"WhyKnot" wrote in message
...
I did know I shouldn't have posted my questions to the "alt.hvac" group,
so
below is the SAME post I had there on that group. I cut and pasted it
here...sorry about that....this the full story:

Actually, hes got a point, but furgettaboughit.
Yea.I know thats spelled wrong...LOL
Southern accent ya know...


Is this a newsgroup where a homeowner can ask a recommendation on a
furnace/AC and on Duct cleaning (is it a scam)? My head is spinning after
I
had 5 estimates done (2 from big companies, 3 from small, local ones) and
they were all so different and contradicting in what they advised that I'm
left very confused with what is right. I'm down to two guys who own
small
local businesses.


Yes...some would argue incorrectly that the other one was...
Your asking for free advice, so you get, what you get in Usenet.

One gave us a quote on a Rheem Weather King 80% and 2.5 ton AC and told us
to stay away from the variable speed, the other gave us a quote on a
Carrier
Weathermaker 58CVA 80% variable speed furnace and a 3 ton AC (Weathermaker
38TKB). From what I was told, an air cleaner comes with the Carrier
58CVA
and we'd have to buy the media air cleaner extra with the Rheem, which is
not a big deal, we'd buy that. The difference between the Rheem quote and
the Carrier is about $1400 more for the Carrier when all is said and done,
but I think the Carrier guy is doing a little more work.

Personally, I dont deal with the Chinese when possible, so I stopped selling
Rheem/Ruud when my local supplier had them on sale.
I dont like companies that have a history of knowinly using customers as
guinnia pigs, so that eliminates Carrier.
However...

Based upon the two you have here, simply based upon service information, its
a no brainer...you would overall prefer to go with the Rheem unit, as most
of the parts are not as propriatary as the Carrier, and should the fan motor
in the Carrier die out of warranty, its going to cost an arm and a
leg..possibly in the $800 range if that one is like some that you have to
replace the controller with it.


Here are some things that might make a difference, I don't know....The
Carrier guy mentioned we'd need to put in cold air returns higher on the
walls upstairs (the ones we have on the second floor are near the ground)
and he told us duct cleaning is not worth the money, when we asked about
having that done. Feels that's a bit of a scam and the ducts will get as
cleaned as they need to be when they do this installation and position the
furnace, etc. The Rheem guy didn't mention those things.


You will hear alot about returns high, supplies low, cold air falls, hot air
rises..etc..

Fact is, the system wont care, provided that you have a properly designed
duct system, and the duct system is designed to the new unit.
The installers MUST do a manual D to insure that the ducts you have are ok
with the new system.
Ducts are NOT something else with the central air system, they are part of
the system....meaning, just because you are getting some new parts added,
you are not getting the entire system...the ductwork is PART of the entire
system, and it all must match to work properly.


Is duct cleaning a scam? I have no idea and am about to drop an
additional
$400 on that if I go with any one of the other guys the Carrier one who
thinks it is a scam.

Up to 90% of the time...sure is.
If the ducts are that dirty, if they are metal, perhaps cleaning them is an
option..if they are fiberglass insulated on the inside, or ductboard or
flex, then replacement is the only real option.


Do we need air returns higher on the walls upstairs on the second story to
make AC more effective?

Nope...maybe...depends on the current setup....something we cant see from
here.
If it matters, as an example, in the deserts of SoCal we used to due to
inherent design flaws in the construction of the homes, either have to
install everything in the floor, or in the ceiling of some two story
apartments....when the systems were up and running, you could not tell where
the returns and supply ducts were.
It boils back down to things we cant see from here.


Both guys seem to know their business, both come recommended by friends
and
have no bad reports with the BBB....and I have little else to know what to
base this all on. Both have been in business for many years and I think
will stand behind their work and are personally involved in the
installation
of the units. How do I go about picking? Which equipment is better?


All equipment is junk, its the installer that makes it work like it should.
The installation makes it good units, or bad units.

Did anyone talk to you about adding UV-C band lamps to the system to insure
that you are getting the most bang for you buck with the added filtration?