I've got two a/c systems in my house that are limping along, actually one is dead in its tracks and the others is hanging in there.  I've had a few quotes about 7 months ago and was scared away by the $$$.

I heard a commercial on the radio about this guy selling a/c systems - http://www.appliancedirect.com/airco.html  My question is, are Goodman "alright" units and is this price a good deal, specifically the 16 SEER units?  Figured I'd ask the forum before I call around to get some installation quotes from the local contractors.  I am curious to see how the contractors will react to the homeowners supplying their own a/c units, I'd imagine they have a decent markup on them.

Thanks in advance

Note: I'm located mainland close to the river, so the salty beach air isn't a major concern.

I have no specific experience with Goodman but will say a reputable mechanic will install whatever you ask him too.  He will likely give you the expected professional advice though, “You get what you pay for.”  A reputable company won’t have an absurdly high markup either and there is reason to get a good system.   

I’ve had two El Cheapo units on Merritt Island.  The first one had the condenser core corrode out and start leaking right after the short warranty expired.  The second one sounds like a front end loader at work in the garage and I can’t stand it.

Sure a quality name brand unit will cost more, but it will purr like a kitten and be built to last.  Get an azeotropic refrigerant blend like R410A too, which most high SEER systems have.  Settle for no less than a 10 year warranty.  Compete the local suppliers and let them know they’re competing to get the best deal.

If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Goodman's are bottom of the line price wise, but they're all the same component wise.  some have solid state controls.  and some have special t'stats that use dc pulses  you pay extra for the name.  my concern would be, 1 warranty,  cost of unit.  don't let them convince you to change air handler due to new refrig.  there's still plenty of 22 units out there.

Yo no estoy casado.

Pero mi esposa esta casada.

what you can do to find a deal is find an a/c tech on the road and see if he does side work.  tell him you'll go with him to pay for the unit, that you know there's mark up, but you expect a fair deal.  I have a client that, after I diagnose his problem, he insist on buying the parts,  he goes to ebay and buys it cheaper than I can.

Yo no estoy casado.

Pero mi esposa esta casada.

I have a goodman at the house, beachside, that we put in approx 5 years ago. It has been trouble free. We put the anodes in it, compressor blanket, and I try to hose it off every now and then, and use the coil guard spray every now and then. It's an R22 system. I would do the same with a Trane.

I've heard of some shady goings on at Appliance Direct, so I don't know if they'd be my first choice of supplier. Pirates selling A/C systems. It's a crazy world.

I have a carrier out at the shop with the new style refrig. It has had the A coil go bad in the air handler, and now the fan motor module has gone bad, which runs the variable speed fan. $$$$ I don't know if I got a lemon, but I'm not real impressed by the air handler. The tech working on the unit next door had just replaced the motor assembly in one the day before for the same problem. The unit is quiet though. The goodman isn't loud, but the Carrier is pretty quiet.

That Goodman scumbag from S. Florida that killed that kid makes me hate the name now, even though he had nothing to do with the business then.

I just replaced a 15 year old Goodman with a Bryant.  The Goodman was solid, in the 7 years I owned the house the compressor gave me no problems.  Had to replace the squirrel cage fan 2 years ago, and it started to go again.

FPL gives you a rebate on the cost of a new unit.  They have a installers list.  You won't get that with if the installer is not on the list.  AppDir installer is on the list and I think the rebate is factored into the price.  I went in to talk to them, the estimator had to call me, and didn't for about a week.  I'd already made my choice.  

Goodman is not particular who installs their product.  You will get a 10 year  warrantee on the parts, but consider the situation where it wasn't installed correctly.  Maybe they didn't replace the old copper with new?  Does that void the warrantee?   

The other thing is compressor hardware.  The scroll cage compressor is pretty standard and reliable, thus the 10 year warrantee.  But will less expensive units skimp on fasteners, clips, etc.  to make it cheaper?  Salt corrodes everything at my house.  I just didn't have the confidence that a new Goodman unit would stand up as well as the last one. 

After being without central HVAC for a 1.5 years I pulled the trigger, ended up with two complete Carrier systems.  After getting a few quotes from some of the larger CFL a/c contractors using the same equipment, Kabran was my choice.  Very happy with the quality of the install, fully upgraded the 12 year old setup with the modern day features.  I'm happy to have had it done right and not by a dude on the side/under the table.    Hopefully this equipment holds up!

Make sure that you do any warranty registration/extended warranty purchase with the Carrier! I have one out at the shop that has been, to put it nicely since you already bought yours, "less than dependable". New style, efficient, but problematic. It's just been the air handler FWIW. New A coil, fan is DC motor with bad module etc..

I appreciate the heads-up Tyrone.  I do have the 10 year warranty. 

I tried to do my research and from what I found is that every manufacturer out there has had some sort of issue with someone, there's no perfect equipment so I take no insult, shit just breaks sometimes.  Hopefully since these are two complete systems and everything was replaced, I dont have too much of a problem or any major ones to speak of.