Robert,

Am Std and Trane are very similar. The furnaces I believe are identical,
but their condensers are different. I like the Trane line........I can sell
anything and choose Trane and Ruud. I used to like Carrier alot until
"Puron" came out and I started installing them, I had to go back and install
factory fixes on most of them, mostly for noise. I went back to Trane after
that. I have an XL16i and a XL19i at my own. I put in an XL1800 Hp at my
sisters, 2 XL16i's at my brothers, and Trane at all of my friends houses and
90% of my customers. I wouldn't install something that wasn't going to make
me go out and fix it regularly. All of my customers do Preventive
MAintenance and most of them have 10 year Parts and Labor Warranties form
Trane, actually Am Stnd.

They are not over engineered, they engineered to last. Trane used the Recip
compressor for ever, but they manufactured it and it was the quietist, most
reliable, and easiest service, unless you are climbing into a 5 Ton XL19i,
then it is like being in a small house! The higher end companies (better
trained, longevity intact, price for profit and stability, do load calcs ON
EVERY INSTALL, install IAQ devices to increase your comfort and your
health................), are the ones you see using higher end equipment.
Low ballers use the lesser brands of equipment.

Have the company check your duct system (stretches forte'), load calcs,
several options of efficency, several options of IAQ products.

Do not go crazy getting too many contractors. Go look at some of your
friends homes that have the equipment you like. If they are totally pleased
and would have them do it again, call that contractor. If they said they
had the best price, call another company. DO NOT SHOP ON PRICE. You are
making a 20 year investment, not a one time layout of a bunch of money.
Weigh the value of a comfort system rather than have a new heater installed,
hopefully AC too. If it is over 10 years old get that done when you are
getting your furnace installed. Get 2 maybe 3 proposals. Visit the
references that they give you and inspect their work. Were they clean, did
they get what they were promised, was the company responsive to their needs.

OH HELL, I am on a soap box......................................jumped
off.......................I'm done. Any more questions you really want me
to talk about I would be happy to discuss with you.

Good Luck

By the way you can't go wrong with either one. Make sure you get 2 stage
variable.

--
Bob Pietrangelo


www.comfort-solution.biz
On Time or Your Service Call is FREE
Preventive Maintenance Specialist




"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hello:

Am about to invite contractors in for quotes on replacing our present
30 yr old gas, forced hot air heating system.

Consensus seems to be, I believe, after a lot of reading, that American
Standard and Trane offer the highest quality these days.

I always thought that they were the same company, with the same furnaces,
but labeled differently.

Are there any meaningful differences between the two brands ?
What in particular, etc.

Thanks,
Bob