I'm a homeowner, not someone in the business.

From what I've learned over the years, the Top 3 in the equipment biz are Trane, Carrier and Lennox. American Standard is a different badge put on Trane units. Unless something has changed, AS equipment comes out of the same factories side by side with units badged as Trane, with only superficial differences.

As far as parts availability, check with the bidding contractors.

It's worth saying that in many respects, the name on the installers' shirt may be more important than the name on the equipment being installed. Meaning, HVAC installation requires care, experience and competence. An expertly done install can make lower quality equipment perform properly, a lousy install can cause top shelf equipment to perform poorly. Make your choice by considering the references and credentials of the contractors as much or more as considering bid prices or the brands being used.

Lennox has had the reputation their parts were unique. I am not sure if that is true any longer. I would think parts availability would not be an issue if you are using a Lennox dealer for the installation and future maintenance. Avoid buying the equipment through a third party like Costco and Home Depot.

You should ask the installer questions and make sure you are comfortable with the quality of his work. Ask friends who they have used. A quote should have all model numbers listed and a description of what will be installed. Stating a model is 16 SEER is equivalent to saying you are looking to buy a car which gets 32 miles to the gallon. There a big differences in model features which you need to research. The other very important thing is proper sizing. Equipment which is too big for your size house is just as bad and sometimes worse than being too small. If possible wait until there is mild weather when HVAC contractors are not as busy and can spend time explaining things to you in greater detail.

"I heard that replacement parts on Lennox units can be really hard to find though (maybe more than American Standard). Is this true?"

It is true. An experienced tech can often make substitutions but parts stores will not attempt doing any cross referencing for homeowners.

mike, another thing I've heard along the way is that among single speed equipment models, there are a lot of common components and that many parts that over time may need replacement can be done with aftermarket generic types. But that when moving up a product line to two speed or more feature-packed equipment types, OEM replacement parts are often required.

"parts stores will not attempt doing any cross referencing for homeowners.

I'm going to offer a speculation - 80% or more of homeowners have never nor would ever be in the market for parts for their own HVAC equipment. It may be a higher percentage.

What do you think the percentage is?

Because of supply chain issues it can be difficult to get parts for any brand.

Assembled in USA only goes so far. This problem greatly depends on the part you need and where it was manufactured & when you need it (summer time breaks particular parts are in higher demand). Because so many pieces of an HVAC system aren't manufactured in USA, they are shipped in and then the units are assembled here. So supply chain issues effects all brands pretty much equally. Many of them use same or similar parts. Other issues include matterial shortages to make parts, labor and so on.

Aftermarket parts are often made elsewhere too, so this can be a complicated problem to crack sometimes. The answer is "it depends". I know that's not an answer you want.

The refrigerant changes coming will effect these kinds of things even more. R410a is on the chopping block to be phased down & out withing the next few years. For Texas the only hold up is the building code to include the use of using flammable refrigerants. These things are expected to be worked out by 2024. There are other changes for Texas that start in 2023.

California may be postponing their foray forward to 2024 as well (originally it was 2023). But they have some restrictions on R410a as early as 2025 that will ban R410a sales. If you spring a refrigerant leak and can't get refrigerant for your unit (any unit) -- it makes part availability problems look like a pic-a-nic.

I made some videos on this refrigerant phase out subject if you got some free time this will pretty much spell things out and where the HVAC market is headed. This situation doesn't end with phase out of R410a -- nope there will be another phase out after that. What is laid out below is an "evolving story" the info contained within was correct at the time of publication. (The time in which is was made)

R22 Freon VS R410a Puron VS R454b Puron Advance VS R32 VS ???

I service the Katy, Texas area.

For houzzers who don't have 24 minutes to spend on a cartoon and want concise, factual information about HFC phasedown here's a link to a DOE summary which also has a number of links if you want a deeper dive:

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/OE_3_2021_06_HFC_Phasedown_508.pdf

Uh Charles the R410a phase out subject is currently over 2 hours long, broken into 4 separate parts.

While I use 'characters' for advertising purposes you would be extremely disappointed in thinking what I posted was a cartoon.

This HVAC subject is broad and consequences of these actions aren't put into any measureable amount from the PDF a builder posted above.

You can't say that I haven't warned you. (That's the point)

Tip:

Before choosing a brand, Make sure you have a proper Manual J/D performed for your home so you can size your equipment accordingly. HVAC companies sometimes offer J/D figures, Sometimes they don't. I'd stay away from ones who don't offer either.

