AC knock off brands/Not much diference??? (sales, homes)

[john3232]

I was told Maratherm is made by ICP and exactly the same as Day and Night, Heil, Comfort Maker, Tempstar and so on. Maratherm has the same coil tubing, compressor, fan motor, relay, capacitor, fan blade and housing as all of the brands above. The equipment is the same, just different letters and marketing. Much like LENNOX and Armstrong.

People you actually save money by hiring a top rated contractor and getting off price and brand. Remember there's no free lunches. It's the installation that matters. So don't hire a friend of a friend of a friend or most likely the sweetness of a good deal up front will be forgotten by the bitterness of a poor installation.


Do you agree AC brands are basically the same?

[Potential_Landlord]

Never heard of Maratherm before. But I think you answered your own question: the install is more important than the equipment.

[john3232]

Originally Posted by Potential_Landlord

Never heard of Maratherm before. But I think you answered your own question: the install is more important than the equipment.

Yeah, I never heard of Maratherm before either.

I was told it's the exact same AC unit as Comfort Make.

Given the intense AZ summers it's not surprising there are an endless number of AC companies with "techs" pitching their know-how.

[Pink Jazz]

Note that gone are the days of installing a new condenser on an old coil, since dry R22 units are no longer available per the new energy standards.

[kell490]

I have always bought the cheapest goodman never had any problems with them my neighbor bought the most expensive trane he could get has had many repairs I spent $2999 installed he spent $8800 plus $350 a year service contract both 4 ton packaged heat pumps. We use the same power from July 4th to labor day high seer rated units don't save you any money when it's 110 July 4th I use evap cooling until July 4th and after labor day.

The reason I didn't spend lot of money also was I knew they were going to stop making CFC R-22 and if I had spent like he did in 2007 $8800 and had to repair it would need R-22 which is now very expensive the more money he spends on costly repairs because even with his service contract they don't cover R-22 he will never be able to reach his ROI the sales person told him he would save on electricity over my cheap 13 seer unit. The biggest problems with home AC is leaky ducts and poorly insulated homes if you fix those 2 things you could find an old 10 seer AC unit and still save more money then an 19 seer unit they sell today.

How do you think an AC contractor makes his money on fixing leaking duct work no the fastest way to make money is to sell you a high end AC unit which didn't cost him any labor to purchase he only has to get it to you where labor to fix leaking ducts has all kinds of pitfalls in his cost to do that repair. AC sales guy is always going to try and sell you a high end AC unit so he can make boat load of money.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by kell490

I have always bought the cheapest goodman never had any problems with them my neighbor bought the most expensive trane he could get has had many repairs I spent $2999 installed he spent $8800 plus $350 a year service contract both 4 ton packaged heat pumps. We use the same power from July 4th to labor day high seer rated units don't save you any money when it's 110 July 4th I use evap cooling until July 4th and after labor day.

The reason I didn't spend lot of money also was I knew they were going to stop making CFC R-22 and if I had spent like he did in 2007 $8800 and had to repair it would need R-22 which is now very expensive the more money he spends on costly repairs because even with his service contract they don't cover R-22 he will never be able to reach his ROI the sales person told him he would save on electricity over my cheap 13 seer unit. The biggest problems with home AC is leaky ducts and poorly insulated homes if you fix those 2 things you could find an old 10 seer AC unit and still save more money then an 19 seer unit they sell today.

How do you think an AC contractor makes his money on fixing leaking duct work no the fastest way to make money is to sell you a high end AC unit which didn't cost him any labor to purchase he only has to get it to you where labor to fix leaking ducts has all kinds of pitfalls in his cost to do that repair. AC sales guy is always going to try and sell you a high end AC unit so he can make boat load of money.

I to am a Goodman fan. But marketing works. It's tough to flush what we are told even when deep down we know that there are only so many makers of compressors, fans, etc. It reminds me of water softeners. There can be a 4X price difference using the same caliber components.

[john3232]

[quote=MN-Born-n-Raised;51424095]I to am a Goodman fan. But marketing works. It's tough to flush what we are told even when deep down we know that there are only so many makers of compressors, fans, etc. It reminds me of water softeners. There can be a 4X price difference using the same caliber components.[/QUOTE]


Something else to file away for another time. Thanks

[john3232]

Last year a new AC was installed in my mother’s house. It's a 3.5-ton roof top package unit.

Today the cooler was turned on and I noticed modest thumping coming from the vent where the AC filter is installed. This vent is in the hall next to the kitchen.

You can't hear the sound in any of the other rooms just when you stand near the vent with the filter.

I've read such a sound can be heard with a gas unit. Is this the same with an electric?

Thanks