Need to replace Central Air Conditioning Unit
 

From researching, looks like the following are good units:

Trane
American Standard
Bryant

Any other suggestions?

And any suggestions on who to call to install?

thank you all again!

Chuck Farrell is highly recommended. 352-633-9364. He has a guy he trusts to take his overflow when he gets very busy.

I would buy a Carrier unit and probably from Munn's as long as they were competitively priced. Chuck Farrell is good, but, I think he sells Trane. Personally, I would not buy a Trane unit.

Have you looked to see if Consumer Reports has done a study of central air units?

Consumer Reports recommends those units

Goodman.

Chuck Farrell sells American Standard which is the same as Trane. Same manufacturer just market under 2 different names. Had mine installed 2 years ago by Farrell. I go 4 quotes on 3 1/2 ton variable speed and Farrell was $1000+ less. Check previous discussions here and you will find his rating as excellent.

Many of the Trane and American Standard models are essentially identical. Many of the Carrier and Bryant models are also essentially identical. I believe there are more Carrier units installed in The Villages than any other brand.

Chuck Farrell did ours 2 years ago. A very positive experience.

I would also consider the SEER (efficiency rating). There are three technologies used. Single stage. Most TV homes have these, they are on or off. They are inexpensive.

It usually gets your home cold so quickly that it doesn't get the air very dry.

Which leads us to the higher SEER units.

The first is a two stage it is off, low or high. It might run on low longer but lower your humidity so much that you are comfortable at a higher temp with drier air.

The third model is high tech variable speed but so high tech they are prone to breakdowns.

The SEER ratings are along the lines of 14, 17, or 20 respectfully. I would get a two stage unit.

I'm pretty sure Chuck retired a few months ago.

A tech from Chuck Farrell 's company was here about 10 days ago. It does sound like they are not taking new customers. Fortunately, we were still in their data base from 2016.

Having a good experience with our new Carrier unit installed by SunCool.

some companys offer a rebate

New A/C
 

I used John’s A/C in Ocala. They had great reviews and were $3000.00 less than one of the major local HVAC companies. Also got me a $500.00 rebate from the gas co. They installed Trane.

Chuck Farrell is installing a new American Standard variable speed unit at our house next week. No indication from them that they are closing down. They were quite a bit less expensive that Munns (Carrier) and De Santis (Trane). Five star rating on Next Door and on the web.

Air
 

I had both m u n n s and DeSantis out for quotes and they were within $200 of each other I would say go with DeSantis only because they gave me fully written out quotes where m u n n s gave me two lines and a price. at the time I believe the quotes were about $6,200 for a 4-ton unit 14 efficiency unit

By the way DeSantis properly diagnosed my problem as a blower motor and save me $700 by telling me it was still under warranty after 8 years. I did however spend $1,000 with them give me some other things replaced in advance of possible breakdown

I called them the other day, he is not taking new clients right now. They recommend Kalos 352-243-7088. I had a major problem with my A/C and they came out right away, ordered the parts I needed and installed them within a few days. Very impressed with them!

That "guy" is Kalos services; 352-243-7088 (Kalos Services - Air Conditioning Repair and AC Replacement)

Patrick’s Heating and Cooling
 

Patrick installed a Amanda unit in April 2017. Quiet and my built-on lanai and Man cave are also climate controlled.

Air systems
 

I used Kalos a couple of months ago. Had a Mitsubishi unit installed my garage. They were $1,900 cheaper than the highest bidder (Sun Kool). Had four estimates. Did a great job. Highly recommend.

My next door neighbor retired from Carrier. Made a/c units for years told us when we replaced ours that Bryant is made in the same line, same specs but costs a little less. We got a Bryant and in the year or so we've had it, it's been very good. No issues. Just remember to change your filters monthly.

Just installed a new Carrier unit in June by Sun Kool. Works beautifully and my electric bill down $25 to $30 per month. I like it cold and run the unit at 74 —24 hours. When the unit is running it’s like a cool breeze blowing over you. Just delightful.

Trane reviews not good. Supposedly Unit problems and hard to get parts.

My brother who is in the A/C business up north says that Carrier and Bryant are essentially the same with a different name plate, same with Trane and American Standard. He says the technology changes so quickly that an older unit is difficult and/or expensive to repair regardless of how long the unit is supposed to last. Also, variable speed units save money when they operate but they are more expensive to repair. I went with Farrell because of their reputation and lower cost.

Mitsubishe.heat pump

Why do HVAC companies make two of the same units and put different name plates on them?

My brother and I love you holiday HVAC excellent price great company

We interviewed 3 or 4 different companies and ended up going with Munns. We went ahead an had a mini split put in the lanai as well. The mini split is Mitsubishi, and I think the a/c is Carrier. We are pleased with both, and very pleased with the Munns folks. Also included a check up/filter changes, etc. at 6mos

Rheem

I wouldn't buy a Carrier unit.

Consumer Reports gives all of those brands, along with Carrier and Lennox, highest scores for reliability and owner satisfaction. Whatever your HVAC guys prefer is fine. A bigger question is this: Efficiency. Do you pay less now and pay more every month for years to come with low efficiency, or do you pay several thousand more now for much higher efficiency, then see your heating and cooling bills drop by half?

Here’s the Consumer Reports link. I myself would go for higher efficiency, but that’s just me.
Central Air Conditioning Brand Reliability

I would recommend looking at Lennox. Had a new unit installed last year. Thermocool sells and services this brand along with Bryant. Very good technicians and I've been with them for about 12 years. Very satisfied.

I personally love Munn’s. Phenomenal service. Great techs. Always on time. I would ask them who they recommend. I personally like Rheem.

Munn's came to my house, very professional looking, well-spoken, etc. and then never followed up with a quote other than the estimate the sales person gave me when he visited. Meant to say in a previous message that my brother, in the business, said the most important factor was proper installation so that given that most units are very similar, he would go with the installer who had the best reputation.

Check out Lennox air conditioners

munns is great get at least 3 quotes

After interviewing four AC dealers, I decided on a Carrier staged Heat pump that controls the temperature and humidity independently. My house is very comfortable with the relative humidity set at 55% and the temperature set at 78 degrees.F.
IMHO, Summa and Tony's AC, an authorized Carrier dealer located in Eutus, FL, offers a quality service, competent, highly trained technicians at a lower price then three other local AC dealers. They were the only dealer that insisted on checking the air ducts to be certain they were capable of returning the proper amount of air to the evaporator and replaced the the entire copper line set that connects the air handler to the compressor. During the first year, I saved $65.00/month, on average compared to the previous year using a Traine. Summa and Tony's phone number is (352) 357-4162.
FYI Bryant and Carrier are similar but not exactly the same. They are built on the same assembly line. The Bryant line lacks a few diagnostics that Carrier uses. I would strongly recommend buying the10 year extended warranty and having the unit serviced annually.

I am in the middle of doing the same thing. All seem to want to sell me Carrier. I have always had Trane, one 22 years old, and the one I want to replace now is 18 (which is STILL working, just want to replace it). I was also told by a relative who owned Heat&Air business for 38 years that American standard is #1 and is the least heard of. But others have told me, like washer and dryers, all come from one source and a different name plate is simply put on. I have settled on Chuck Farrell simply because I lived and worked in this area before I retired to T.V.'s so I have to go with someone whose "track record" I actually know.

Your brother gave you good advice in my opinion. It's the installation, although I can't say enough about always going with Trane. Munn's is really big here, I know people who are satisfied, but I went with a local family owned business that's been around forever and most of us who lived here before retirement know has a reputation for keeping their same installation people, that's the key. Some places have a HUGE turn over.