Full AC System Replacement recommendations and information - Brownwood Area
 

I am an owner in the Brownwood area - CARRIER PERFORM FJ5 2T R454 - FULL AC SYSTEM REPLACEMENT - Can anyone share with me who they have used and who they would recommend, and if you are willing to PM me and tell me how much you paid?

AC replacement
 

We used M & S Air condition and installed Mitsubishi whole house system. Best system we ever had. Keeps the house cool in the summer, warm in the winter with NO Heat Strips. Used it now for 4 years and no problems. Another feature is we never hear the air handler. The system is quiet and comes with a 12 year warranty.

Totally agree. We've had our Mitsubishi whole house system for 2 years this week, and no problems so far. Our electric usage has been lowered also. Another plus is that they use 1'x1"x20" filters instead of the 4" that my old Carrier did, so we save on that, too.

Your biggest decision will be whether to replace with R410A(if equipment is available) or a newer refrigerant which will be must more costly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnz4ODMyOJ8

I would buy a Carrier HVAC system from Munn's, as long as I could get a reasonable price. I would get the most current refrigerant available, and get a regular single stage compressor.

I agree but would have them add a soft start for a little more. It will add protection and extend the life of the compressor. It is often required for generators.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDp1g8r8IVs&t=70s

Got to ask why would newer home in brownwood area need All new air handler unit? Most units last close to 20 years or more? I would get several estimates. Sometimes cheapest or most expensive not right choice IMO?

We have installed high end Trane systems in both of our homes here. Both are very efficient, very quiet both inside and outside units. No issues with either.
DeSantis

Who ever you use, do not get the top of the line models. You will never recover the additional costs and they are more likely to break down and the repairs cost $$$$

Carrier seems to have replaced Trane as the brand of choice in The Villages. Unless there is some definitive evidence that Trane is a better brand than Carrier, I would choose Carrier. One reason is that it can be repaired more quickly than a Trane system because of the availability of parts and authorized contractors.

Most independent contractors will work on any standard HVAC system. If you upgrade to a more sophisticated system that has more electronic controls or something other than a standard compressor then you make a good point and will probably be limited to an authorized dealer for the brand. Always keep records of service especially if under warranty.

We have been happy with Munns for service and would be our first choice when we need to replacement our system

Well, I say 20 plus year old Trane units still going strong in my area? I have carrier now, we’ll see if it will meet the challenge?

I would definitely get another review (inspection) of your system, I am guessing yours is under 10 years old and should not be ready for a complete replacement. I tend to agree with above comments about the "highest efficiency units" as the controls and equipment seem to be very costly to repair or replace.

When my AC failed on a Saturday a few years ago, Munn's came out and repaired it in a few hours. If you buy a new system from a small company, they may not even work on weekends. Also, they may not be an authorized warranty repair company. So, if you are paying for a 10-year warranty, make sure that whoever installs it, can repair it quickly and has replacement parts on hand. That is why I always buy the most standard equipment from a large contractor. There was another thread on this website where a guy had bought a high end variable speed compressor from a company in Orlando. When it failed, he was waiting for 4 months to replace a circuit board that was on order from overseas.

Do not use Trane
 

Don't use Trane! I'm on my third service call in 4 years. Stopped cooling. Blown starting capacitor. $194 Stopped cooling. Compressor won't run. Out of Freon. $125 Leaking Cooling coil. $1000 Replace Cooling Coil. I have more than 1 Carrier HVAC system, just not here. 20 and 24 years old and NOT 1 Issue. Never touched after install. Trane=Junk.

I have never heard of having to replace a coil unless it had hail damage, was near salt water, or had been acid cleaned. Just curious, where were the leaks?
It's Hard to Stop a Trane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRQa1JxNcrI

Read unbiased reviews and you will see that from the standpoint of durability, Trane is slightly better. Here is just one review below and there are others if one researches.

Trane Vs. Carrier: The Insider's Guide to Choosing Wisely - Comfort Time Plumbing & Air

There are two coils, an outdoor coil (condenser coil) and an indoor coil (evaporator coil). If a coil leaks, it is usually at a welded connection point, due to corrosion. Personally, I think both Trane and Carrier units are equally reliable. In The Villages, I would opt for Carrier because they are the more commonly installed brand.

Regarding your comment about hail damage, I suspect they were referring to an evaporator coil leak in the air handler (inside the house) and not a condenser coil leak in the outside unit (with the compressor). Evaporator coil leaks are not uncommon.

My Trane XR18 has had zero issues in 8 years
The thing runs (really slow) about 80% of the day in the hottest months
Lowered my AC usage 40% energy wise
My only regret is paying an extra $750 for a10 year warranty.
5tons 4 zones I paid mid $11k

Living in Brownwood your system is not old. I’m curious to know if you had the 6-month service maintenance checkup all the time you had it? Munn’s comes every 6 months to service ours. I’m guessing this should extend its life. We have a Carrier.

