking up the AC. Our first set of Goodmans could have lasted another 3 years. I had them for 22 years. I had the money and decided to do under my terms. My son is in HVAC in another state and he talks about units lasting 10-12 years. The best thing to do is purchase a case of each filter size you use and set your phone to remind you every 90 days to change the filters. Wash the coils at the compressor with some dawn and a pump sprayer let it soak and was it gently. Before washing vacuum the leaves inside the compressor.. I totally agree dust is a killer of HVAC units. I also agree a good installer makes a huge difference! Especially the line sets. We use the existing one because it never leaked. One last thing, if you get it repaired stand and watch the tech. Some of these guys are thieves. If the tech wants you to see the salesman run! It’s a scam!
Luckily I have a good HVAC guy who genuinely cares to help people. I can tell you are the type who likes to help people as well. Thank you
I live in Canada and this guy is spot on,10 grand thumbs 👍and my guy installed a Rheem
Which website did you buy your Rheem?
@@alfred672 my local HVAC contractor did all the work .. btw if you register your Rheem online you receive a ten year warranty
Learned so much from this free video alone. I can only imagine how good the HVAC training videos are. Thanks so much!
I have Lennox heating/AC system, going on 20 years, never have had a problem. Of course, like any other expensive home repair or upgrade, I absolutely dread the time my system will need replacing - not only will it be 10 times the cost of my current system, but also with longevity not even close to what my system has had up to now.
FYI - this Fall (2024), there will be new refrigerant based AC system (all brands in US market, thanks to our EPA) and all current models will be no longer be sold any where. There will be approx. 20% increase in HVAC cost that will be passed on to customers. If you have an old system on its last leg, you may want to purchase a system now.
@@jwb1227 No you were saying that there would be a new refrigerant based AC system, if you get a system with this refrigerant will you be able to get if if needed in the future??
@@paulrobilotti9294 Short answer is YES. You can still get R410a refrigerant in the future even after R32 and R454b based AC systems become the new standard in the industry. The R410a is still manufactured but the yearly limit on production is reduced every year to phase out gradually as older R410a AC systems go out of service and newer AC systems are put into service. The biggest thing you can do is make sure the INSTALL is done properly. When ACs get less than 10 years of use, the usual cause is due to improper install and lack of yearly maintenance (filter change mostly). With normal routine maintenance, your AC should not have a leak. I have a 38 year old Carrier AC system running on R22 refrigerant and it is running fine (of course they built them to last back in the day... not any more). Only thing changed was the condenser fan motor and start/run capacitor. You can still get new OEM replacement motors and parts for them from Granger and Carrier. The new systems are built to provide you generally 14-18 years on average before having to replace. That is why I am taking care of my AC until the wheels fall off. I already got return on investment from it 3 times over and counting.
Back in the 80’s and 90’s, Lennox and York made pretty good equipment. Now, I wouldn’t sell a pile of York to my worst enemy. Lennox seems to have leaking coil issues. My Lennox A/C lasted 29 years and probably would have lasted longer if the installer had put a filter-drier on the liquid line.
@@paulrobilotti9294 Yes. I have a 38-year old R22 based AC system from Carrier and R22 is still available. There is even R427A which was developed as a modern replacement for R22. So, the current R410A refrigerant will be available for many years by that same logic.
I just had a system cleaning i asked for a quote on a ac and heater they quoted me $9500! Im glad i saw your video thanks.
I already have the basic knowledge for repairing car AC. Recently bought a Goodman (Daikin made) mini split for the shop. Got new gauges for R410, adapter, flare tool, bender, micron gauge. Got everything connected and pulled vac for an hour, and we were in business. The information is out there and it’s free, thanks to great guys like these and their content.
Yeah, but it is a Goodman. 😢
Thanks for all your help ❤😊
Great video as usual. I followed your advice last year and too the initiative to get my cert. I’m in compressed gas business and now I feel better equipped to answer questions from my industrial customers regarding refrigerants and regulations. Also now I can buy refrigerant and maintain my own refrig levels over time should I need too.
Love the videos Dave! I’m getting ready to diy a aciq heat pump and run it dual fuel with a gas furnace. Learning a lot from your videos, thank you! I already contribute to you patreon but am looking to step up to get additional advice. Thanks again for the help you give us diy’ers!
Great advice Dave 👍🧡 Congrats on the launch of learning center! We are one of the few premier HVAC contractors willing to help DIYer in Dallas, TX and surrounding cities.
Awesome man. Kudos to you guys. Shoot me an email, I’d love to hear your story. Diyhvacguy@gmail.com Cheers
I am in North Dallas - diyer need some help with my compressor.
Thanks! Looking forward to variable education, including types of homes and electrical needs for new variable installs.
Thanks! I know I need to evacuate my drain from what you presented, and I did not know how best to do this.
Great Information, Thank You very much for taking the time to educate us
A lot of companies won’t install what you buy. I ran into that with a mini split and ended up installing it myself. Check with an installer before you buy.
