Lennox or Trane?

[SagaLore]

I have to replace my AC this year.

I'm reading reviews, but thought I'd get your direct opinion. What do you have, what have you had, and what do you think is a better brand?

 

[Rubycon]

It's hard to stop a Trane. :laugh:

 

[Zenmervolt]

Carrier. Nothing but good experiences with them.

ZV

 

[boomerang]

I've got a three year old Carrier Infinity system here. No real complaints. Furnace and heat pump. I replaced 19 year old Carrier components with these. The prior equipment held up just fine with only normal maintenance. I replaced them due to their age and tax credits that were available at the time.

 

[nickbits]

Carrier, Lennox and Trane are all good. I'd just get the one with the best warranty or deal.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Honestly, I don't think it really matters too much. They all use a scroll compressor (a lot of them use the same brand even) and other than that it's just a box and a fan. Just get the highest efficiency model you can afford, that's where you're really going to notice the savings.

After that it just comes down to warranty (10 years is pretty standard).

Edit-If the box is close to a window of a room in the house that you use frequently you might want to spring for one of the more quiet ones. Ours is next to the garage though so who cares.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Honestly, I don't think it really matters too much. The compressors are all made by Scroll and other than that it's just a box and a fan. Just get the highest efficiency model you can afford, that's where you're really going to notice the savings.

After that it just comes down to warranty (10 years is pretty standard).

Edit-If the box is close to a window of a room in the house that you use frequently you might want to spring for one of the more quiet ones. Ours is next to the garage though so who cares...

LOL "scroll" is a type of compressor (others are reciprocating, rotary, swash plate, centrifugal, etc.). Manufactures can be Copeland, Danfoss, Tecumseh, etc.

 

[Modelworks]

I prefer Ruud.
Used them for years and years.


I watched them assemble Trane units on How its made, I was not impressed.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I have a Lennox furnace and Trane AC, installed together. Both are awesome at what they do. Carriers is also good. You can't go wrong here. Take the brand with the best deal for the same specs between the two or three brands.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Honestly, I don't think it really matters too much. The compressors are all made by Scroll and other than that it's just a box and a fan. Just get the highest efficiency model you can afford, that's where you're really going to notice the savings.

After that it just comes down to warranty (10 years is pretty standard).

Edit-If the box is close to a window of a room in the house that you use frequently you might want to spring for one of the more quiet ones. Ours is next to the garage though so who cares...

LOL "scroll" is a type of compressor (others are reciprocating, rotary, swash plate, centrifugal, etc.). Manufactures can be Copeland, Danfoss, Tecumseh, etc.

Doh, you're right. :laugh: I can't remember who makes the compressor in ours but it's the same one Carrier uses. We had A/C installed a few years ago and I remember doing quite a bit of research on this and it came down to the fact that the big names all use pretty much the same compressor and other than that it's just a box and a fan.

We have a Goodman. We had it installed 5 or 6 years ago IIRC. Haven't had a bit of trouble with it.

 

[Rubycon]

Yes it's probably a Copeland.

Even though the compressor is the heart of the system coil designs as well as controls make a significant difference when it comes to reliability, operation under adverse conditions, and overall noise levels.

Indoor noise levels are up to the installer tie in methods AND the plenum design, air velocity and static pressure. Carrier's piston accurator many years ago on heat pumps was notoriously loud when the reversing valve was engaged for cooling. The hissing of the liquid line was easily heard in an adjacent room and alarmed people into thinking their system was leaking when they switched on their AC for the first time! :Q

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Yes it's probably a Copeland.

Even though the compressor is the heart of the system coil designs as well as controls make a significant difference when it comes to reliability, operation under adverse conditions, and overall noise levels.

Indoor noise levels are up to the installer tie in methods AND the plenum design, air velocity and static pressure. Carrier's piston accurator many years ago on heat pumps was notoriously loud when the reversing valve was engaged for cooling. The hissing of the liquid line was easily heard in an adjacent room and alarmed people into thinking their system was leaking when they switched on their AC for the first time! :Q

The last house I was in had a GE heat pump that was like that. Except that it was loud every time the system powered down regardless of heating or cooling. I've heard noisy valves before, but that one took the cake.

