HVAC comparison quote

[RXfiles]

Company 1

Big company. 2.5 ton rheem single stage 14 3 seer $11600

Company 2

Big Company. Bryant 2.5 ton single stage 16 seer $13600

Company 3

Single man operation has many reviews on Google. I've used him before on service calls. He got me back going for $125 dollars one time when another one of those companies wanted $500.

14.3 seer sure comfort 2 stage 2 ton $4800

15 seer goodman single stage 2 5 ton $5200

I know sure comfort and goodman are known for being cheaper end. Sure comfort also owned by rheem. I have the money to buy any of them but just from a value perspective could the first two systems be that much better than sure comfort and goodman? Just need a sanity check on them. Seems too good to be true to be that much cheaper. I could totally replace the system 3 times for the price of the bryant system.

[dalbright]

Ask company 3 guy if he works with any other brands if that is a concern of yours. You have experience with him and he doesn't seem to be price gouging you. If you have been happy with his work I would definitely give the most consideration to him. Most of the flack goodman units get online is just due to poor install as I believe they were less restrictive on who they would sell to. Most newer units don't last as long for a variety of reasons so you will be well ahead with #3. Simpler is better with HVAC (and most things).

[RXfiles]

Ask company 3 guy if he works with any other brands if that is a concern of yours. You have experience with him and he doesn't seem to be price gouging you. If you have been happy with his work I would definitely give the most consideration to him. Most of the flack goodman units get online is just due to poor install as I believe they were less restrictive on who they would sell to. Most newer units don't last as long for a variety of reasons so you will be well ahead with #3. Simpler is better with HVAC (and most things).

The other two companies were just slimy feeling. Guy shows up in a super nice car wrapped in company logos dressed nice with an iPad. Looks for 5min. Gives me a quote on an iPad and immediately starts rattling off financing options. What my 10 year payment would be at 9.99% interest.

[Parkinglotracer]

I went with off brand system made by major company from small 1 person very responsive hvac contractor who lives few blocks from my house in largo, Florida. Contractor said he can easily get repair parts for the brand and their systems have been very dependable. 3 years since it the only problem I have had is with Honeywell internet capable thermostat he stopped in and fixed. 3 year warranty on system. Good luck !

[Nowizard]

We have a very long time guy who is not associated with anyone other than himself and his crew. He has access to other, similar people, and he has described larger companies and their policies, then compared to his folks. Never a problem except with the big guys who are very organized at the sale end, not so much on cost and service. Agree to see if number three can get a model you want and go with him given you have seen many reviews.

Tim

[njdealguy]

Few years ago was replacing 2 central ac units (3.5 ton each) and 2 furnaces. For high efficiency models for these all for Carrier brand was quoted about 21k total by a local big company with great reviews here and about 15k by a "single guy" operation with very questionable reviews.

Was able to get the big company to price match the small one and had the work done. You could try and see if the big companies would do such.

[zlandar]

If you are satisfied with the one-man HVAC company that will be the cheapest by far.

With the big companies you are paying for a lot more overhead. Some of the companies are owned by private equity who spend 24/7 dreaming of ways to jack up their service fees.

I have become increasingly dissatisfied with my HVAC company. The service has gone down and the fees way up since the original owner retired several years back.

[Supergrover]

#3 but explore different models/brands, as mentioned above. I recently dealt with some companies who are all about the sales. I must have received 10 text messages before their arrival. Their quote was 2x more than the others. But anyway, you already have experience with #3. See what other models he installs. Why not go that route?

[harrad]

Your situation is remarkably similar to mine a few years back. A single man HVAC operation was half the cost - 6,000$ for Grandaire 3.5 Tonne single stage. Other larger HVAC companies wanted about 11,500$ for a Rheem 2-stage 4 tonne or 13,500$ for a Bryant 2-stage 4 tonne machine.

I went with the single man operation and we did end up with hiccups. One year after install, a leak in the refrigerant line lead to loss of refrigerant and I had to shell out 900$ for recharging it as it was out of the labor warranty period. The next year we had a leak in the evaporator coil. Luckily it was under warranty but I had to shell out money again for the labor to replace the coil.

Despite the hiccups, I still would have gone with single man operation. He always gets here within an hour of my call and is responsive to my questions. We went without any issues this brutal Texas summer and I am hopeful we get through the decade without major problems.

[inverter]

I would definitely see if you can upgrade to Carrier or Trane if you’re going American.

Do you have a furnace, or is this for heat pumps? Do you have the option of getting a Daikin or Mitsubishi quote?

[RXfiles]

I would definitely see if you can upgrade to Carrier or Trane if you’re going American.

Do you have a furnace, or is this for heat pumps? Do you have the option of getting a Daikin or Mitsubishi quote?

This is for heat pump upstairs only. I have 2.5 ton heat pump in basement. 2.5 ton Heat pump and furnace on main level and 2.5 heat pump upstairs. My home is 6000 sq ft. I live in Central Alabama. The furnace rarely kicks on at all. Everything is original from 1993. I'm going to keep the other stuff going as long as I can and replace as it breaks.

[student]

I am in the midwest. Here is my purchase experience about a year ago. viewtopic.php?t=383336 $8k for Lennox furnace and 2.5 ton ac.

[RXfiles]

Update.

Spoke with the 3rd option and discussed the difference in a mid tier option. He said you could add 1500-2k and get the one that's badged with rheem. But they're almost identical except the rheem has a better shroud around it. So decided to go with the sure comfort for 4800.

