New Heat Pump - compressor locked

https://www.daikin.com/products/ac

They have large factory in Texas

 

Daikin is a huge company, quality product. They bought Goodman and are using the Texas plant for certain product. I would not hesitate to purchase a Daikin product, they are solid. Same warranty as everyone, 10 year.

Daikin mini splits are still made in Malaysia though, just in case anyone wonders. Their custom and semi custom AHUs are made in Wisconsin I believe. Those are commercial though not residential heat pump AHUs. (FYI)

 

I watched some youtube videos and see they are very popular for northern states but for some reason the Daikin fit heat pumps don't qualify for tax credit in the south because they need to meet or exceed 15.2 SEER. Our Trane was up to 17...

 

I understand what you're saying, and there's a lot of truth in it. Components are bought from the low bidder, and there's not much difference in quality from one manufacturer to another, but there's not much difference in price either.

I think you should buy based on the installing contractor you trust most and forget about the equipment's label. The exact same model number can adorn an excellent system in one home, and a total piece of shit in the next. Installation is everything. It's a lot like hiring an engine builder. Hire the guy you trust to do it right, and forget what sticker is on your heat pump.

Also, brands like Goodman and Daikin are open lines. Any Chuck-in-a-truck can buy and install that equipment, removing an admittedly thin layer of scrutiny on the contractor. Most of the really hacked installs I see are Goodman. It doesn't make it a bad unit, but a bad installer is worse than a bad unit.

 

Several of my HVAC friends are anti Goodman product lines as well. Personally, I would not put one in a home, I was staying at long term. Ski

 

Ok, all this advice is great but since 454b is essentially so scarce that no contractor can install a unit. They are telling me that for over a month they have been waiting for the new refrigerant mandated by the government
( systems come with 8-9 feet of refrigerant but I'm gonna need 25 feet or more )

The system I would like to install is American Standard or Trane.

Plan B might be Samsung mini-splits which are very efficient rated at SEER 24 and seriously lower your energy bill and Supposedly connect to the wifi/phone app for creating temperature schedule.

 

See! I told ya in my first (or second response) to ask if they actually had the 454B!

Anyway, other manufacturers are using r32 which meets the gov requirements and is not at a shortage. But if you are going to stick with Trane you will need to wait until they can get the reefer.

 

Mini splits are pretty sweet. They're not gonna be heavy lifters like a central unit, but I've been pleased with the units in our shop.

 

A LOT of these companies are pressure salesman...found out that Lennox doesn't have a transferable warranty as well as a couple others. Just in case we sell and move.
Samsung mini-splits are R32 so we would be good and could avoid the shortage now and in the future. Also, was told that they have 10 year warranty. Pretty cool wind free feature as well.

 

Pressure sales is the name of the game, and I don't play it. Fuck that. Obviously you need to make a decision quickly, summer is coming, but you need to have cool air in TX so your options will get limited down to who can perform and has the material (refrigerant) in this case.

Mini splits are great in the right application but you should make sure it's what you want. I would think, previous thread replies not withstanding, that an off brand heat pump using r32 while installed by a reputable contractor could be an option. You can also ask for r410A, even though it will be phased out over the next 15 years that will still give you plenty of time to use and maintain the system. They just have to get moving now if you go 410A. Like within the next few weeks.

 

Full disclosure: @JBraun is a serious, big time HVAC pro and I am a licensed, insured, chuck in a truck. I rep rheem/ruud but I install any brand, I do whatever the customer wants. But when a customer wants a specific brand I can get it, generally. So saying you can do an off brand is my personal experience saying I can do any install well, and the equipment isn't as big of a deal as you think. But I'm really anal about the details and having shit done right, and not all contractors are that way.

Good luck!

 

<3 <3 <3

this (well, the more-typical opposite of this) is why i find it almost impossible to hire someone to do work on my house. i don't REMOTELY think that i know how to do it better than the contractor does... but i do think i care about the details more than the (typical) contractor does. as a result, i end up learning how to do most jobs and spending the time learning to do it right until i do it right.

 

It's not black magic, but, you have to actually care and want to do it right. I could do so much shortcutting, but, I get anxiety when a customer who I recently worked for calls me. Like, I'm not going to sleep well. I will spend the time to do it right because I don't want do have bad dreams about a customer being unhappy. Tough to scale that mindset but I'm only in year 3 of the business.

Either way, to the OP: the magic is in the install, not the equipment!

 

I watched a guy on youtube do the install the "right" way and I will say this...its more complicated that just adding refrigerant to the lines and hitting go. I was like whoa! I would need a checklist for this cause between the tools and the tests he ran I would say it's a pretty involved process to do it right.

 

Samsung (updated units with wifi) or Daikin mini-splits...for saving on energy costs you just can't touch them. Installer said he has 2 Daikin units at his home that are 15 years old and he hopes they die soon so he can install the upgraded Samsung units.

Spending thousands on attic ductwork in Texas is stupid.

People will catch on when they see $100 electric bills in the summer heat.

 

I'm not sure how big time we are now, but I was Chuck too until I wasn't.

Hopefully, my use of the term didn't give anyone the idea that they shouldn't do business with small contractors. Guys like you are a great option because you control the whole process from one point of contact. That's what I was selling when I was a solo operation. No matter what, the most crucial piece of the puzzle is the guy with the tools in his hands. The mechanic needs to have pride in his craft.

 

Tell me what's wrong with these units.. anything?

 

Price

 

So, these are systems you the homeowner can purchase and deliver to your home?

 

Honestly, nothing wrong with those units. @notbostrom find someone who knows what they are doing and cares.