ZV

 

[lokiju]

Trane.

My Dad has been in the AC biz for decades and still says they're the best, even though quality isn't as good as it used to be.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

The last house I was in had a GE heat pump that was like that. Except that it was loud every time the system powered down regardless of heating or cooling. I've heard noisy valves before, but that one took the cake.

ZV

Sounds like a GE Weathertron. Guess who owns that division now? Yep Trane bought them and their unique orange tin cans still have those rotolock fittings to this day!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Yes it's probably a Copeland.

Even though the compressor is the heart of the system coil designs as well as controls make a significant difference when it comes to reliability, operation under adverse conditions, and overall noise levels.

Indoor noise levels are up to the installer tie in methods AND the plenum design, air velocity and static pressure. Carrier's piston accurator many years ago on heat pumps was notoriously loud when the reversing valve was engaged for cooling. The hissing of the liquid line was easily heard in an adjacent room and alarmed people into thinking their system was leaking when they switched on their AC for the first time! :Q

Our house was built plumbed for central air. All the installer had to do was install the compressor and hook up the thermostat. It is literally 6' from our furnace (which is in the garage) to where the compressor sits on a concrete pad outside the garage.

I don't think it was a particularly difficult install.

This thread reminds me that we probably need to run our unit soon. It has been a couple months since we've used it. It's in the 80s here today so I'll flip it on this afternoon and run it for 15-20 minutes.

 

[Drako]

Get a Bryant, and save yourself some money.

Just as good as Trane, Carrier, and Lennox.

 

[Atrail]

Just be sure to use a reputable dealer, many will sell you *brandname* unit and use non-*brandname* parts, so you bascially end up with a brand name shell with cheap replaced internals.

 

[Unheard]

Gas heat FTW. Trane for our setup.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Yes it's probably a Copeland.

Even though the compressor is the heart of the system coil designs as well as controls make a significant difference when it comes to reliability, operation under adverse conditions, and overall noise levels.

Indoor noise levels are up to the installer tie in methods AND the plenum design, air velocity and static pressure. Carrier's piston accurator many years ago on heat pumps was notoriously loud when the reversing valve was engaged for cooling. The hissing of the liquid line was easily heard in an adjacent room and alarmed people into thinking their system was leaking when they switched on their AC for the first time! :Q

I would say that problem is not corrected. You should hear mine! There is a setting for Quiet Shift in the Heat Pump settings accessed through the thermostat. It's not on by default, I guess I should try it.

I'm talking about reversing the refrigerant flow for defrosting purposes. Is that what you're talking about?

 

[RU482]

Lennox or Trane?

At first glance, I was afraid this was going to be a thread about what to name a baby

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Carrier. Nothing but good experiences with them.

ZV

Guess you didn't see SNL.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
I have to replace my AC this year.

Originally posted by: Unheard
Gas heat FTW. Trane for our setup.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: RU482
Lennox or Trane?

At first glance, I was afraid this was going to be a thread about what to name a baby

They sound like Palin names.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: boomerang

I'm talking about reversing the refrigerant flow for defrosting purposes. Is that what you're talking about?

No, its a continuous noise when running in cooling only mode.

Yes the woosh! is going to be loud when the defrost cycle engages. The higher the differential between high and low side the louder it will be. It's loudest closest to the reversing valve which is enclosed in the outside unit but the sound can be heard along the lines running to the indoor coil as well.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: boomerang

I'm talking about reversing the refrigerant flow for defrosting purposes. Is that what you're talking about?

No, its a continuous noise when running in cooling only mode.

Yes the woosh! is going to be loud when the defrost cycle engages. The higher the differential between high and low side the louder it will be. It's loudest closest to the reversing valve which is enclosed in the outside unit but the sound can be heard along the lines running to the indoor coil as well.

OK

Yeah, I had a heatpump installed at my last house, I'm used to the woosh. I just changed that setting though, I'm going to see what difference it makes.