STOP Buying the WRONG Air Conditioner Brands (2024)
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- Опубликовано: 27 ноя 2022
- Trying to figure out the right Air Conditioner Brands to buy can be a frustrating task for any homeowner. In this video, we are going to cover the best and the worst AC brands.
Before you buy, learn how to get the right system for the best price!
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I have 46+ years in the business, there are slight advantages to brands. The main issue is and always will be the installer. Good installation practices will extend the life and performance every time. A clean, leak free, evacuated system with no short cuts will out perform a poor installation every time.
More or less that is what Consumer Reports said. The top few brands were statistically insignificant in their problem rates.
So true
@@callmebigpapa I no longer trust consumer reports. They rely heavily on consumer surveys instead of individual product testing and teardowns like they used to. I do agree with the basic premise of install quality being a key element to good results. You can pick a top brand and get a poor quality install and have absolutely dismal results. It's equally true you can pick what people regard as a bottom tier brand with a stellar install and have a long happy service life with better comfort.
@@HeatGeek1 I'm pretty fortunate that where I live we use package a/c units and I've been told these are more reliable because they're totally built in the factory and no lines have to be hooked up on site is that your experience also if you work in this field?
@@callmebigpapa in general I would agree that factory braze joints produce fewer leaks, but it's also important to remember that refrigerant leaks can happen anywhere, and I do mean ANYWHERE inside the system. One key problem with package units is the equipment and at least some of the duct work is outside the thermal envelope. That's a big hit on the efficiency of the system. You always want to have all the furnace, evaporator coil and ductwork inside what we refer to as the thermal envelope or the insulation layer of the home, otherwise it's a needless waste of energy.
What about Goodman? Most dealers consider them junk. I have two Goodman's, one 20 years old and another 14 years old.
Looking inside we have:
1) A Copeland compressor. Copeland is a major and respected compressor manufacture.
2) A GE condenser fan motor. Nobody ever accused General Electric as a poor choice.
3) The coil is all copper with aluminum fins - easy to repair a leak.
So what exactly is junk about a Goodman? The sheet metal housing? The easily replaced $25 capacitor?
Had a Lennox in my new house. Evaporator coil rotted out in five years, juuuuust outside the warranty. Lennox wouldn’t honor it. Had another Lennox coil installed. It lasted EIGHTEEN MONTHS. Rotted out.
I had the whole system ripped out, installed a Trane. It’s been flawless. Love it.
Good to know I have old Lennox and it's 9 years old but I'll never buy Lennox..
Coils are trash.
Lennox had a class action lawsuit due to the poor quality of their products.
I have heard Lennox being crap for years. It seemed the company has not changed their way after these times. 🙄🙄🙄
@@chiensyang I worked for a company that sold Lennox. It was not uncommon to encounter defective parts right out of the box when you were starting a new system up after install.
I have a 35yr old Lennox but AC probably 10-15 not certain. I guess not a new one?
I appreciate your video. We replaced an old AC system with an energy efficient Carrier system a few years ago. They guy who came out to give the estimate (not your company) was very familiar with AC systems and made some good recommendations. I had a lot of confidence in him. Fast forward to the installation and that guy was nowhere to be found. The crew that came to install the system was the B Team or maybe the C Team. A bunch of 19 year old knuckleheads little experience who made numerous mistakes that their supervisor caught and some that I didn't discover until after I signed off on the installation. One example: sealing with silicone parts of the furnace/blower unit that were not intended to be sealed, such as the filter access area. I learned a lesson to make sure the installers are as good as the salesman.
Yep a lot of companies send the nice knowledgeable man to make the sale and then send the retards to do the install. Mr roof is one example who got me.
What is wrong with ceiling the blower area with silicon. He did that so hot attic air Or damp basement air Doesn't leak into the unit. He did you a favor thank him don't criticize him.
Wow! Your experience is duplicated by a very prominent HVAC company here in Central Florida...weekly....corners are cut that favor the company, even when those decisions violate building codes & endanger the customers. Mistakes are hidden or covered up. Installs are very unprofessional & the long term employees continue with poor work quality & are not open to redirection or updated training. Several older techs have poor electrical skills and have been known to install breakers above line amperage rating. The installs are like companies did back in the 80s.
Yet this company is very rooted within their sphere of influence...has deep pockets & friends in high places and a gang of attorneys covering their asses.
