Thoughts on the Goodman GMSS96060 furnace

[gusherb]

Gas bill at home for February was $130.68. 257 therms used. Electric: $96.65. 722 Kwh's used. Total combined bill: 227.33.

This winter has been much easier on the wallet.

 

[washman]

methinks

the next gas bill will be somewhat higher. I just have that feeling.............

hi frig!

 

[vacerator]

Goodman,

There are only 2 or 3 Furnace manufacturers left. Lennox, and Carrier, and Rheem, I think. Bryant is Carrier. Goodman is not Rheem, I think it is Carrier.
Just as there are only Copeland, or York air conditioning unit compressors and heat pumps made today.

 

[washman]

Goodman is owned by Daikin

And to the best of my knowledge, they are manufactured in house using their own designs.

Carrier owns ICP who markets arcoaire, Tempstar, Comfortmaker, Heil, Day & Night, and Heil.

Rheemn/Ruud one of the same.

Lennox makes Lennox and a subsidiary called Allied Air markets Air Ease, Concord Ducane, and Armstrong Air.

Nordyne (cursed microchannel crap) makes Intertherm for mobile homes, slaps a Maytag and Frigidaire name on their stuff.

Coleman is a subsidairy of York which in turn is owned by Johnson Controls.

Trane is trane I believe

Bottom line, beyond the actual heat exchanger design and construction and the outer cabinet, everything else is off the shelf parts. Inducer motors, HSI devices, blower motor, gas valves, etc. For the most part, you pay for large marketing programs and dealer markup. And the name of course. Ask Trane how well it works. People will pay top dollar for a Trane that beyond the aforementioned stuff, is pretty much the same box as everyone else.

 

[gusherb]

Rheem/Ruud is owned by the Japanese company Paloma, and Trane/American Standard Air is owned by Ingersoll Rand.

Also United Technologies is the parent company of Carrier and ICP.

Regarding Trane, apparently they give big volume discounts to contractors if they sell enough of them in a year. I got a quote from a company in 2011 and they quoted something like 9 grand for a Trane system and 6k for a Tempstar system. Two years later I was quoted 6k for the exact same Trane equipment as two years prior by the same company. I took it and ran.
Also in 2008 I was given a very reasonable quote by a different company quoting Trane equipment, I was at that time, ready to settle on Armstrong or something like that so I also took that and ran.

I think if offered Trane equipment at nothing more than the price of others, it's a great deal. I think they still stand out in several ways, not enough to overpay for but if offered at the same price as others I would pick Trane all day.

 

[tolivac]

Other HVAC compressor brands I have seen-Carlyle Compressor-found in our Carrier Chiller units at work.Tecomseh makes compressors for HVAC equipment and commercial refrigeration.

 

[vacerator]

Tolivac, Techumse

is defunct. No longer around. However, there is a new make form Japan on the recent scene.

 

[vacerator]

Re; Trane,

Thanks for that info. Gusher. Good to know. After we replaced our only 20 year old Bryant plus 90 furnace with a high end Lenox, I was told that parts are hard to get.

 

[washman]

Tecumseh engine gone

They still make compressors.

http://www.tecumseh.com/en/North-America/About-Us

 

[tolivac]

Good that Tecomseh is still around building HVAC compressors.The gas small motors are no more.

 

[vacerator]

Techumse gas engines,

Is till have my 1988 magnesium deck Toro with a 3.5 horse Techumseh.

 

[tolivac]

I used to have a Toro mower with a Tecomseh engine-got stolen.that motor truely started on the first pull and worked well.Best small motor I had.Later models had Briggs&Stratten motors-not as good.Sold the one with the B&S motor.Just didn't like the mower.

 

[washman]

My experience with Techumseh

engines was mixed. If you babied them, kept the oil meticulously changed and did not screw around with the governor spring to rev them higher, they would last. Sort of. I lost track of the number of engines that I saw with a thrown rod. Even the 13HP unit on Dad's Ariens gave up the ghost after 10 years and threw the rod. Right through the block! We had on on a Garden way (not MTD) troybilt pony that did ok, but I made sure the oil never got black and I never over revved it.

 

[askolover]

Around here

most people didn't like Tecumseh engines.  B&S all the way!  My dad won't have anything but.  Now my push mower has a Honda engine on it...now that's an engine!  Always starts first pull.  But my Snapper rider has a B&S on it, 16 years old and still starts first pull.

 

[vacerator]

Greg,

sorry for calling you GAN on my last post.
My Techumseh always started on the first if not second pull. Yes B&S have a better reputation. My current Troy Bilt has a big 7 cu. in. one on it.
Once in a while it will vapor lock or something if I shut it down in mid mowing.

 

[washman]

Feb 12 to March 13

$58.73, estimated bill

Gotta love union made furnaces.

 

[centenialguy]

ben,

I don't think any furnaces have been union made for a very long time.
Neither are the sales, or service companies, yet look what they charge.

 

[washman]

Carrier/Bryant is/was union

West side of Indy. The same plant that is closing and moving to Mexico.

I have some anti-union acquaintances that browse this board (they are not members) who happen to detest unions and actually think unions and collective bargaining are of Satan himself. So from time to time I drop a line about product x being union made etc just to put a dig at them.

Actually Goodman does/did have a plant in Fayetteville TN that was unionized. It is closing also but at least the work is going to Houston (non union) factory that Daikin is expanding. I believe my furnace was made there but my AC unit was "put together" in Houston.

 

[centenialguy]

ben,

A unionized plant in Tennessee? I'm shocked!
I think Carrier is the maker for Goodman. Goodman buys wholesale and re badges and marks them up for a profit.
Still, $59 bucks is not that bad. An hvac guy wanted to charge me $200 for a $30 humidistat from China.

 

[centenialguy]

ben,

At times, a union is necessary. I've been on both sides of that fence myself.
In my former business, without it, I'd have had to fire a few managers who really mistreated some employees. The contract allowed me to transfer one or the other.
It's not only about money, but didn't unions help grow the former middle class?
At least that's what my grand dad told me. Came here at age 6 from Italy. He worked up to foreman at Crucible Steel in Midland Pa. he detested lazy workers, but said if not for the US Steel Workers union, he'd have never had much.