DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:
Yea I usually do that first but was hoping to hear from folks in AZ
with real experiences:-))

No problem.

The most important concept to learn is that the quality of the installer
/ installation is the most critical determining factor in the
performance and reliability of a system. You can pick from the high-end
brands (Trane, A/S, Carrier) or the low-end (Goodman) and still get a
satisfactory system if it is designed and installed correctly.

Secondly, you need a heat gain / loss calculation ("Manual J") to
determine how big a system to get, and a duct / airflow calculation
("Manual D") to specify the duct layout. Don't even listen to
contractors who won't offer to do these two calculations, or who refer
to sizing in 'square feet per ton' or some other such nonsense.

For a good primer, spend some time reading the residential HVAC forum at
http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1

Good luck.