Allot of times you can find a tech and ask him to do side work...that's how I got into doing my own stuff
check your warranty to these on line will advertise 10 year warranty but when you go to get parts the distributor will go where did you buy that at??? we have no record of you purchasing it here.... oh well you'll have to send the parts back to them.... call the distributor in your locality who distributes the brand your going to by and ask..... otherwise you maybe waiting for day's or weeks to get parts....
@@garyo8546 the 10 year warranty ain't shit....the ac contractor will still charge you a ton to do the work. In my case, I've learned how to do most of the work so if I have to buy a compressor....it comes out cheaper since I'm doing the work. I had to replace a blower motor once because they use that variable speed crap so I just bought the whole box and installed it. Was totally worth it.
I ran into the same thing.
@@davidlindgren7605 there's always a tech that will do side work...ALWAYS. Just pay him well.
thanks for the good info. I tried to do the exact same thing on a mini-split system and had a hard time finding anyone who would install only. Of course I know why. They want the fat markup they can get by providing the equipment.Great for them, not so great for the customer. I finally found someone to labor only, but it wasn't easy.
I was just sayning this to my wife, that the labor is excessive now. They were asking $12k for a 4 ton and $10k for a 3 Ton when the price on the internet was less than $5k. What a rip off.
hvac is a crooked business in communist canada you cant even buy one.
Yes, I’m observing the same thing. Labor costs are ridiculously high. The cheapest quote I got for a simple 5 ton, said he makes $2800 for the install. He said it would take him 6 hours. That was the best deal by far but seems pretty high to me.
and they probably can get the equipment for 3-4k
i just saw a quote from 2 of the biggest a/c compaines here in phoenix for 14k and 15k for equipment that cost 5500 and 6200.. figure that out... with the elbow, stand, wipp, disconnect, thermostat, crane lets say 6200 and 7000 ... my home owners insurance went from 508.00 in 22 to renew in 6/24 to 1000.00 doubled in two years.. those a/c units went up 1200.00 in two years and next year they 're going to be higher... all the companies are using the roll out of this new refrigerant next year to scare/ justify these prices......
@@Random_DIY is it wonder people are driven to look for ways to save money? $466 per hour to install a 5 ton? Absurd
Great info from your video's. I bought my house in 2010 and it has a westinghouse single stage split system I only replaced a capaitor 1 time and never payed for maintenance so I figuard I have saved about 1500 dollars minimum. And at the high cost for HVAC I will install myself after online purchase of Rheem or Ruud equipment. I don't see any independent HVAC in Reno NV. And with all the scams HVAC installers pull who can you trust.
I just purchased a 36,000 BTU Mitsubishi mini split. Trane-American Standard have teamed up With Mitsubishi. I purchased it through a commercial Trane account. I’ve worked out the installation with a certified/registered installer of Trane/Mitsubishi since it comes with a 10 years parts/labor. It cost more than a Chinese knock brand like Pioneer, Mr. Cool. Mitsubishi has an excellent reputation for quality and reliability for the long term.
So your point is: Don’t worry about the brand, focus on the install? I could not agree more. In upgrading the HVAC in my house, the hardest part was finding a “contractor” who was willing to do a professional job. Sadly, I was unable to find one willing to manage the entire job and wound up acting as a general contractor myself. Let me explain: I was a fully licensed / bonded electrical contractor. I had partnered with several other trades, including an HVAC contractor. Our work was primarily light commercial. As such, I learned what a “proper” install was. I also had relationships that allowed me to call upon other trades as needed. For example, if I needed a slab poured I had someone to call; if I needed something fabricated, I had two sheet metal shops that would fabricate as needed. To my amazement, NONE of the HVAC companies in my area had any means of providing a concrete slab for anchoring the unit or providing a protective cage. NONE of them were willing to get under the house to run the condensate drain (I guess they planned to dump the water into the crawl space). None had any interest in running the line set in the shortest, most direct manner, or supporting and protecting it in any way. Don’t get me going on their proposed “electrical” work. None were interested in pulling the necessary permit and inspection. Heck, none even checked the availability of the equipment I wanted. At the time, there were major “supply chain” issues. I eventually did half the work myself, bringing in a guy from two states over to make the connections and replace the ducts. What I had to do myself included: - Perform all calculations; - Purchase and provide ALL equipment; - Pour the slab; - Run the line set; - Wrap / protect the line set; - Construct the protective cage; - Run the drain line; - Replace the access door; and, - Provide the necessary electrical work.
My AC Contactor charges 5k for a complete 2ton air package system including the lineset, drainline and return duct... He is a Mom and Pop Operator. I don't think I could do it cheaper than what he charges. I am enjoying using this guy as long as possible. The Bigger Companies want arount 8 to 10k for the same setup.
2.5 ton Rudd and furnace blower for 8.5k 2 k rebate makes it 6.5 said do it !
