Builder put an Econar system (heating/cooling).  Don't know all the specs, but it's a relatively small system as we tore down and used ICF for the walls and radiant water heat in concrete floors. 

Short of the story is the Econar has been "repaired" more than 10 times, and it's now sitting there doing nothing, as the repairer doesn't know what else to do with it.  It's about four years old, but it's been working for about 2 of them.

Anyway, the 2 year warranty was useless for this lemon.  It looks like I need a new unit, but I'm not settling for another 2 year warranty.

Any recommendations?

Econar has many quality issue reported here, I myself am not very impressed with their previous products either. Look for the manufacturers who have 10 year standard warranty and are name brands, like Waterfurnace, Climatemaster, Hydron or (with the new designed SM series) Bosch, or their clones sold through different distribution channels. More importantly, look for a reputable installer. A good installer will not use an inferior brand, since he has to service it.

What Doc said. No geo will have less than a 10 year part warranty (energy star requirement) or they wouldn't qualify for the tax credit.
Warranties have lot's of limits and exclusions, you want the installer that accepts warranty allowances (vs tacks on extra charges).

Joe,

"No geo will have less than a 10 year part warranty (energy star requirement) or they wouldn't qualify for the tax credit."

Wow, never knew that. My obscure brands warranty falls way short.

ChrisJ

Depends on when you bought it Chris.

Posted By joe.ami on 20 Jul 2013 08:39 AM
Depends on when you bought it Chris.

Sorry, don't want to hijack.

End of 09, begining of 2010, first took the tax credit in our 2010 taxes.

Chris

Posted By shouts on 17 Jul 2013 10:39 AM
... It looks like I need a new unit, but I'm not settling for another 2 year warranty.

Any recommendations?

I use WaterFurnace.  10 year warranty on unit.  55 year warranty on closed-loop pipe.

Loop field design, and appropriate sizing of heat pump unit to required air flow and simultaneously to loop field system, are fundamental to good warranty performance.  No amount of perfect loop field installation and/or perfect heat pump unit installation will offset error in the loop field design and/or error in the heat pump unit sizing.

Worst case scenario is the loop field design is wrong, the heat pump unit isn't sized correctly, and the loop field and unit are poorly installed.  Even with a WaterFurnace unit it won't work well, and, you won't get warranty satisfaction (even the big guys, like WF, dishonor warranties when the design's not right, the size isn't right, and/or the installation is poorly done).

Parenthetically, this is so different than the air cooled (heat pump or air conditioning) market, at least here in the Dallas area.  For the most part, many installers here can just change out stuff overnight, charge a rock bottom price, and performance still is good enough to satisfy many customers.

Just doesn't work this way with geo.  Getting design and sizing right, and finding a professional who can do this, are the key challenges for the water cooled (geo) market.

I don't think it makes a difference what equipment you use if you don't get the design and sizing right.

Best regards,

Bill

I think the requirement hit right around early 2010. Equipment like Climatemaster and water furnace literally went from 5 year part and short labor warranty, to 5 year labor 10 year part overnight.
Which is incidently one of the new costs on manufacturers that hasn't inspired them to dramatically drop prices in spite of all the extra volume they are getting in the current boom.
j