Anyone used Brennan Heating and A/C or Other?

[Robindianne]

I see they have some good reviews on Angie’s List, but I don’t know what we need, other than air cleaning (pollen), and husband says air conditioning helps that. Basically I’m researching “blind” but want to do something economical not just now but future energy use as well. Also want my “carbon footprint” to be small.

If you have any suggestions . . .

Thank you!

Share This

[cjboffoli]

Robindianne: I just went through the process of installing air conditioning in my West Seattle house. I interviewed and invited bids from six different vendors. I did hear some positive things about Brennan and had a friendly call with one of their sales reps but ultimately did not go with them because they did not sell the kind of system I needed.

.

I didn’t have any pre-existing ductwork in my house as my heat is a forced hot water system. So I installed what they call a “mini-split” system which basically consists of a heat exchanger that sits outside and then indoor units that sit high on the wall in various rooms. A conduit with electrical, condensation and refrigerant lines runs between the inside and outside parts.

.

Many of these mini-split systems are built by Japanese and Korean electronics companies so they are compact, surprisingly quiet and extremely energy efficient. The unit I went with from LG has four built-in levels of electronic plasma filtration.

.

Through my extensive search I was able to find at least two installers that I can highly recommend. If you want to send me a private e-mail with your contact info I’d be happy to give you a call to discuss. Schedule permitting you and your husband are welcome to swing by and have a look at the system I went with.

.

My e-mail address is: cjboffoli@gmail.com

Share This

[Ken]

I have used Brennen. Professional, fast and they have their own electrician.

I have hydronic heat using hot water boiler fed by natural gas and they added several zones with their own programmable thermostats so I can keep heating at a minimum in areas like the basement apt but crank it up when it is occupied as a guest room. It cut our heating bills drastically.

I use the “wait for cooler weather” approach to AC though so I have no experience with that kind of system :)

Share This

[Robindianne]

Hey thank you cjboffoli!

Sounds like what we used in Greece maybe? Before I trouble you with swinging by, do you know if that kind of system works for both heat and cooling?

That does seem more efficient to just cool or heat rooms being used instead of the whole house. (if I’m picturing the units correctly).

Thanks!

Robin

Share This

[Robindianne]

Thanks Ken. I keep trying to tell my husband to just buck up, keep the ER Dr. on speed dial and quit whining about the allergies as pollen season will end soon but, well, you know . . . ha ha ha.

Hydronic heat? too cool (well, warm). We are looking for “economy” so I’m not sure hydronics would work for us. Our furnace is fine but we were thinking of going for some kind of heating/cooling/air cleaning all in one as a package that might, in theory give us a price break.

Thanks for the info!

Robn

Share This

[cjboffoli]

Robindianne: The LG system I went with does indeed provide both cooling and heating as it is a heat pump. On hot days it pumps degrees of heat outside and on cold days it pumps degrees of heat in (something I don’t quite understand but having to do with the chemistry of refrigerants). Many of the other manufacturers I looked at (including Fujitsu and Mitsubishi) offer either cooling only or both heating and cooling.

It is worth noting that my LG system is much more energy efficient with cooling than it is with heating. But in terms of being “green” cooling is usually more energy efficient than heating. On a 90 degree day an air conditioning system only has to bring the temperature down about 20 degrees or so for you to be comfortable. But on, say, a 30 degree day the heat has to bring the temperature up by 40 degrees. So looking at it that way folks in Phoenix in the summer are greener than people in Boston in the winter.

Share This

[Arbor Heights Guy]

I used the Bozo’s at Gas Appliance Service a few years ago for a gas furnace/hot water heater install. Furnace was fine, had trouble with the water heater install. Was making hissing/poping and other noises and scaring my renters to death. Gas Appliance Service came out once, said everything was OK. Problem continued, when contacted again, G.A.S. blamed my problem on a neighbors remodeling project a few doors up. They never did fix the problem, had to get a plumber at my expense. STILL UNBELIEVABLE. I’ll never call Gas Appliance Service for anything.

Share This

[Author]

Posts