You are very fortunate!!!
larger companies won't install systems that they didn't sell you .. I'll tell you one thing the Carrier vs Bryant i know for sure is all about the amount of units a contractor sells.. Carrier will only give Carrier units to contractors that sell a lot.. I don't think you can buy a full carrier system unless you're a preferred dealer
I'm a carrier dealer, we put in carrier and Payne, but we're not allowed to put in Bryant, because that's what we chose when we started with carrier. We were starting to put in Lennox but they would only sell us the merit low units and none of the premium Signature units until we sold $100,000 of the merit systems. It was super dumb, Carrier will sell you any level of Carrier as long as your a contractor.
I actually found a really good independent contractor on C.L. of all places. I try to stay away from the guys with the fleet of matching vans.
@@Blilar yeah none of that makes sense and the fact they even have different brands of products like that. If one was a commercial line and the other residential then that might be understandable but all of this seems scammy. You are confirming what I said happens but for you it happened with Lennox not Carrier.. maybe in the case I talked about it was the market that guy was in had too many carrier dealers and they wanted to keep him on bryant i don't know and only carrier knows i guess.. that company is not the best company anyway.. made in Mexico.. i don't mind made in Mexico but not at the expense of America. can't trust anyone i guess
@@zippythechicken I bet that was it, his Carrier market was probably full, here we're overrun by Lennox.
I helped my brother choose a replacement 4 ton heat pump to replace a 4 ton R-22 based AC + propane furnace in the Houston area. Propane has become extremely expensive; they are in a rural area without natural gas available. Heat pump is a great solution for them. We got the system online - then spent MONTHS trying to find a company in the Houston area that would install it. No takers. I had a friend in the DFW area (4 hour drive away) who is an independent HVAC contractor come down to do the install; had to pay for his gas, hotel, meals and travel expenses. Just be aware - it can be very difficult to find an installer.
This is exactly what I was just explaining to him no company will installed a online purchased because of the liabilities
Yeah it's kind of rude, that's like bringing a raw steak to a restaurant, and telling them to cook it, because you don't want to pay the $100 price on the menu. There's a whole lot more than just parts or raw materials. As a contractor, why would you want to go install some cheap brand equipment that you're totally not familiar with, and missing all kinds of other pieces like wiring, thermostat, drain piping, fittings, duct transitions, pad, disconnect, whip. There's tons of other small things besides just buying the main equipment
I think many customers like me wouldn't mind paying reasonable honest hard work cost to well skilled knowledgeable hands on reliable contractors. The problem is when you get ripped off thousands of dollars by the low life SOB that take advantage of customers that have no knowledge of HVAC systems or don't want to do the work themselves for various reasons
It's because they get pissed off that you took away a HUGE profit margin. I've been called a scab and some other choice words once I learned I could buy new equipment online so....I learned how to do the monkey work and do all my own rentals. I've saved so much bypassing the clowns.
@@brnmcc01goodman is cheap? Trane run trus are cheap? Mr. Cool is cheap? What I find funny is that only a few companies manufacture the coils, blower motors and computer boards...I think the ol AC units are basically engineered with mostly off the shelf components and installed into boxes made by the brand you are purchasing. I think it pisses you off that you can't phuq someone out of THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS and pay for your lifted 80k truck. Those little things you speak of...ain't that big of a deal. How much is a roll of thermostat wire? How bout that whip? Not much buddy....good try though.
Thank you for all your help my AC works perfectly !!
My current system was installed in the summer of 1997 when my home was built. It is a 4 ton Intertherm/nordyne system and is still operating. I replaced the capacitor 3 times and the evaporator coil once due to a leak. I will buy a new system this year before the new refrigerant system becomes mandatory and the 410a systems will no longer be sold. I also will buy a couple jugs of 410a and store it for future use. I am fortunate to live in a rural area and have a lot of outdoor storage and can do this. From what I am told the new refrigerant for next year contains propane and all sorts of safety sensors and evacuator fans will be necessary in the event of a leak since the propane is flammable. The EPA has been sticking it to the people for several decades now and there is no relief in sight.
The bigger problem with oversizing equipment is in cooling mode you don't dehumidify the air enough, so you end up with cold and clammy air, and in heat mode you will get constant hot and cold swings as the heat shuts off before the structure and contents warm up. (Thermal inertia.)
I will tell you a story about over sizing, when my home was being built 1998 in a development we were given the option to put in a high efficiency furnace 95% & AC for extra, we did it, years latter a friend who had his own Heating/AC business when fixing my furnace said to my I had a furnace that was to big for my home 125K BTU, home 2,600 sg ft, I was like really this is what the builder put in. That is my story
People always warn you off of oversizing, but remember that a properly sized AC is designed to provide a 20ºF drop from outside air temps. If it's 103º outside you won't enjoy it if your AC can't pump out air cooler than 80º or so.
Fudge...I wish I knew all of this before getting a new system last year. Great vid and content!
Had a Rheem A/C and 90% efficiency furnace installed back in 2002 and still going strong. It was suggested by the HVAC contractor, (had a Lennox furnace and A/C unit) and when the time comes for new units, wouldn't hesitate for another Rheem.
I was quoted $22000 for replacement on furnace and outside unit last year in Texas.
