Effor

Why is it so hard to find information about the reliability of heat pumps?  I want to replace a 30 year old GE system, but it seems that no one has reliability ratings on heat pumps/central AC systems….

I can find ratings on cars, cell phones, vacuum cleaners, carpeting, computers, irrigation systems, etc.   Nothing on heat pumps.  Zip.

Consumer Reports (a site I use often) pops up on almost every search I do on the subject, but they don’t have ratings on heat pumps.  They rate window AC units and gas furnaces, but not heat pumps.  It’s absurd that no one (that I can find) seems to have reviews/reliability ratings on various manufacturer’s heat pump products.  If you can rate furnaces, why not heat pumps?

I read that newer high efficiency units have thinner tubing in the coils – which supposedly cracks easier and faster – but nowhere that gives any data to show the difference.  Just stories….

I can read hundreds of sites that talk about what a heat pump is; I can read hundreds of sites that talk about the differences between air source and ground source heat pumps; I can read hundreds of sites that opine on which type of system is better for a particular climate – but NOTHING on which brand/model is the most reliable; which brand/model historically needs the most (or fewest) repairs; which brand/model has the most features, etc.

It’s like there’s a black hole for heat pump rating/reliability information.  I live in Knoxville, TN, and there are dozens of companies selling, installing, and repairing heat pumps here, but evidently I’d need to start a site to create some independent reliability ratings for their products – because so far no one else seems to be doing it….  This area seems to be begging for the equivalent of an Edmunds.com or KBB.com. 

I’m looking for a high efficiency, reliable, air to air (or ground source, depends on if I can afford the ground source right now or not) heat pump.  It should be simple, but then I read stories where someone thinks their xxx brand system is super reliable because it’s only needed 2 motors, 3 switches, and 1 compressor replaced in 10 years (“But it was covered under warranty!”) and I want to scream at the monitor….

Reliable means not having to replace major components for at least 10 years.  Reliable means that the system (with normal maintenance) will still be running 30 years from now – just like the original GE gas furnace and AC is still running in my house – and it’s 32 years old. 

I can’t believe that the HVAC campanies haven’t made progress in reliability over 30 years – but there are ZERO sites that I can find to indicate otherwise.

I asked about reliability ratings on a HVAC forum, and I can’t believe the way some of these people treat their potential customers.   Most everyone who replied to my questions said something similar to “it’s the installer that makes the difference” as if every single manufacturer sold identical units, assembled from the same parts, on the same assembly line. 

I know that some manufacturers have different lines that are pretty much the same with only the names changed to protect the innocent, and that many use off the shelf components which are the same as another manufacturer – but assuming the installer does his job right, I want to know which manufacturer has the most reliable product – regardless of cost.  It appears that that information is a highly guarded government secret, because there ain’t no one talking.  It’s the Area 51 of consumer information.

I tried asking the question about 5 different ways, but evidently HVAC people don’t like answering a direct question, because (contrary to what some on the thread claimed) I never received an answer, and I obviously pissed them off by asking again in different ways. 

Here’s one response I received: “hey why don’t you look4nac up your a$$, whatta douche bag. if the coil cracks in a year it sould be covered under warranty, same for the compressor.”

That type of attitude (along with a couple of “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”) responses shows me that the “pro’s” in the HVAC field need to work on their customer relationship skills.  Either that or they need to stop drinking a minimum of 2 hours before posting.  I had to stop posting to the thread before I blew a gasket last night.

 I just checked the forum thread again tonight and it doesn’t get any better.  The last post as of 9:16pm ET has another potential customer asking the same question in yet another way.  He says:

Ok, he’s eliminated the installer as a variable – this answer should be easy.  Something like “I work on/install several brands, and in my experience xxx needs fewer repairs overall than xxx brand” or xxx brand is good overall, but I’ve replaced dozens of compressors on xxx model” or whatever.  

But here’s the response he got:   If you have a great installer. Then the brand he installs/prefers is the best brand for you to get from him. 

Thanks for nothing.  That’s the exact same thing as saying “if you happen to be at a Chevy dealer, buy a Chevy.  If you’re at a Mercedes dealer, buy a Mercedes.  If you’re at a Honda dealer, buy a Honda.  Are you a dumbass?”  As the Guinness commercials say “Brilliant!”

These HVAC “pros” seem to think that because it’s covered under warranty, it doesn’t matter if it breaks.   That’s not what I mean when I say “reliability”.  Reliable means that it doesn’t break in the first place. 

Reliable means the compressor is a proven unit that’s been on the market for a few years and has a repair history, the coils have been stress tested and they don’t crack, the blower and fan motors have worked for years – without needing to be replaced – even if it’s under warranty.  If most of them are made by the same people, there should be a wealth of info available.  But there isn’t.

I did find a site named RemodelHomeGuide.com that had the most popular brands – but that tells me squat about reliability. 

Just had to vent – but if you know of a site with heat pump reliability ratings, PLEASE pass it on.   I promise to share any good info I receive.  One post at the HVAC link above did point me to a generic JD Power HVAC subcontractor rating from 2 years ago – but according to the press release, the actual product only accounted for 14% of the rating.  Sales and marketing support to the subcontractors counted for 18% of the rating – and they don’t even list reliability as a factor on the report….  Pretty much worthless.

I’ll post a follow up after I have a few local companies check out my house and provide price quotes. 

I had a Trane dealer here today.  Seemed honest, he didn’t recommend the higher SEER systems (recommended an XL15i dual fuel system) for my house, and he seemed upfront about the higher cost and (what he said was) lower reliability of the XL16i and XL19i systems.  Something that any installer/repair person could’ve – but didn’t – say on the HVAC forum I mentioned.

I’ll keep you posted as to what the others say – and I promise to follow up with the results.  Maybe I’ll go ahead and start a HVAC rating site since no one else seems to do it.

gk

Filed under: Global Climate, Uncategorized Tagged: | air to air, Consumer Reports, ground source, heat pump brands, heat pumps, high efficiency heat pump