Original message
| Rpfingsten
 |  "Decision Time"
, posted Thu 11 Sep 04:25  
I'd like to thank all of you who have responded to my questions. Your input is GREATLY appreciated. I don't mean to be a pain in the rear but it is now decision time. I'm sitting in an un-airconditioned home in Louisiana and I am ready for this to come to an end. Here's my final 2 choices and alittle info on each to help you with your analysis. I am going to replace 2 heat pump units, one is a 5 ton, the other is a 2 ton. Complete changeout, outdoor units, air handler, heat strips.. here goes.
1- Lennox 16 seer Heat Pump ( xp16 ) Contractor would change all of it out as stated above.. about the only extra thing he said he would do is provide a larger precast slab for the 5 ton unit and add an extra cold air return for the 5 ton unit ( not enough adequate air return ) Warranty on this is 10 years on the compressor, 5 years on parts and 1 on labor. I can add an extended warranty for 10 years across the board for an extra 1100 bucks.
2- Air ease ( 18 seer Heat Pump ) same as above, except this contractor would also tear out old duct board plenums on both units and replace with new metal plenums, and he would also take out the exisiting "flex" ducts on the 2 ton unit and replace with metal duct. 5 ton unit already has metal duct work. These Air Ease units are that companys top of the line and come with an across the board warranty of 10 years on everything. The difference in cost between the 16 seer lennox contractor and the 18 seer Air ease contractor is approx. $600. In my research I have found that Air Ease is actually a division of Lennox and based on warranty I would assume as good as or better than the lennox. In fact in my research I found that both the Air Ease and the Lennox both use 2 stage copeland scroll compressors, and that all of the parts are "interchangeable". My problem is I'm just having trouble getting past buying a system that I never heard of before now. I know that sounds silly but it just scares me. Both contractors are very trust worthy and both I believe would do exceptional installations. It appears that I would get more bang for my buck going with the air ease, but again is this really a high quality system? I just want to make sure that when I pay this kind of $$$ for a couple of heat pump systems that I'm getting good quality. But I need to make a decision so I can get this job scheduled and get back into an air conditioned home. Sorry for being so long winded, but I wanted to make sure you had enough info to give informed advice. By the way, the Air Ease system ( higher seer rating ) is the one that actually would be about $600 more. But then again, that contractor's doing alot of "extra" work. Fire away boys ( and girls ) I need your help and I need it now. and again thanks for helping out a layman who is way out of his league. Thanks.
Roland
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Replies:
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| TnNATE1412
|  "Re(1):Decision Time"
, posted Thu 11 Sep 07:14
Lennox, the name brand, you have to be dealer to sell their equipment.
Air Ease, IS made by Lennox International, and you don't have to be a special dealer to sell the equipment.
Both systems use the SAME parts. From what you have wrote, you would be better off, it sounds like, by going with Air Ease. This is a decision, you will have to make on your own. But for my two cents, go with the included warranty as helping to make the decision.
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