Good video, thanks for posting.
brand new goodman 4 ton 14seer purchased and installed for $4,900, 10 yr warranty parts, 7 year labor warranty, central air heat pump/ac and air handler, ocala, fla
Who did you buy it from?
My experience has been that If you shop around and buy privately, most HVAC contracting firms will either refuse to do the installation since they didn't sell it, they won't warranty the installation and or the product. It's the same as with Auto maintenance repair! And by the way, as you mention that the same company such as Carrier having products under multiple brand names is just like GMC and Chevrolet. Both GM identical products but branded separately. Anyone else remember when GM, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Buick and Pontiac and maybe more were all separate entities and until GM bought each of them out?
this comment needs to be upvoted before this content creator tricks people into thinking buy your own equipment is a good idea...
That's true of firms that advertise on TV, radio and mail fliers. But they are generally the expensive companies that try to up sell you to pay their marketing expense. If you want to do this you need to be creative in finding a contractor. Ask on Nextdoor or out in the rest of your community if anyone is an independent HVAC licensed contractor, works for a firm but does side jobs, or has used an independent person they like.
That’s bullshit. You can go to any hvac contractor that runs his own truck and they’ll be happy to install a new unit. Stop gaslighting people.
@@rhyfelwrtherwyn1070 🤷♂🤷♂ And you know that absolutely for sure since you know personally all of the 7,500 installers across the country. Right? And on top of that, you haven't even highlighted whom you're speaking to or any of their individual comments. You're like a man standing on a street corner on a Sunday morning talking to yourself. 😜 🤣🤣
@@rhyfelwrtherwyn1070 I did just that 6 years ago. I found a small business but he wasn't pleased to do it once on site. It is impossible to find someone.
Dave.....thanks so much for this valuable info.
I purchased a Goodman HVAC system 3 years ago (pretty much a shoe-in replacement for my 30 year old system). I used my HVAC tech/ friend's account at the local Johnstone Supply and paid $2800 + tax, complete. (quotes I received for turn-key contractor replacement costs to me ranged from $6K to $7K) not terrible but this was really an easy job for just about anyone... I did the fit-up, plenum work, wiring, copper runs myself. I then hired my friend for 3 hours to check my work and help me with the final tie-in...brazing, vacuum, pressure test, freon charge etc. I paid him $300. Some friend, huh?...and, well, I do give him lots of HVAC referrals from my RE client base thus, we take care of each other.
PIECE OF CAKE, LOL
Replaced my system 5 years ago Amana cost about $8k for 16 Ser . works ok; wish I saw this then . Think they made about 50% in 3-4 hours Got screwed live and learn Does your course help to become a contractor?
Thanks for the information, I learned a lot from you.
Thanks for your honesty
I have a 10 year old Duane system. Made by Lennox. Have no problems with it. Caveat I take care of it. And that is with the installer was a hack and had to come back and rebraze the copper lines twice cuz he sucked. But still running good!
dude seriously this is 2024 there has to be a way to make screw/bolt on connectors that doesn't require silver brazing. They can make those connectors on Automotive and cars are subject to all kinds of vibration.. it just seems like another scam doesn't it.. so you can't fix your own products.... like making cellphone batteries require surgery instead of popping out like they did for so long.. difference is they gain access to your phone and can view all your files and accounts. phones are getting bigger and bigger now they can't say its about saving space.
100% agree! a contractor you can trust, that has installed systems leak free and remain leak free for minimum of 5 years. I am in Memphis Tn and 25% of the work I do is fix the leaks that other contractors either create, leave in place or ignore. Its disturbing.
I have a twelve year old Rheem AC and am on my third evaporator coil, the third one being a parts-only warranty replacement that cost over $1000 in labor to install.
I have a business in florida. I installed a 4 ton heat pump split system for 6900 installed 10 year parts and 1 year labor. I installed a 4 ton package unit heat pump for 5600 installed 10 year warranty 1 year warranty on labor. Those were Grandaire Units (ICP). I am a one man band licensed and insured. I can charge these prices because I do all the work from ordering to installing units. Companies have way to much overhead for no reason. Im in the big bend of Florida.
AWESOME video !!!! thanks man !!!
Gracias 🙏 señor Dave!!! This information is very helpful for us homeowners thanks 😊
Great video . Thank you
I installed a Montgomery Ward furnace back in 1979 in my home and it ran until I upgraded to a 96% Carrier in 2013. Never had a problem with that MW furnace.
They were made by Rheem. I used to service them. Installed a Rheem in my house 20years ago. I've had only evap. drain pan rust out two years ago. I'm seriously doubt you'll find a HVAC company to install your equipment you've bought.
Electrolux furnace with a Goodman condenser/compressor unit. Still running great after 30 years.
I had Daikin furnace and AC installed by AH here in SLC two years ago. I got a 12 year bumper to bumper warranty. Couple of issues from initial install and they were very quick to come right out and makes things right.
