Trane vs Carrier

[unfun75]

Is there much of a difference or are they both winners?

[Ralph]

I have a Carrier heat pump and it's still running strong after 17 years. (Knock on wood)

[DaveH]

Once you get past about 14 SEER, they're all pretty much equal in regards to quality and reliability. Rheem makes a nice unit too. The big thing with HVAC is to make sure they size the unit and design the duct work correctly, to what your space and layout is. There are a lot of hacks out there, and a bad install will turn a great unit into a real dog. Get at least three quotes, ask lots of Q's, and you'll get a good feel for who you can trust to do the best job for you.

Recommendation: Go with an indoor unit that has a variable speed motor. The difference in comfort and quiet factor is unreal.

Curiously, I've found that after interviewing several companies to do a particular job, I always felt the most comfortable with the contractors that gave the mid-range estimates. Not saying that's a given, it's just interesting. YMMV.

[LordOfTheThighs]

We replaced our furnace / heat pump about 5 years ago. It needed a new compressor. It was 16 years old at it's time of death.

Me: Can you install said compressor?

Repairman: Welp, I'd have to find a used one. Gov requirements stipulate units have to perform at XXXX SEER. So, manufactures can't make units below that level and your's is an old POS

that doesn't come close to required specs. So yank those jeans downs, boy. I'm going in dry. Get that check book out, cause you need a whole new unit.

SCAM

We wound up with a Rheem. Coincidently, I felt Rheem'd when we paid him $5000 for his services.

[DaveH]

Should have got quotes.

[marcnorth]

I just had a new 16 seer Trane heat pump and air handler installed a week or so ago. Almost 7K but worth every penny of it just for the 10 year warranty. Most quiet fan I've ever heard, can't tell it's even running when it's on. Like someone else said when you go above 14 seer they're pretty much equal.

[tommy p]

I'm having a house built right now and on the builder's list of standards was the use of Trane units for HVAC. He, of course, uses a sub for that work. When we had our sitdown he said he would still use Trane if we wanted but his sub has switched to Rheem lately. Said the Tranes have had some early (within one or two year) mechanical problems and that parts are becoming hard to find. He also said Carrier was fine.

In my current house, I replaced my unit 8-9 years ago with a Trane dual-stage and have not had problem one. It works great so I'm really on the fence about what to do for the new place. I hope some other folks weigh in here.

[DaveH]

Do not be afraid to go with a Rheem (that really sounds bad, doesn't it ). Top quality stuff. But like I said earlier, once you get to the upper performance tier, they are all very close.

[veatch]

One big benefit of Carrier is availability of spare parts (new and used...). The things are everywhere (At least around here they are...). Quality on both is good, as is rude and rheem.

Good luck.

[hamerhead]

What surprised us most was just how efficient they've gotten. Our house is 35 years old and had the original furnace until 3 years ago. We use about 1/3 of the fuel now, going from about 1500 gallons of LP to 500-600, and that's with bumping the thermostat up 2 degrees. If it hasn't already, it's pretty close to having paid for itself. Plus, my wife is warmer (physically), and that's priceless. Or so they tell me.

[bubs_42]

I'm going to cut a long story short. Make sure you go with a very established contractor. I have 7 different ones come in and they were all close in price. They all work within a tight profit margin and make money off the service contract. So find a guy that your confortable with and keep up the maint on it.

Digital Thermostat is a must.

[ib2010]

WE installed a Carrier "infinity" 11 years ago. All new ducts. 4 zones. While it may seem overkill to have 4 zones, it allows for amazingly quick recovery of heat/ac allowing dormant zones to be cut way down at night and or for the 10 hours during workday. Bills=low. Having spare parts avail. was key, as well as a contractor who was busy, and had a strong crew. So far no "duct control motors" have failed, and the "brain" is still sharp.. ---------------------One other thing, make sure you have an excellent ground on your elec panel. -- a friend drove us a new copper ground rod cause our original ground was suspect.

[unfun75]

Got three quotes. All for 2-ton, 13-seer. Trane = $4,200. Goodman = $3,800. Carrier = $3,975. One year labor, 10 years parts. I'm going with the Carrier.

For comparison purposes, I live just north of the triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) in North Carolina.

[RCM78]

20+ years in the HVAC industry. 6 years as a factory Lennox Tech, and I'm now an HVAC technical Trainer.

Carrier is having LOTS of problems with their evaporator coils leaking. Actually, Most manufacturers are having issues.

The only two that are not having issues are Trane, and Rheem.

If it was my house I would go for the Trane system...

[DaveH]

Three quotes on each of those systems, or those are three quotes from the same contractor?

[Thundersteel]

A lot of contractors try to sell homeowners larger systems than what they need. A system that is too large is just as bad as one that is too small.

I've heard good things about Goodman. Currently still on the original Ruud (15 years). I think Ruud and Rheem are the same company.

[RCM78]

Goodman is complete garbage!!!