Used MUNNS and bought very high end Carrier unit. If you can afford it, recommend a 19 SEER rated unit because the payback is a little over 5 years due to the lower electric bills. High end units have significantly more complex electronics and can thus cost more to repair. We required 12 year parts and labor warranty to mitigate higher repair costs. Our electric bills are under $100/month. Approx. $14K for entire removal and installation of new system.

I have never paid a company to perform any maintenance on an HVAC system because I don't think there is anything a technician can do that will extend the life of the system. I change the filter and make sure the condensate drain is draining. Why would you pay an HVAC company $75 to $100 every 6 months to do a checkup on a system that has a 10 year warranty?

We had our system replaced in November. Got bids from Kalos - Sunshine & Munds. The first two were close to the same price but Munds was very much higher. We went with Kalos because we have been using them as our service company for years and they always do a good job. As for price it depends on what you are getting and are you going to upgrade your thermostat (recommended).

We live in the Brownwood area, Village of Pinellas. Out of eleven homes on our cul-de-sac, six have replaced their heat pumps in the past year. Our homes are eleven years old. Coming from Vermont, our furnace lasted 30 years and was still going strong! Like everything else here, refrigerators, microwaves, roofs, nothing lasts!
We used Sunshine for the ‘better’ unit, newer Freon and variable two stage motor. We paid $11,780. Outrageous, I know. There is a $2000 tax rebate available. We’ll be lucky to get that!

If your a member of Costco, I would look into them. Saved $10k on heating and air conditioning system in CO when we used them to replace our two heaters and two A/C units. Great install by local contractors. Backed by good warranties.

Sunshine can tell you right away if your new unit qualifies for the rebate. I'm guessing it does. Luck has nothing to do with, it depends on your tax status. You'll have serial numbers for your Air handler and compressor that you include on your tax filing (If purchased in 2024) . We just did this on a unit we purchased in December.
If you replaced your unit in 2025, file for the rebate next year.

That was pretty stupid of me.

I know evap coils rust and can leak especially the ones that are installed by the builder. But they usually last at least 10 years.

I have heard of people doing this. Curious how many interior units do you have? Ceiling units or wall units or both? I am of course, assuming you’re talking about a multiple mini split type system as opposed to a Mitsubishi system that used your existing ductwork?

My BIL has a new build townhome in Seattle that is all Mitsubishi - 4 interior units, one large external.

Thanks

Broward

Has Munn's replaced your capacitor? Have they run a test of the electronic float switch to make sure the evaporator drain pan will not cause the system to flood if the pan overflows? Have they told you if your thermostat has batteries that need to be replaced periodoically to prevent a system shut down when the batteries go dead? These are just some common reasons that cause HVAC systems to fail, but things that are usually not included in regular HVAC checkups. If you are paying Munn's to maintain your system, I would suggest that you ask Munn's about these items, and other items that could cause your system to fail.

We had to unexpectedly buy a new unit in heat of summer. The unit was only 10 years old. The previous owner didn’t believe in routine maintenance and only poured cleaner down drain and changed the filter. There is more to maintenance like checking fluid levels. Anyways we got three quotes and with two stage unit by Rheme installed with SunKool. In hindsight we would also get quote from Costco and if better price sign up for routine maintenance with SunKool or Munns.

Chuck Farrell’s heating and air conditioning One of the Besr

Because every house I’ve ever had I’ve always had the maintenance service and my last house it lasted over 25 years. They don’t just change a filter and make sure your drain is clear. They run diagnostics and tell if something isn’t running right and fix it before it gets to a breaking point. They completely remove the casing over the unit and do other things. Obviously money well spent considering my HVAC track records.

Since a failed capacitor is a common cause for HVAC shutdown and can potentially damage the comressor, it wouldn't be a bad idea to replace them every 5 years or so since they are relatively cheap.

For a few extra dollars, why not buy the best? USA Made capacitors.
Motor-Run Capacitors – The Leading Manufacturer of Motor-Run Capacitors

I agree. Many people are paying an HVAC company $75 to $100 every 6 months to maintain their HVAC system, so the maintenance company should be installing a new capacitor at least every 3 years or so, which would only cost the company about $20. But I have never seen a maintenance schedule that indicates that this is ever done as a preventative measure.

Can only speak for my AC, but my Mitsubishi AC is the whole house unit that uses the existing ductwork. We find it quieter than our original Carrier.

And that Trane probably cost you 25% more

Nothing runs like a Trane!
 

Nothing Runs like a Trane. Unless it's dead. Then it runs like a Trane.
Enough Said.