Thanks for the info
Great video thanks brother
I have in my house HVAC Goodman brand 3.5 ton unit installed in the year 2013. I have not done any maintenance other than replacing air filter. One thing I noticed is the sheet metal they use is of thinner gage for the furnace. This perhaps reduces the weight of the unit but looks flimsy.
thanks for the tips
$10,000. On Average? Thats a Joke !!! I was quoted by a A/C company that i have been using for 10 years for service on both my units. To Replace The Outside Unit and the Coil Only $15,556.00. And For that price it does not include the furnace !!! That price represents 1 UNIT only !!! On 6/26/23.!!! Needless to say i purchased the equipment my self and the equipment cost me a tad under $5,000 14 Seer Goodman with Coil
Yep my neighbor here in Ft Myers Florida just paid 15k for a 4ton new unit. I about collapsed when he told me.
Good luck to the homeowners trying to install their own central air. You will be calling a tech before to long.
Not to mention, your warranty is void unless installed by a licensed contractor.
@Jfrieshvac Who cares about warranty if you can install the system yourself (you can, it's not that hard) for $2,000 😂 My first AC unit was installed by a contractor for $1,450 CAD all-in back in 2006. The latest one I had put in to our brand new house bought in 2013 cost me $3,300 installed again by a contractor. Paying anymore than that is criminal gouging, period.
@@Hvaclife83 Was not that complicated !! Me and my sons watched a bunch of youtube vids and took our time we had couple of problems that we overcame and its been 10 months the A/C is nice and cold and the Heat nice and toasty. Plus to save $10,000.00 by doing it myself, i'll take my chances on the warranty!!
have had an amana system since 2009 and it is still going strong!! 🤠
Great video!!
My home only had electric wall heaters so I had a local pro install a ducted Lennox 3 ton heat pump 8 years ago. I've had no problems at all and just installed a Micro-Air soft start myself last month. The only maintenance has been regular air filter replacements.
Lennox fixed the problem in 2015 when they switched from uncoated copper to aluminum alloy for their coils, according to what I read.
Please wash the condenser coils once a year by at least gently spraying water through them to flush our dirt and debris .
I had a friend install a condenser for me and when he was wrapping up he asked what brand I wanted, then he fanned out half a dozen labels that came with the unit. Its same applies to mini splits too, I installed a C&H at home then saw the exact same unit, on a job site, that was a Mitsubishi
Have had a new lennox system for almost 4 years, not one issue works great, best investment I ever made
I had full Lennox system installed in dec 21, in a home I purchased, Chose them because costco uses them exclusively.. Then months later I found out about the DARK past of the AC problems... The installer said they corrected these issues... so far so good but it really made me uneasy... I would have chosen a different brand had i know. So far so good... lets hope it lasts as long as the others. However , on another note, google nest thermostats do not properly work on Lennox systems... I had to switch to Emerson smart thermostat.
Been using Lennox for over 20 yrs! No problems!! Do diy routine maintenance regularly & probably almost any brand will last a long time. 😅
Nest is not a great t stat. All kinds of issues. Honeywell T6 is my fave.
Lennox heat pump installed in our new home 10 years ago has been an absolute nightmare! It’s cost us thousands. Buyer Beware!
@@bradroth7005 The bad Lennox units were made from late 2007 thru 2015 because they had uncoated copper coils that corroded too easily. Lennox switched to aluminum alloy coils in late 2015. Copper is actually a better conductor than aluminum, but can have corrosion problems. I just did some research and Google Nest will work on some Lennox units, but the Lennox units with iComfort Wi-Fi thermostats it is a lot more complicated to install a Nest, because you have to change some DIP switches on the Lennox furnace control circuit board.
S.C. here, we got a new Hvac system for $9,000 our old one we had for 24yrs! We went with a Goodman, get a good installer Carolina heating an air the best.
My Goodman is going strong after 24 years!
Finding a competent HVAC can be daunting. I used to work for a small IT firm and we had a rooftop unit feeding zoned air handling system. I went through three contractors before I found one who had the slightest clue of what a zoned system is. These were commercial contractors! Whoever had remodeled the building before we were there had installed the wrong speed motors on the dampers which caused the system to behave chaotically. The dampers wound up in random positions because the motors were too slow and the controller had a totally wrong picture of what the system was doing. Trying to explain the dampers we’re not operating correctly to the first three contractors just got a blank stare in return. I had to give the California Economizer manual which I had downloaded from the Internet to the fourth guy, but he understood the issue.
Zone systems suck to begin. Especially when someone has the great idea to mult-zone out a system designed to be a single zone unit
@@Duke93720 You’re right. I wasn’t fond of the zoning, for sure. I don’t who manufactured the RTU, but it did have a bypass. What I ultimately decided to do was to disconnect the damper motors and set the dampers manually for a reasonable balance. My boss didn’t want to pay to retrofit with the correct speed damper motors, who knows why because it wouldn’t be _that_ expensive to do. The California Economizer controller was reduced to handling the heat/cool vote from the thermostats and providing staging for the gas heat; it did that pretty well. It was almost comic the first day I worked there. It was July and my cube was right below a diffuser which alternately blew 50 degree and 90 degree air full blast every 15 minutes. I went home with an unbelievably sore neck. The business must have had an insane energy bill because it was both heating and cooling in the summer. I was surprised none of the employees had said anything to the management because it was really bad. In this region mini split units are becoming popular. There are quite a few 100+ year old colonial style multi story homes, and the mini splits do a not bad job of preventing a comfortable upper floor with a freezing ground floor. I see quite a few Samsung units; they have a variable speed condenser fan which allows them to run quieter when they are able.
