• When most of our clients begin considering an HVAC project, they start to research the different equipment brands.
• Here’s a little insider secret, all brands are the same and equal.
• Everything comes down to marketing.
• An example, when Verizon’s first started running ads on TV, we all said “WHAT I NEVER HEARD OF THEM”. 
• So what did Verizon’s do, they kept advertising and drilled the name into our heads.
• This is called branding, drilling a brand name into the consumers head and nothing more.
• If fact many times you’ll pay more for what is perceived as a better brand.
• The manufactures know this. This is business 101.
• Every brand has different lines or (“TIERS”) of equipment.
• Trabuco Air recommends that our clients Compare apples to apples based on what (“features”) the system you’re considering offers.
• Each manufacture has many (”tiered”) options or features offered.
• Toyota or Lexus, what’s the difference? Features, options, and marketing.
• Each manufacture has more than one branding name. Here are just a few examples.
• Carrier/Bryant.
• Rheem/Ruud.
• Goodman/Amana.
• Trane/American Standard.
• York/Luxaire/Coleman/Guardian.
• Day and Night/Heil/Comfortmaker/Tempstar ICP, owned by the parent company of Carrier.
• Comparing brands is nothing more than comparing names or letters; really it’s all about marketing.

 

 

• When comparing only brands, it’s a losing proposition.
• Here’s an example of brand comparing.
• Say you’re going to buy a Toyota.
• Now let’s say Toyota has two manufacturing plants, one is the US and one in Mexico. Would both Toyota’s the same?  
• Every homeowner wants to find the “BEST” brand and then find the one magical contractor who will install the brand correctly, does clean work, pays attention to details, provide great-after the fact service,  and will be “CHEAPER” than all of the other contractor.
• Research the contractor, their employees, the principles of the company, as well,  go look at some recent work that the contractor has just completed, ask for only the latest referrals, and then decide.
• Remember you’re putting your hands and trust into the contractor.
• Ask the contractor if they put their installation practice’s in writing.

 

 

• Trabuco Air recommends comparing features versus brands.
• The system features provides the benefits.
• Trabuco Air sits down with the customer and listens to their needs.
• Then we find the best system for the customer and which system provides the most bang for their budget.
• This is called the old fashion approach.
• Help the customer get the biggest bang for their buck.      

 

                                  

 Comparing furnace Features

• The furnace that you chose may be most important decision when installing a new HVAC system.
• Efficiencies, range from 80% to 97% AFLUE, “annual fuel utilization efficiency.
• Type of heating output, single output, two stage output, three stage output, or modulating output.
• A (“modulating furnace”) will provide the most (“even temperatures”) throughout your home. 
• How (“quiet”) the furnace is may be the most (“important”) consideration.
• The quietest furnaces on the market are the modulating type and cost the most. Yes you get what you pay for.
• A standard furnace is off or on, zero or a hundred mile per hour, only one gear.
• A two stage furnace has two gears.
• A three stage furnace has three gears.
• A modulating has infinite gears, a variable clutch.
• The blower motor is also important.
• All brands of furnaces offer either a (”PSC”), an (“X-13”) or (“variable”) speed bower motor.
• A (“PSC”) blower motor is off or on and uses 500 watts of power, equal to five hundred watt light bulbs.
• A (“X-13”) blower motor fan has six speeds, is more efficient, (about 300 watts), and much quieter, this motor by some contractor’s is referred to as a (“variable speed motor”), this is a (“blatant lie”)”.
• The (“X-13”) lower motor is a much (“lower quality”) than a ( “true variable”) speed blower motor and was designed so air conditioners would get a higher efficiency and the furnace would (“cost”) less to manufacture than a furnace with a (“ true variable”) speed motor.
• A (“true variable”) speed blower motor is much different and offers much more features.
• A (“true variable”) speed blower is so efficient that the variable blower motor can be run twenty four hours a day using approximately only (“ 60 watts”) of electricity, or equal to one (“60”) watt light bulb.
• A (“true variable”) speed blower motor is designed to (“reduce excessive moisture, “humidity”) in your home during days when it’s (“sticky”) outside as well as indoors.
• True indoor comfort relates to indoor temperature as well as the indoor humidity environment.
• Have you ever worked on the outside of your home at 90 degrees and it’s dry outside? It doesn’t feel that uncomfortable?
• Now have you ever worked on the outside of your home when it’s 85 degrees and it’s humid/ What happens, you get soaked with sweat and your burning up?
• With a (“true variable”) blower motor and a special thermostat use can set the required temperature and (“humidity”) level in your home.
• True indoor comfort; hence (“AIR CONDITIONING”); and not just cooling the indoor air.
• The proper indoor humidity also helps our clients reduce dry sinuses, dry skin, as well as having a scratchy throat conditions.
• At the very least we recommend investing in a (“two stage and variable”) speed blower motor furnace.      

Comparing air conditioning Features

• Air conditioners have much less features or options.
• The air conditioner options available are efficiency, quiet, one stage or two stages.
• An air conditioner with one stage is off or on, one gear, and is not as quiet as a two stage air conditioner.
• A two stage air conditioner has a low/hi cooling output, two gears and provides more comfort.
• Efficiencies range from 13 to 21 SEER, season energy efficiency ratio.
• For most clients a 13 SEER is all we need.
• We just don’t use are a/c enough to justify the higher upfront cost for higher efficiencies.
• There’s no reason to prepay our electricity bills for the next fifteen years.
• When a contractor tries to sell a high efficiency a/c, most of the time they’re over selling or upselling the client.
• The reason is simply for more profit and a larger sales commission.
• Again it all comes down to the contractor.

 

• Have a “qualified” contractor examine your home.
• Talk with them about what “your” requirements are.
• First think about how much you use your heating and air system.
• Do you use your heating and air very much? Why?
• Would you run your heating more if it cost less to run?
• Would you run your air conditioner more if it cost less to run?
• Would you like to have a quiet furnace?
• Would you like to have a quiet air conditioner?
• Would you like to be just cool or would you want to have a home than is crisp and cool?
• Let the contractor explain why they’re recommending the system.
• Ask the contractor what are the “benefits” of the system that is being proposed.
• What’s your budget?
• Ask the contractor if you were to invest a little more in your home comfort system, what would be the additional “benefits”
• Then you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

 

 

• Warranties are marketing ploys.
• Remember when Hyundai was known as a crap vehicle, what did they do?
• Gave a one hundred thousand miles warranty and people started buying their autos
• Really, the manufactures know many people buy on brands and warranties, and not features
• Manufactures have a little clause that says, “EQUIPMENT MUST BE MAINTAINED”
• So what does “MAINTAINED” mean?
• Very subjective.
• The best warranty is hiring the best contractor.