They hired a very talented HVAC Tech who was supposed to be a roaming fld manager to inspect installs, offer suggestions & return a week or two afterward to address complaints or settle customes needs with thermostat training. The old blokes in the field were insecure with him, rejected his suggestions & Generally refused to accept his authority & isolated him. The old long term blokes are good ol' boys in the work force dating back to the original owner...the family members now running the show only care about the bottom line. They look the other way as these rogue techs run the show. The new guy basically does customer complaints which are many including threats of civil suits for basically installation malpractice. This tech was easily intimidated by the sales staff who make 6 figures a year being coerced into doing much of the electrical engineering work instead of using the electrical contractor normally on call therefore saving cost for the company while padding the profit for sales commissions. It's truely amazing how an old standing company such as this one can remain in business with this level of mismanagement but they pretty much corner the market in HVAC and propane sales having started many years ago as fuel oil suppliers...and in hard times as weed control service spraying kerosene on city side walks and vacate lots. And yes the young techs they hire stay in school long enough to have skills but through abuse learn poor work standards and finally get around to taking state exams. The bottom line is money,money, money! In America a business license is just a license to steal...theft has many levels. And in florida when ya find an A/C tech who will actually repair instead of condemning your system because of a $25.00 Cap or contactor switch or condenser fan motor is a pearl of great price to be cherished....
@@6barry66
Thinking you misinterpreted the situation ...
The 19 yr old knuckle heads silicone the access to where the filter is located. The owner would've been unable to service the filter with such a condition.
..
@@hokehinson5987 This is not at all surprising.
I’v been a contractor for 33 years in California and this young man is 100% correct. Great video
It depends Houston capital of ac in the world trane claims #1 Ohio solid trane ,Kentucky Tennessee i serviced most brands and American standard the best, confort maker is good from carrier at residential level but I trane is heading the race commercial and residential maybe not industrial
what brand do say for southern California i.e. san diego
@@orornil1973 I'm in San Diego, and I have two Goodman units that are 21 years old. Face it, we don't really run the a/c that much in San Diego.
We've had two Goodman systems in our home for 20 years now. They have both been virtually trouble free. At the 16 year for one, and 18 year for the other, I replaced the circuit board in the air handler. It was very easy, and cheap to do myself. I would buy the "budget" Goodman again.
I bought a Goodman furnace and blower a few years ago and it's been great so far. We'll buy a two stage Goodman outside ac unit when our old one breaks.
We installed a Goodman unit in my mother in laws home mind 15 years ago. The only thing I have had to replace is the capacitor and the control unit in the home. I have family members that work at Trane. They have so many units that come back because of leaking coils and circuit board issues is astounding. The engineers have made their high end units so complicated and it's very hard to do part replacement because of the crazy way some parts have been assembled. To their credit though they definitely stand behind their warranty.
Igree goodman are great system work pretty well i own few furnace differents properties for many years with free issues or drama only maintenance every year and nothing else to do
My goodman is 30 years old,i have put less than $300 in it the whole time.Everybody says this is worst brand i disagree.
My 24 year old Goodman A/C ground units for my house are very reliable. They both have the original compressors!! Only components that failed were capacitors and condenser fan motors. Both air handlers are original as well. Very minimal issues. We've owned the house for 17 years...
I had a 5 ton American Standard duel fuel system installed by Springdale. It's been really efficient and has lowered my utility bill. The quality of the installer makes a huge difference also.
I had a Lennox system for some years and it was nothing but trouble. It broke down all the time and never really worked properly. I replaced both units with American Standard, and it's been outstanding so far. The same installer installed the system, and they told me they stopped carrying Lennox because of all the problems they had with them.
My parent’s house had Rheem AC . It was installed in 1968 ane the same unit is still going strong. 54 years, wow.
Wow, that's gotta be a record. I just sold my rental house, built in 1979, with the original package unit (on the roof) still going strong. I think it's a Carrier. I only serviced it about every 5 years. Home inspector said it was still working great.
@@DSC800 Next door just replaced a Rheem from the early 70's with a Goodman. I would have baught another Rheem after that kind of service lol.
I hope the Carrier in my house still keeps doing good from 1998.
@@fish4fun354 Like with all brands not every single one is bad, you have some with higher failure rates than others that is what they go with. My step dad was a Carrier dealer for years and installed them on countless homes in West, TX. There was a period he ran into where the compressors kept failing at a super high rate so he switched brands to Rheem. Rheem had just come out with the scroll compressor and he never had high failure rates again. That was a long time ago whether or not Carrier got their quality back or not I can't say. The scroll compressor was really good and went on to be a huge success for Rheem. Carrier today might be better than the rest as technology is always changing. I can tell you Carrier is a crap company though they shut down the Plant in east,TX and moved the operations to Mexico and killed hundreds of good paying jobs for the people that lived in the Tyler, TX area. Trane is still in Tyler making units so lets hope they do not bail on the American people.
