Central Air Installation

[dillon]

We are planning to have central air installed and currently have a Goodman furnace. Does the a/c have to be a Goodman or Amana to match up with the furnace or can it be any brand? The reviews I have read for the Amana a/c units are not very good.

When the furnace wears out, I would like to upgrade to a higher quality furnace that is not Goodman. Right now, I don't want to spend the money for both a/c and a furnace.

[nobody05]

you can mismatch all you want and will work. sometimes you have to match sets if you are looking into power company rebates. But thats only for High End Rebates 17+ Seer Heat Pumps and such.

[dillon]

That's interesting....a local heating contractor told me that I had to match to the furnace brand. Of course, he just happened to sell and install Amana. Thanks.

[Hoey]

The AC installation will include the A coil that goes into the plenum above the existing furnace. The air cooled condensing unit (ACCU) is the remote unit mounted outdoors. These two items have to be matched on capacity, i.e. both 1.5 ton of cooling for example, and do not have to be from the same manufacturer.

[Tom7227]

As you look at what to do be sure to check out the rebates and tax credits you can get. I had a new condenser, A coil and lines installed last year and I am pretty sure that those things made it an easy decision to go to a higher efficiency unit. I can't remember exactly but I think hit was a even break to go from a 13 to a 16 SEER unit once those incentives were included.

[fishersofmen]

That's interesting....a local heating contractor told me that I had to match to the furnace brand. Of course, he just happened to sell and install Amana. Thanks.

What a joke. Not even close to accurate or honest for that matter because any hvac guy knows that is bull.

A lot of dishonesty in the hvac industry like many others now days. Many of these companies especially the bigger ones have a sell first approach.

[dillon]

I just got a quote for a Trane that I thought was very fair. I'm getting two more quotes and then deciding. The contractor with the Amana won't be getting considered. Thanks for all the input.

[crothmeier]

I put in a new furnace and AC last June. Priced 2 local guys, and then noticed a thing in my Centerpoint Energy bill regarding rebates. Ended up buying it all through Centerpoint highest seer rated AC and Eff furnace got me back $1,350 in rebates. Some from Centerpoint for the furnace, some from Carrier for complete package, and a very large chunk from the Public Utilities in town for the AC. They took care of installation and disposal.