We call SEER ratings 'Sales EER' and for good reason: Your home will never see AHRI ratings. Ever.

We focus on KW consumption at design more than we look at SEER. A properly sized system will give you lower energy consumption, lower humidity in the structure, etc.

The only thing I like about higher seer units is the larger coil area. Head pressure is kept down keeping the compressor happy.

E J Fudd "What do you think the percentage is?"

I have no first hand experience or info but 80% sounds close enough.

I have no first hand experience either, other than to reflect that I've never heard of anyone mentioning trying to fix HVAC equipment they otherwise had no familiarity with.

My point was, if parts stores don't sell to people not in the trade, which I think is true, that isn't a matter that should concern anyone. They're trying to do these people a favor with that practice, to protect them from themselves. Most equipment manufacturers/distributors don't sell to unlicensed people either. Same reason. Repairing HVAC equipment isn't like replacing a burned out light bulb.

Charles the internet is a dangerous place for more reasons than just one.

There are these things called "misinformation" & "disinformation". Whoa that's too political to think about... ha, ha.

The document you posted Charles doesn't contain any useful information for the general population as it doesn't even include R410a in the list. That document isn't really intended for the general population. It is too broad in scope.

Air conditioning is but one use for refrigeration.

I make this situation abundantly clear in the video as air conditioning is concerned. There is much more to this than merely saying "R410a" is going away.

But I still want air conditioning... what now?

I should stop pretending that I know anything about air conditioning --- Let the builder do it?

When I first started with this topic of R410a phase out you called it what? A Red Herring? Isn't that right Charles? Or am I making that up? Testing your memory here heaven help me.

The video tells it like it is, bits and parts may change in time --- but it's anything but a Red Herring.

Maybe you'd like to discuss the fact that the document you posted doesn't say anything about R410a or R22 either one (The two most common AC refrigerants used today)

Nor does it say anything about the choices coming up (R454b or R32). Each of which have their own sets of pros and cons. It won't end with either of these 2 either.

Let's put all our faith in a pdf that a builder posted. You the reader have choices. I'm just here keeping it real and factual. You choose.

We call SEER ratings 'Sales EER' and for good reason: Your home will never see AHRI ratings. Ever.

I am glad to see others agree SEER ratings have been architected to make more expensive and profitable equipment look good. That is why I advise people to also look at the EER rating.

On January 1 2023 AC equipment will have the SEER2 rating. The higher SEER and SEER2 standards go into effect. Depending where you live, to install older equipment in some place it is determined by manufacture date, and others it is installation date. Heat pump heating efficiency will have one national standard. All of this adds further confusion to the consumer in my opinion.

"Maybe you'd like to discuss the fact that the document you posted doesn't say anything about R410a or R22 either one (The two most common AC refrigerants used today)"

I posted a link to a DOE brief on HFCs. R22 is a HCFC; it wouldn't be appropriate to include it in a discussion of HFCs, Ray. Plus, both the production and import of R-22 were banned effective 1/1/2020. That's old news, particularly for a brief published in November of 2021.

R410a is a blend of two HFCs: R-32 and R-125, both of which are listed in the DOE fact sheet along with the CAS numbers. A knowledgeable "expert" should know that much.

Plus, both the production and import of R-22 were banned effective 1/1/2020.

I can still buy R22 Freon as of Aug. 27, 2022. It is not illegal to use in residential HVAC to repair an older system. The biggest problem is cost.

Under what kind of situations might someone want to repair an older R22 Freon Unit?

(I already know the answer. I use this because the builder probably doesn't or he's afraid to answer my questions.)

See the builder's scope is only 1-2 years, because he's going somewhere else to build. Build is what a builder does.

However, if you use me to repair an R22 Freon AC I will come back again and again to service that system as needed. (Katy, Texas area)

R410a is a blend of two HFCs: R-32 and R-125, both of which are listed in the DOE fact sheet along with the CAS numbers. A knowledgeable "expert" should know that much.

What I put out in video content isn't for "experts"... it is for the general population that don't know these things.

An average consumer (home owner) will just call their refrigerant Freon. That is my target market, not you Charles. (for that reason the information you posted is virtually worthless.)

Ray,

The subject is HFC phase down, which excludes R-22 from the discussion, but let's take a minute to look at that. Residential HVAC equipment using R-22 refrigerant hasn't been manufactured since 1/1/2010. Given the average system life expectancy is around 15 years, the risk exposure should be on the order of three years +/-

Now, back to your objection. What you attempted to do was to discredit a DOE brief on HFCs as inadequate. That was a fool's errand. In the process you made it obvious that you don't have the subject matter expertise you attempt to advertise.