7:39 - We have an EXTREME amount of dust in EVERY SINGLE ROOM of our home! The massive amount of dust covers every square inch of our home and is impossible to keep up with! I'm thinking all that dust HAS TO BE coming from the vents!
Great job on this, lots of dense info! I asked, it happened! Love that.
Of course! Keep the ideas coming!
@@diyhvacguy Challenge accepted! Here's another idea - Is high-SEER worth the cost? I haven't priced out an 18 SEER AC vs. 24 SEER (and I don't know how high it goes), but is buying a higher-efficiency unit worth it in terms of "how many years does it pay itself back, if at all?" Doing something about ROI (return on investment) for high-efficiency heat or AC, something like that.
A couple of things. I have installed hundreds of furnaces over the last 27 years because a good share of them were top tier Carrier Infinity units which had failed because their DC variable speed blower motors were too expensive to replace a third time, or because the secondary heat exchanger plugged up as the interior metal scale sloughed off. Your photo showed a Lennox, and you skirt the lawsuit which happened 25 years ago where EVERY customer was given the option to have their furnace replaced or have the heat exchanger replaced at Lennox's expense, because the original solder was found compromised in SOME Pulse furnaces circa 1981. Pulse was a revolutionary idea but noisy. That callback was in my opinion way beyond what they needed to do but it is a testimony of what a great company needs to do to keep their good reputation. However, I can tell you as well that you are correct in saying that the lower contractor brands are about the same as the name brands they come from. The components and interior layout are usually interchangeable. What I notice most is that the paint or finish is different. A top tier unit will look good years longer, sitting in the sun compared to their contractor siblings which are dull, faded and often rusting. If that is of concern then buy top tier. And speaking of looks, a good HVAC contractor will have the sheetmetal experience to make a professional looking job inside your house that the typical DIYer is unable to pull off. But hey, if you can save the money and it is down in a basement next to the kitty litter box then go ahead!
Well said sir!
He's very disingenuous bringing up a Lennox lawsuit but not brining up all of the other ones like Goodman/Amana and Bryant/Carrier. All of these companies suck in one way or another. Just like any other major appliance.
I am sorry but for him to imply a Goodman is a possibly quality product indicates to me what kind of person they are. I used to install Lennox 22 plus years ago it was a great product. When I started my business I switched to Armstrong and been selling that for 22 years. In that time frame the service issues on our installs is pretty much non existent. Service issues that are present are due to the fact that the home owner thinks maintenance is not required. Also pathetic. Past the pulse and that Complete heat product Lennox had YEARS AGO the product line in my professional opinion is bullet proof. Telling people to buy equipment off line and someone will simply install it again I do not know a reputable contractor that wants that reputation either. Ethan I agree with your comments though and well written too. Nice job.
Yep. I had a Pulse , first generation, and they provided a new furnace to me on warranty after 16 years.
what about rheem ruud leaking indoor coils lawsuit???? i got screwed on that one in the 2011-2014 era... put in 30 of the package units (rqpm/ rqrm/) 14 and 16 seer dedicated horizontal discharge units went back and replaced about 28 of the coils over the 10 year period all on my nickel .. some i did twice over the 10 year period.. customers were like GOD you said they were good units...yea , yea , don't worry about it,,,,,,, i'll take care of it ... still seeing leaking indoor coils from split's from that brand.....
The house I bought had Goodman heat pump system and seemed like it was not working properly so I called an HVAC company and they told me that there was virtually no refrigerant in it, so just burn out the compressor. I asked them to recharge the system and they said federal law would not allow them to do that unless they located and fixed the leak. They talked me into a new system. $8500. It’s a Coleman and I’ve had them out several times because of something not working. The last time they came out I was told, sorry, but not under warranty.
Ugh, sorry man. That sucks. Hvac techs are sales techs anymore
Bought a carrier during the txv fiasco - I’m on the 5th txv but it cools great.
Still have my reem from 1995 only replaced the connector switch fan motor
I replaced my Trane unit with a high efficiency natural gas unit with a variable speed motor. Saved me tons of money on my electric and natural gas bills. I did not swap out the AC side though when I did this. My summer AC bills are ridiculous. I’d really like to swap out AC unit to be a better match for the heat side. Is a diyer able to purchase trane or American standard?
Great info bro!
Thanks buddy
Try to Fonda unit that the compressor is located at the end of the unit inside it’s own compartment. Most units have the compressor located under the fan in the center of the unit. Any repairs with this style means you have to remove the top and the fan.