For fun I got a quote the the same unit with the 2nd quote company and he quoted me 9600 for the exact same unit

[pizzy]

Company 1

Big company. 2.5 ton rheem single stage 14 3 seer $11600

Company 2

Big Company. Bryant 2.5 ton single stage 16 seer $13600

Company 3

Single man operation has many reviews on Google. I've used him before on service calls. He got me back going for $125 dollars one time when another one of those companies wanted $500.

14.3 seer sure comfort 2 stage 2 ton $4800

15 seer goodman single stage 2 5 ton $5200

I know sure comfort and goodman are known for being cheaper end. Sure comfort also owned by rheem. I have the money to buy any of them but just from a value perspective could the first two systems be that much better than sure comfort and goodman? Just need a sanity check on them. Seems too good to be true to be that much cheaper. I could totally replace the system 3 times for the price of the bryant system.

Why would you go with anybody but company 3? Not even considering price. You have previous experience with him and he's done good work. Stick with people like that.

[RXfiles]

Company 1

Big company. 2.5 ton rheem single stage 14 3 seer $11600

Company 2

Big Company. Bryant 2.5 ton single stage 16 seer $13600

Company 3

Single man operation has many reviews on Google. I've used him before on service calls. He got me back going for $125 dollars one time when another one of those companies wanted $500.

14.3 seer sure comfort 2 stage 2 ton $4800

15 seer goodman single stage 2 5 ton $5200

I know sure comfort and goodman are known for being cheaper end. Sure comfort also owned by rheem. I have the money to buy any of them but just from a value perspective could the first two systems be that much better than sure comfort and goodman? Just need a sanity check on them. Seems too good to be true to be that much cheaper. I could totally replace the system 3 times for the price of the bryant system.

Why would you go with anybody but company 3? Not even considering price. You have previous experience with him and he's done good work. Stick with people like that.

Just needed a sanity check. I agree with you.

[RXfiles]

Company 1

Big company. 2.5 ton rheem single stage 14 3 seer $11600

Company 2

Big Company. Bryant 2.5 ton single stage 16 seer $13600

Company 3

Single man operation has many reviews on Google. I've used him before on service calls. He got me back going for $125 dollars one time when another one of those companies wanted $500.

14.3 seer sure comfort 2 stage 2 ton $4800

15 seer goodman single stage 2 5 ton $5200

I know sure comfort and goodman are known for being cheaper end. Sure comfort also owned by rheem. I have the money to buy any of them but just from a value perspective could the first two systems be that much better than sure comfort and goodman? Just need a sanity check on them. Seems too good to be true to be that much cheaper. I could totally replace the system 3 times for the price of the bryant system.

Why would you go with anybody but company 3? Not even considering price. You have previous experience with him and he's done good work. Stick with people like that.

Just needed a sanity check. I agree with you.

[IowaFarmBoy]

We had our HVAC replaced about 25-30 years ago by an independent guy who used the Comfortmaker brand and it is still going strong. I believe Comfortmaker is owned by Carrier and is a line the local supply house carries for sale to independent installers. His price was really good, especially when compared to the name brand installers.

I'm pretty sure our guy is retired now but I plan to look for someone similar when we are due for a replacement. Sounds like your option #3.

[margaritaville]

I found it especially frustrating when trying to compare vendors for installation of a multi-zone mini-split system this summer. It was hard to get an apples to apples comparison. Seemed like each vendor had their own preferred/approved equipment brands and different capabilities for providing electrical and insulation.

Vendors 1 and 2 quoted Mitsubishi and Daikin respectively and were within $800 of each other on equipment and install.

Vendor 3 was a single man operation recommended by a friend. He proposed a Cooper-Hunter set-up that was significantly less. When I asked about his prices on Mitsubishi, he said he wouldn't recommend it because it wouldn't have the full factory warranty due to him not being a certified installer or something. He also wanted to take some short-cuts (running refrigerant lines and electrical through the soffits for the ceiling cassettes instead of through the wall) which wouldn't have looked great.

Vendor 4 I just spoke to on the phone. He actually wanted to know who I had quotes from so far. When I told him Vendor 1 was one of them, he said he'd do the job for $1K less without even coming out to look at the set-up or knowing what exactly was in the quote.

I ended up going with Vendor 1 because it was turnkey and had a full warranty. He ran the electrical disconnect, installed the equipment, put down walking paths through the attic, blew in insulation over the garage and 4 season room, and was the only one that showed-up on-time for the quote.

So far, so good.

[bluegill]

I very recently bought a Bryant Legacy 15 seer, 2.5 ton, 80% gas furnace for $8,052 in Alabama

When I checked on Goodman, warranty is for 1 year.
Bryant has 10 year warranty on parts and compressor.
20 years on heat exchanger
5 year labor warranty
"Big Company. Bryant 2.5 ton single stage 16 seer $13600" I would double check the 16 seer.

[bluegill]

I would definitely see if you can upgrade to Carrier or Trane if you’re going American.

Do you have a furnace, or is this for heat pumps? Do you have the option of getting a Daikin or Mitsubishi quote?

caution --- Only Trane dealers can buy Trane parts.

[Horologium]

If you have been happy with his work I would definitely give the most consideration to him. Most of the flack goodman units get online is just due to poor install as I believe they were less restrictive on who they would sell to.

You touched on the point that I was told is far and away the most important re HVAC systems: The quality of the installer.

When I was looking for a new system a couple of years ago, a friend in the HVAC business told me that the quality of the unit is not nearly as important as the quality of the installer.

[edhaskle]

I just had out the little guy Cold Stinger Heating And Air Conditioning one man operation https://coldstingerheatingandairconditioning.com/ he put in a bryant 3ton 16 seer for $9000 in
Phoenix,Az keep shopping the little guys till you find the right one. This was last week he also has some prices on his website.