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Heating & Air Conditioning

Central Ac for my small apartment (condo)

13 years ago

Hi: I donÃ¯Â¿Â½t know much about air-conditioners and how much is the reasonable amt to spend. I have a small living room and two bedrooms connected with a passage. Currently, I have one old wall unite which is not that functional. I am planning to have central AC for my house. Many people came and gave me different options. Finally, one guy quoted me for $6,418 and he said I will get $500 electric PSEG discount and total for $5918. He said He will install GOODMAN 2 TON CAPACITY, with 10 year parts and labor, after ten years compressor will be free but all other parts and labor will be billed. I am not sure this is a good deal or not? Can anyone help me whether Goodman is good standard unit like Trane, Carrier etc? Paying $5918 is reasonable price? Thanks,

Puja

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Comments (7)

seatonheating
13 years ago
Where are you located and what are the model numbers of the equipment?
Puja
Original Author
13 years ago
I am located in New Jersey area (Bridgewater) The contracter did not gave the moedel numbers. Gave the estimation around 6148 (this includes $500 discount) I may get an additional $500 discount from Electric PSEG. Goodman 2 ton, 13 - 16 SEER. I am not sure the quality of this Goodman company.....
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He didn't do a specific load calculation, but they have a lot of experience with this condo complex, so I suspect they have good basis for sizing. Furnace will be located in the "basement". This is half way between a basement and a crawl space - you can walk there, but unless you are very short you must duck. The existing furnace is hung horizontally from the trusses that support the floor above. From there is a spider work of flex ducts that go to ducts in the first floor floor, or to vertical runs that go to the 2nd floor. How much too high are these prices? In the quote, there is an enumeration of all the items, but no itemization of price - just a total.
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totsuka
13 years ago
Seems too expensive for a Goodman. I had 2 rental homes that I had to put in new a/c units and after much research determined that Goodman was not a very good brand. I went with a Trane model and had zero problems. One thing especially bad about Goodman was the noise. Our current home as a Trane and it is very quiet. Also, any brand, installed poorly, won't work well. So get 4-6 bids and really ask a lot of questions. You have to be smart about this or you will get burned.
baldloonie
13 years ago
How small is small? Is there living area above it and beside it?
seatonheating
13 years ago
Poor advice from Totsuka.

You can't put an umbrella over any brand. Each has high-end equipment, each has builder's grade.

Like was requested, post model numbers of the equipment and we can let you know if it is good or not. Price-wise, we can't tell you anything as we aren't in the area and we haven't looked at the job. Get 3 quotes and see how they compare, just make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
Puja
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you guys for the feedback. I heard a lot negative things about Goodman. I got frustrated and called Sears and they gave me a lot more expensive quote. But it seems Sears uses reliable contractors and stand behind their job. I am not sure this is a good quote or not...Can anyone have any suggestions?

Carrier Payne: 13 seer: Parts and installation: $7688
Kenmore: 13 Seer: $7844
Carrier 13 Seer: $8401.
The guy said that Payne is a product from Carrier. Is that true....He did not gave me any model numbers. He gave the company brandÃ¯Â¿Â½.
seatonheating
13 years ago
The negative things about Goodman pertain to the poor installs.

Sears installers normally have to get in and out as quick as possible to make any money, hence the quality suffers.

Find an installer that cares and it doesn't matter what brand is installed. A lot of misinformation for consumers on brands and their quality.

I can install anything and it'll last as long as anything else. I install more Goodmans than anything and my customers couldn't be happier.

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