The 3 bigger install companies in my area install Carrier, Trane, and Comfortmaker. I have never heard of the last. I will get pricing from all 3, but just curious on how they would compare to each other.
5 manufacturers build the top 24 lines available here in the USA.
We have a Rheem system. 1999 model. replaced one capacitor a couple years ago and that was it. I figure I will have to replace my system in the next few years. It has been a good unit.
We also had 2 RHEEM units on our house starting in '02. Only because we understand what it takes to keep them running, we were able to run them for 15 years (the last 2 were on barrowed time). Replaced a compressor, a fan motor, and a valve over the life.
When they were changed out, the coils would fall off on a single touch.
Goodman is nothing special. They work, but definitely more of a builder grade procuct. Carrier, Trane and Mitsubishi get my top votes. And a product is only as good as its installer in most cases. Been in the HVAC industry a long time.
If you talk to 10 ac guys you will get 10 different answer. They all sell the"best" and every other brand is
"junk". Truth is there are only 3-4 companies that make compressors so get you one that has a good service record and youth will be OK. I have a comfort maker in 2 houses and a goodman in my other 1.
Replaced our outdoor compressor and interior air handler and gas furnace with a Carrier unit several years ago (5 ton unit). Malek could never get it to function as advertised and neither to the calls to the Houston Carrier service center. It has NEVER been variable speed and NEVER did dehumidify as advertised, and we only paid an additional $1,400 for that feature.
I would never buy another Carrier, and NEVER use Malek AC or allow them on my property. YMMV.
First things first, however. While there are many brands of central air conditioners, digging deeper reveals that the majority of central air conditioners are made by a handful of companies, marketing merely makes it looks as if you have a wider range of choices. The major manufacturers are:
Trane, which also makes American Standard
United Technology, which owns Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Day & Night, Heil and Tempstar
Lennox, which owns Ducane, Armstrong, Concord, Allied and AirEase
Rheem, which owns Ruud
Goodman, which makes Amana and Janitrol
York, which makes Coleman and Luxaire
Nortek Global HVAC, which makes Maytag, Westinghouse, Frigidaire, Kelvinator and others
Group 1 – Our Top Picks for the Top 10 Air Conditioner Brands of 2018:
Goodman
Day & Night
Mitsubishi
Bryant
Carrier
York
Amana
Trane
Rheem
Lennox
All the actual ac guys that commented above recommended whichever brand they sell, which is understandable. The rest probably recommended what they have in their own homes.
Daikin owns Goodman manufacturing, which is Houston-based, and they just built the largest hvac mfr plant in the world there. Being American made gives them points (daikin, Amana, and Goodman units are built there) and also means they have a strong distribution in Texas.
Carrier makes a decent product, in Mexico.
Same with ruud/rheem.
In my opinion, trane is riding their brand recognition and is putting out some of the worst units on the market. Lots of mfr defects, lots of plastic components.
Pick a company you think you can trust and has great warranties and guarantees. That’s way more important than the brand of the equipment.
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