I had Trane (2 of them for my home at once) when I built my home 19 years ago. I didn't go with them again because they seemed to have gone downhill since I got mine. Just what i have found.
My home here in Apex, NC has Tempstar AC and Heat units .... This is also made by Carrier
Rheem dealer here last 25 yr & also Goodman was my back up brand but we buy so much Rheem we can offer Rheem 5- 10 % cheaper that Good Man
I’m in Davis County and I had my AC tuneup last week. Was told my Heat Exchanger is cracked and that it makes sense to replace the whole unit. It’s a single stage Furnace and AC and when the air turns on the return vent is sooooo loud. It’s an annoying. Now looking to replace the furnace and ac completely (so the new system runs cohesive) with a 2 stage system. Is also have a few hot and cold spots throughout the house so I figure the 2 stage will help. Lastly whoever installed what’s in my house chose the cheapest brands because they are not energy efficient/certified. It’s a headache. lol. Need to get some quotes this week.
Installed my own AC/Furnace after watching this guys video.
🤘🏼
I typically buy Carrier for my own home one of their brands. No issues with like "Day and Night"/ACIQ, don't like Traine (their coils leak on well known places) - no, Lennox on my NO-NO-Never list, York/Coleman etc - unknown to me (I can troubleshoot them easily), just not sure about them. DAIKIN - is something I want to try, Goodman is ok (I had prior failures, may have been other issues).
I replaced my furnace/coil/condenser in May 2021 in my 1500 sq ft townhome.Had a contractor flat-out tell me they don't recommend the lower-tier Bryant condenser/coil(they sell Bryant/York). Lots of repair work at the 6-8 year timeframe. Eventually went with Daikin installed by a small, family-owned local hvac contractor. This same company also is doing the periodic maintenace.
Are you willing to mention the model and cost of the unit & installation?
In Salt Lake City UT what you have one month maybe one and half months of air conditioning season . Remember you can not make cold ! You can only remove heat !!!
I would also recommend Rheem/Ruud. I installed a Goodman system due to the fact that I needed a 21” 5 ton coil to fit in my utility closet and I couldn’t find a Ruud 21” coil. Also, I got a great package price on the Goodman equipment right before the pandemic. Goodman prices have really gone up since the pandemic hit so I would still recommend the Rheem/Ruud equipment. I have never liked Carrier and have always thought that Carrier was overrated. I like Trane but the equipment and parts are too expensive.
Your honesty and candor is greatly appreciated!!!
My Goodman has been running strong for twenty years. I've had it maintained a couple of times.
I have a Goodman furnace that is 23 years old. Flame rod failed again. I need a new furnace. But it's only 14" wide and NO more room! Trying to find a replacement. Found one on HVAC direct! I need an 80k but 14" only goes up to 60k btu. May need to do that.
I have Rheem 96% "system" , nine years old.The electronic blower motor control went after 5 years . Part was warranted ,but not the labor ( about the same amount $500). The inducer pressure switch failed a few years later . The dealer service wanted $350 to replace it, in addition to the $200 initial house call -all this after I told them that the switch failed ( I have a VOM). I said no thanks and bought the switch and a spare for 30 bucks on line and it took all of three minutes to replace it. I don't call them furnace manufacturers : rather "furnace assembly " companies. They buy parts from third party factories and frankenstein the final product together. I am not even sure they make their nameplates !
I have a RUUD force air For heat and cold that’s about 30 years old and still running .
Dave, For the customer who researched three brands, you may want also tell the significant differences in filter costs per unit. I was shocked....
Getting a new Ruud system installed on Friday. Let's hope it outlives the 23 year old Lennox it's replacing.
28 year old Luxair. Still running strong. New blower motor recently. Otherwise bangs like a champ.
Mine too...34 yrs....worried 😮about starting it up in a week. I just vacuumed the unit and cleaned the coils myself...u tube...and yes I'm a woman...
We had a Carrier system installed late 2022. The ac scroll compressor has a loud violent "back peddeling" sound on shut down. The installing company insists its normal and though labor warranty is expired, threes still the manufactuer's warranty if anything happens.
How do you feel about MITS AIR Side Discharge Inverter Air Conditioners? I'm considering buying it for the lower noise. ty
Yeah, the contractor I hired had a lot of people singing his praises, so I hired him. I requested a Trane be installed and I screwed up - on the day of the install he said he couldn't get the Trane, and instead told me that he had an Air Ease unit that met the same criteria that I wanted from the Trane. To say I've been disappointed in the performance of the unit would be an understatement - I've had to get it charged every year - there are no apparent leaks in the system (have had that checked by someone else), but the system struggles to cool my home until it is charged - then that has to be repeated the very next year. I later found out that the contractor that did the install has a history of "conning" people, so I assume he overcharges for a cheaper brand and keeps the difference. I knew what I wanted, but by hitting me up with the change on install day, I let him get the better of me. I'm thinking of biting the bullet and just purchasing the unit I want and having someone else install it now, but man, I feel like even almost 10 years later it is still a waste of money to do so. I have the money, but just feel like there should be better options.
