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Consumer Reports Names Top Air Conditioning Equipment

This has been one of the coolest summers on record here in Santa Cruz. I typically turn the pilot off on my gas fireplace come summer, but not this year.

As fall and winter get closer it's a good time to start thinking about that furnace repair or replacement. Consumerreports.com released there list of the top AC and furnace heating equipment. Ruud and Rheem again topped the list beat out big names more expensive names like Lennox and Trane. (Click to see report) Bryant and American Standard also fared well coming in fourth and fifth overall.

When choosing a heating or cooling system it's important to ask what the warranties are on the heat exchanger for furnaces and compressor for air conditioning. Both of these items are impossible or extremely expensive to repair. For a furnace a damaged heat exchanger means a new furnace. Some brands like Ruud offer 20 year and even lifetime warranties on their heat exchangers.

Price is obviously a big issue to consider. Brands such as Trane and Lennox typically run at a premium to others because of their name. However, in my experience I run just as many service calls on these units as I do on Carrier, York, Heil, and Goodman. So for now I'm not convinced the customer is getting anything more for this premium.

Be sure to sit down with your service provider and discuss all the available features and rebates associated with your next AC or furnace purchase. Some of the features to consider at high efficiency vs standard efficiency. Zone controlled units that allow the homeowner to heat sections of the house. Humidity controls, remote controls, variable speed controls, modulating gas valve controls, and so on. On the rebate front, depending on what type of unit you purchase there are rebates from the State of California and local utility companies. Give us a call (877-477-7151) at Bellows Plumbing, Heating & Sewer of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, & Marin to let us know if you need any help navigating the maze of rebates.

Posted: by Jason S
Tags: Heating, Rebates, PG&E, A/C

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