Use only a MASTER SPECIALIST for your HVAC service!

http://www.hvacexcellence.org/masterspcialist.htm







"jbogs" wrote in message
ups.com...
NATE and NADCA shows you the company stays on top of continuing
education. Rheem is better than Bryant long term. However for each
particular model the consumer reports suggestion was a good one.

Please understand this is a critical choice becuase you will have to
live with the heating system for a long time and it will either be
heaven or hell. The real trick is the evaluation of your needs based on
the square footage of your home and just how well its insulated. This
gives the contracor a formula to follow in order to make what they call
a heat load calculation. This essentially estimates the most heat you
will need during the coldest day of the heating season.

The goal is not to go to big with a unit since that will reduce the
actual efficiencies of the unit and you will be using more fuel with
the constant starts and stops. The goal is to have the unit on the
coldest day run for 45 minutes. This is like higheway mileage vs city
stop and go.

So bigger is not better. Its critical to get the right guy doing the
evaluation and the install. In order to check the BBB was a good choice
as is your state department of consumer protection.

Here's the inside scoop. You need to ask how long the techs have been
working for the company and the length of time they have been in the
business. This tells you 2 things. 1.) If the techs have been with the
company a long time it shows the company is strong and is run well. If
they have not it means constant turnover due to dissention in the
ranks. A minimum of 5 years. 2.) An experianced tech is better then a
newly minted one.

Check to see how they maintain their vehicals inside and out. If it's
messy on the inside beware,

Visit their office. If the inside of the office is in chaos RUN.

Essentially what I'm suggeting is see how they run and maintain their
business because thats what they will be doing with your heating
system.

I would also ask for referrals of past customers and I WOULD CALL them.
You can ask about installation, how clean they were, how long it took.
Any problems after or durring the install. ect..

For more details on how to choose a heating system whether it runs by
gas or oil you may want to visit http://www.heatingoilhelp.com Its a
site that focuses on oil heated systems but a lot of the information
also transfers to the gas side.

John
http://www.HeatingOilHelp.com
If you like my suggestions please visit the site and rate me if you
would. Thanks



wrote:
I'm getting my furnace replaced and have some questions. How important
is it for the contractor to be NATE or NADCA certified? The more
expensive, big places really push these certifications. Or is this
more of a sales pitch than anything?

I have 3 choices:

Bryant Plus 90t
5 year parts/labor warranty
humidifier
media filter
duct cleaning (I need it)
very well established company with all the fancy certifications and
guarantees
permits
$4360

Bryant Plus 90t
5 year parts/2 year labor warranty
humidifier
media filter
duct cleaning still to be added to price, probably $300-400 more
very well established company with all the fancy certifications and
guarantees
permits
$3474 (plus duct cleaning)

Rheem RGRK
10 year parts/labor
humidifier
media filter
duct cleaning
smaller company, in business for over 15 years, owner seems very
competent
permits
$3299


Is there anything good/bad about either furnace? Comments? I know the
bigger places might offer more piece of mind, but the price seems
pretty steep.