Have reputable hvac contractor come out, recover all of the refrigerant Pressure test the whole system Evaporator, lineset and condenser If you don’t have a leak It can be recharged
While buying the equipment yourself to save money sounds like a great idea, equipment doesn't last forever and parts can and do break on it. Where this becomes complicated is because you bought the equipment yourself, now there's going to be problems getting parts for this equipment under warranty because it did not come from a supplier that your contractor gets the equipment from therefore they're not going to honor getting replacement parts under warranty. You know who has to do that at that point? You guessed it. You the homeowner who wanted to save some money now has to go through who they bought the equipment from to get the warranty parts themselves which is going to take probably a lot more time and money for shipping, etc. it's kind of like buying your own thermostat at Lowe's. Our company had a Honeywell rep come out to our shop show us some new things they were putting out and during the process he told us that when we had to deal with the "Lowe's" model of Honeywell stat and they wanted to replace it under warranty to just walk away because it's not a real Honeywell thermostat and they're not going to replace it under warranty through where we by the professional grade Honeywell thermostats. So a good rule of thumb is if you buy the equipment yourself you might be on your own when it comes to getting the parts to repair it when it comes to HVAC equipment which can add to the headache of having an HVAC system that is broken and you think it's covered under warranty.
thats crazy i just checked that site and they are selling 8 zone mini splits
The folks who had my house put in a new low spec Goodman system right before selling. It was a lot of trouble for us over 12 years and we finally called it quits in favor of a new American Standard furnace/AC. I know Goodman has since been bought by the Japanese maybe they will improve the quality but I wasn't willing to take the risk.
I’m a HVAC contractor and I refuse to install a system that I didn’t purchase myself from a local supplier. The biggest reason is parts. My supplier provides warranty parts at no cost to me of the customer. Plus I will not do it because a permit needs to be purchased by your local municipality. If you don’t you will have a problem in the future getting insurance or when selling your home. When you purchase your air conditioner you are not buying a toaster oven you are buying a construction job.
I respect that, and there are many like yourself that will only do it that way which is fine. But there are others who will install customer purchased equipment, and they can still make 3k in a day. Cheers
Have a hard time getting homeowners insurance because the contractor installed customer purchased equipment?....... Or David Lundy as a contractor is concerned about not making profit by his HUGE price markup on the brand he sells?
I would definitely line up an installer before you purchase a unit yourself. Research to figure out what unit/system you want, get a few quotes then call around to installers and find out if anyone will install it before you purchase. Also ask the installers what their total cost would be if they purchase the equipment.
Thanks for recommending HVACdirect! Now how do I find a good installer in my area?
Ive been buying online for many years now. Im on my 11th unit but this year I changed things up and got a Trane runtru system (2ton) and a 4/5 ton Mr. Cool heat pump for my personal house. Ive been procrastinating on the trane one but i have to face the music this month plus my home one is just awaiting a new pad and ill get going on it as well. Its not hard at all...brazing is about the hardest part if you ask me. I did invest into some equipment...still dont have a micron gauge but i let my vacuum pump for 30 to 40 minutes because its a cheap harbor freight unit, let it sit for 3 or 4 hours under vacuum and let it loose. Ive only had issues with 1 blower motor so i spent the money and bought the blower portion of the unit because, by the time you pay some company to come do it....you still saved money biying brand new stuff. The rates these contractors are charging these days should be outlawed...criminals at work but they figured out a legal way to rob and stay out of jail
Do you buy complete systems? Who have you found is good to buy from and can you get the full warranty?
@@Random_DIY I bought 10 system through ac wholesalers and then I started buying from Ingram's air. There is a warranty, as I understand it, through ac wholesalers but as I understand it you would need to send the parts back to them and wait it out. I've only had one failure but if you do the math...you come out ahead buying another new one and reinstalling said new one vs paying some clown contractor to do the warranty work. Warranty's aren't worth shit when the equipment is so inexpensive. The con tractors will eat up any savings.
@@johngatsby1473Good to know. I am trying to move into what you’re doing as I’ve had some really bad experiences trying to hire people. I’m sure there are good HVAC people but I can’t find them at a fair price.
@@Random_DIY I've had to seek out individual techs in the past but I just got to where I could save more doing them myself. It's really not that hard. Diagnosing is more a skill from experience and that's where I'm a bit weak but there's always a KZhead video that helps walk you through it. At worst, get it all installed and have a company come out and tune it up for you....still saving TONS of money
@@johngatsby1473 Have you ever looked into someone like Lowe’s or Homedepot? I see they offer installation.
1:15 My advise on buying equipment direct. Talk to contractors in your area before your make a purchase. Contractors make a lot of their money on equipment mark up. They may not want to install if they aren't making markup or you might not save that much if they figure in what they would have made if they sold you the equipment. Warranty repairs may be a little more difficult if you bought the equipment yourself. It may be on you to do all the warranty leg work.
Just love this guy he is the greatest whether he gives aways items or not he is just the greatest just love him for helping us.🎉🎉😂❤😂🎉🎉