Houzzers interested in HFC phase down will be better served to consult more factual sources of information and will be spared the fear mongering and political commentary. And, Ray, you'll be well served to take a high school chemistry class.

Residential HVAC equipment using R-22 refrigerant hasn't been manufactured since 1/1/2010.

False. Manufacturer's nearly all of them used a loop hole and shipped dry units that were later charged with R22 after the installations were completed up until aprox 2014-2015 time period.

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The other argument is that the PDF you posted isn't broad enough to give people the info they need to make a financial decision effecting their household.

The builder only thinks he knows. Choose his information at your own peril. I just merely provide reflections. It's your decision.

The choices coming in the next few years will only be temporary. Does that PDF tell you any of that? (The manufactures label the new refrigerants as interium solutions)

I go over all of that in the videos to help you make a choice. If you want air conditioning you will be faced with some precarious decisions in the next few years. If you don't like what I have to say now... just refer back to the infamous Red Herring post of Charles.

Your Choice. I am here to help you make a wise one.

I service the Katy, Texas area. The home of BETTER. Welcome home.

To determine the availability of proprietary parts I suggest googling Lennox distributors and Trane distributors (sister to American standard) and see if there are distributors close by. If either company doesn't have a distributor in your area a delay for a specific part could happen because it will need to be ordered from a far away place.

A distributor isn't the same as an authorized sales or service company so don't rely on them having the part you may need, few keep an inventory of parts and rely on their distributors. Most contractors will have an account with every distributor in the area to source parts for all brands they service.

Lennox parts tend to be higher in price than others but any part designated as OEM will be cost more than it's worth. I could spend $50 for an OEM labeled dual run capacitor or $8 for the exact same capacitor without a OEM label. With an A/C unit there may be a dozen or so parts, and don't have the 30,000 parts a car has, and in comparison A/C units are simple mechanical products,

To respond to the nanny state mentality throwing out misinformation suggesting a HVAC manufacturer is doing people a favor restricting parts to unauthorized individuals to protect themselves from themselves is a fallacy. This exclusive supply chain restriction, or "refusal to deal" is to protect the profits of the trade and nothing to do with protecting people. and a "refusal to deal" walks a fine line between legal and violation of antitrust laws. Courts have ruled a manufacturer refusing to sell parts unique to it's products where no reasonable substitutes exist is a monopoly of it's own products and illegal. So the least they can do is sell only to authorized commercial sales outlets to sell only to authorized sales and service outlets, and regulated by a manufacturer to avoid violating laws.

But this leaves the company open to competition when their own parts restriction is too strict, and opens a profitable window for aftermarket innovation. As an example Bosch MDI pass through device for programing cars cost thousands and were only sold to dealers, so a clone was built in china and sold on amazon for $200, works good and even accepts Bosch's own software for the original.

If you want any OEM proprietary part a sales or service outlet would probably sell one at an inflated price to make a nice tidy profit. The government does need to pass a "right to repair" laws to make data and parts available for everything, just like they did in the auto industry with OBD2, and proprietary programming data, at a price.

Kevin you are right about people that turn to nannies for Kool-Aid and being told what they should do and how they should to live.

To respond to the nanny state mentality throwing out misinformation suggesting a HVAC manufacturer is doing people a favor restricting parts to unauthorized individuals to protect themselves from themselves is a fallacy.

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They (manufacturer / distributor) don't know you or what you plan to do with that part. The state you live in has rules that require you know what you are doing. Because they don't want people running around without licenses performing professional skilled work for others.

That is the primary reason. ( oh so it's about tax money, insurance money, license fees --- money money and more money ) Congratulations you've figured it all out now. ha, ha, ha.

The argument why somone doesn't like it: money. (the lack of it) Here it is again. Darn it.

I come from a long line of ancestors who didn't have money. I was made fun of because of it growing up as many of my clothes I wore to school when I grew up were hand me downs / donated to the church. ( those clothes weren't designer labels, I didn't get my first pair of blue jeans until reaching junior high to paint a picture for you)

So I am "USED TO" taking flack for everything under the sun. My opinion? who cares right?

I grew up without air conditioning.

You don't need air conditioning to live. How about that for a nanny state?

Imagine how much money you can save. You won't be comfortable, but if money is your real problem? You don't have to agree with me.

Even with my poor childhood we managed to scrap up some money and buy a popular board game of the time called monopoly. It taught me money management, how to make money, what paid the best.

No rules = chaos.