You know your central air conditioner needs to be replaced. You’ve been told that fall is the best time to shop. You’ve talked with several contractors, each of whom has their own recommendation as to which brand is best.
Now you’re on the fence. Should you spend more to get that expensive model that’s super-efficient and has all the bells & whistles? Or hunker down and get the same thing that’s been cooling you for 13 years?
First, forget that last idea. Air conditioners today are far better than they were a decade ago. Chances are, you won’t need as much power. And there are some alternative systems on the market that you might like better.
Consumer Reports does a review of leading brands based on customer satisfaction: http://www.consumersearch.com/central-air-conditioners/brands-vs-brands. In one survey, three brands had poorer ratings— Goodman, Amana & York. But one source, FurnaceCompare.com opines that Goodman, with its lifetime warranty (same as the Amana ASXC18), may have a poor reputation because of poor installation practices. So if you go with a Goodman, go with a contractor that has a good track record of installing this brand.
BTW: Don’t take these surveys as gospel. If the number of participants is low, it takes only a few disgruntled customers to bring down the rating. Amana, for instance, rates as one of the best brands even though it had some of the most complaints. Go figure.
American Standard fewest number of complaints
How about the best? American Standard took first prize with only 10 percent of owners reporting that their units needed repair. Trane, which makes American Standard air conditioners, also had a good review. Carrier is a solid choice, and is considered by some reviewers as superior in removing household humidity.
If you live in a damp climate, that’s a consideration. Lennox rates with the winners, although some experts note that the reason that Carrier, Trane & Lennox are considered best brands is because the companies are careful about installation— overseeing contractors and providing support.
Note that Carrier, an old-line American company, also owns Bryant, Payne and Tempstar. Goodman makes Amana and Janitrol. Nortek makes Maytag, Westinghouse, Frigidaire and Kelvinator brands.
Depending on the climate in your neck of the woods, you might also check out heat pumps and swamp coolers. Heat pumps work where the temperature doesn’t fall to extreme lows. Although they are more expensive than conventional air conditioners, the price is falling. Some developers even lay the geothermal coils in the ground for an entire subdivision, which really lowers the installation cost.
Swamp coolers work well in dry climates. These units add moisture— the opposite of air conditioning, which is designed to remove moisture from the air. Swamp coolers are generally less expensive than conventional ACs.
But ultimately the critical factor in any new system is installation. Make sure you have a contractor who is certified and trained to assess how much cooling you need, and design an installation plan, complete with ducts, that will work at optimum efficiency, and one who is familiar with whatever system you choose.