Why wait on the heat pump?

The name of the installing contractor is more important than the names on the box's! A bad contractor can screw them up equally.

 

I'm waiting on the heat pump because the A/C still has quite a bit of life left and because heat pumps are starting to gain popularity, I'm guessing/hoping they will continue to advance in efficiency and quality within a short time. I do realize that the installation is the most important part but as stated in the original post, all three companies come highly recommended so I can't use installer quality as a comparison tool.

 

I'm waiting on the heat pump because the A/C still has quite a bit of life left and because heat pumps are starting to gain popularity, I'm guessing/hoping they will continue to advance in efficiency and quality within a short time. I do realize that the installation is the most important part but as stated in the original post, all three companies come highly recommended so I can't use installer quality as a comparison tool.

 

Heat pumps been around many many decades, certainly the efficiency went way up and many options nowadays, in regards to reliability IDK, copper coils are paper thin nowadays compared to your existing A/C.

Every piece will say either assembled in the USA or Mexico or China nowadays, doubt made/manufactured in the USA.

What are the labor warranty, are they all the same, or is one Contractor offering more than the basic one year. Is that a plus for you if one Contractor is offering more?

Did they mention rebates from your state and the Federal Tax Credits to you. If so you would need AHRI matched system. Changing only the Furnace now, you should be able to apply for rebates from your state and the Federal Tax Credits.

 

Lennox: 10 year components/compressor, 1 year labor, 20 yr heat exchanger
Rheem: 10 year parts, 1 year labor, lifetime heat exchanger
Armstrong Air: 10 year parts, 10 year labor (if professional maintenance performed yearly), lifetime heat exchanger

I don't know that I'd be eligible for any of the rebates. The federal ones require 97% + efficiency and the state ones require natural gas (we currently have propane).

 

As you may or may not know Armstrong Air is under Lennox umbrella, the 10 year extended labor warranty is nice, even if you have to get a yearly PM check, but that falls under decisions, decisions.

Now if you got a bid for a Amana furnace in that tier line, chances the furnace itself would have a whole new furnace if HX fails and chances even come with all stainless steel HX, whereas the mentioned models probably could easily have aluminized steel on one section and SS on the other, or if it’s a one piece HX, could easily be aluminized steel. If ever HX fails ( Amana ) and Amana backs their extended labor warranties unlike Lennox, Carrier, Trane and any of the big boy names.

Who’s backing the extended labor warranty on the Armstrong? A 3rd party company from Armstrong or the Contractor? If Contractor, what happens if they go out of business during the extended labor warranty period? What happens, you can ask them, if they say we don’t intend to go out of business,not me anyway that’s a lame answer IMO. Certainly they may not go out of business but it’s a legit question.

All those manufacturers warranties you mention are only as good if furnace gets registered.

Course the install and setup is the key, so choose you Contractor wisely on whichever brand model you get…

How did they determine size of furnace in BTU, are all Contractors BTU rating the same or are they all over the place. If all over the place, thinking they are just guessing or using rule of thumb or replacing like for like?

Have them do one of these ( startup/commissioning report ) in order to sign a contract. They may/may not have to message the quote a small bit to take this step into consideration as it takes time to do a accurate, detailed one.Check temperature rise across HX, static pressure, etc are within manufacturers specifications. Thinking skip section 2

https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/National HVAC Commissioning Checklist _Rev 11.pdf

Hopefully they clean the inlet side of the A/C coil while furnace is out.

As soon as furnace is installed, double check that the A/C works OK, before they leave to verify they did not put a hole in the coil or what not when removing/installing new furnace. Odor maybe coming out of your supply vents would not be unusual when they fire up your new furnace as typically there may/may not be a light coating of oil from manufacturing process on the HX.

 

As you may or may not know Armstrong Air is under Lennox umbrella, the 10 year extended labor warranty is nice, even if you have to get a yearly PM check, but that falls under decisions, decisions.

Now if you got a bid for a Amana furnace in that tier line, chances the furnace itself would have a whole new furnace if HX fails and chances even come with all stainless steel HX, whereas the mentioned models probably could easily have aluminized steel on one section and SS on the other, or if it’s a one piece HX, could easily be aluminized steel. If ever HX fails ( Amana ) and Amana backs their extended labor warranties unlike Lennox, Carrier, Trane and any of the big boy names.

Who’s backing the extended labor warranty on the Armstrong? A 3rd party company from Armstrong or the Contractor? If Contractor, what happens if they go out of business during the extended labor warranty period? What happens, you can ask them, if they say we don’t intend to go out of business,not me anyway that’s a lame answer IMO. Certainly they may not go out of business but it’s a legit question.

Course the install and setup is the key, so choose you Contractor wisely on whichever brand model you get…

Thanks for the info. I actually didn't notice the 10 year labor warranty so I'm glad I re-read through them after your post/question on warranties.

There aren't any recommended Amana dealers in our area I'd want to go with.

The contractor is backing the 10 year labor warranty and I do realize it's only good if the contractor stays in business for that long and no one will tell you they're ready to pack up shop as soon as it's installed.

A related question now, you say that labor warranty is nice "even if you have to get the yearly PM check"...is a yearly check recommended or a larger interval? I imagine the previous owner was doing some sort of maintenance to get the York to last 27 years. I'm all about maintaining the upfront investment but if yearly checks aren't necessary that's good to know too.

 

The yearly PM is something the Contractor probably wants in order to maintain the extended labor warranties, just another way for them to make couple bucks from you and they are hoping you will buy your future HP from them if that’s the requirements.

Thinking an extended labor warranty that’s backed by the manufacturer may not have that stipulation, but IDK. Each manufacturer extended labor warranty policy may be different.

Again one reason your existing 27 year old furnace lasted this long is they built them more rock solid back then, ( you also don’t mention if your existing furnace is a uncomplicated with only a few functional generic parts 80% or a more complicated, more parts 92%> condensing furnace ) chances your furnace has the workhorse PSC blower motor, those motors handle bad ductwork better that the new ECM motors from what they tell me. They don’t make furnaces with PSC motors anymore due to efficiency standards. I think that was in 2019 when manufacturers stopped installing PSC motors in furnaces. Parts come from all over the world on your new furnace. Manufacturers make very little of a furnace nowadays, the painted sheetmetal box and HX assembly, that’s about it, the gas valve, all your high limits, blower and ventor/inducer motor modules etc. are by others either from Mexico, China, or another SEA country. It will say assembled in the USA and not made in the USA. Chances? your 27 year old furnace says made/manufactured in the USA?

 

The Lennox Merit is a builder model, less frills than the other 2. Also the the Armstrong has a STAINLESS STEEL primary heat exchanger and the Lennox is aluminized.

The Rheem is communicating if you use the Econet thermostat, which isn't that expensive compared to many, you get a lot more control over the unit. Rheem has the R98 98% 13 stage which in our pricing, isn't that much mor than the 96 and customers rave about how quiet it is, especially on the lower stages.