@@JasPlun Very different machines now despite the retained name.
I've had a three ton Coleman heat pump for 35 years in my 28' X 56' manufactured home. I've replaced the outside coil once and the A coil inside once. I live in Yakima Washington and have hot summers and cold winters. I have a Jutul LP heater in the front room plumbed to a 500 gallon LP tank for heat backup. We are pleased with our setup experience. Thank you for your overview.
I live in Quebec, Canada and my Carrier a/c is operating nicely in year 22. The only repair was a capacitor replacement a few years ago. My furnace is a Goodman....about 12 or 13 years old with zero problems. Great video!👍
We put in a 3-ton Goodman 18-years ago when we bought our house and other than typical things like capacitors, it's been pretty solid.
I've been in the HVAC industry for 33 years and I believe there are 5 things that should be strongly considered when buying a particular brand of equipment and that is; availability of parts, quality and length of the warranty, technical support, and companies with quality and experienced technicians that are available to service and maintain said piece of equipment within 24 hours of a problem. The 4 things I mentioned above are what is important when purchasing your HVAC equipment but there is one more thing that is even more important and that is the quality of the installation. In the end the two things that I have found that cause people the most heart act is the quality of the install and the quality of the service months and years on down the road. How pretty the unit looks, how nice the salesmen is, how the unit operated the first 6 months, and how long the warranty is mean nothing if you have to wait 2-6 weeks to get a part, you have to wait 2 days for a service tech to arrive, the service company sends 5 techs out to repair the unit and they still don't, the unit breaks down 1-2 times a year and so on.
a lot of us looking this info are DIY, so unless it has a long ass warranty that might not be AS crucial, other wise you are absolutely correct they need god techs but, labor is hard to get these days. plus to me it's toss up any ways. i primarly have worked with Dell over the years and the on site tech quality is a coin toss. what i'm trying to say, is as a DIYer, good parts and design are the most crucial to me. you can have good supply and techs a shit ass system that needs repaired all the time, when in fact it should need little to no repair. same goes for install, needs to be installed correctly.
The criminal element is the money men saw the future for profit then legislated laws into place protecting their piece of the pie. In florida its a felony to be an A/C tech without a contractors license and provide repair or installation work as a moonlighting job. Punishment threat of 7 years max jail time plus up to $100k fine. Also the local HVAC parts distributors feel the heat if they sell to unlicensed DIYer. It used to be much different years back. Imagine if automotive parts distributors only sold to licensed techs...people would be broke cars parked.
We live in free society? Think again...america is built on its love of money...
@@hokehinson5987 It's really a crooked state that shelters fraudsters and the people keep re-electing the scum that bleed them. Vote for criminals and you get them. You couldn't pay me enough to live in Fla.
@hokehinson5987 HVAC people . I have a 2900 sq foot new home .. my hvac guy wants t0vpitvin a 2 ton ac . Says uprising will cause moisture ..
Is this true or is he just trying to save a buck on the unit
@@somethingkindawonderful3034 Depending on the age of the house and the condition of the windows, insulation, etc you will need around 6 tons of cooling. A 2-ton unit will do not cool your house below 76 degs and run almost all day long when the outside temps are above 80 degs. They obviously do not know what they are doing.
We've had seven Daikin units installed in our home in the UK for about four years now, and had them serviced as required. They have been excellent, quiet and reliable. Really impressed. They work as heat pumps in winter for cheap heating as well as A/C in summer. Yes, homes in the UK can have A/C.
Do the come with umbrellas? LOL
We have 2 Daikin units in our home in the Philippines. They have been trouble free and have survived typhoons, earthquakes and a volcanic eruption. Daikin is a popular brand in the Philippines.
I live in Colorado and had a new Daikin AC and furnace installed 3 yrs ago. So far so good. The AC is quiet and the circulating fan has something like 56 speeds. The fan adjusts based on the house temp. We had a Lennox before that worked fine for 18 yrs but I thought we needed to replace them with more effecient units.
VERY HELPFUL comprehensive breakdown of companies and quality standards. Great discussion that can help me make a sound decision. Best briefing I’ve found on this topic in 4 years!
We had a GOODMAN ac unit for about 17 years and still running strong 💪!!
my goodman lasted 16 years
I’m a hvac contractor in Florida and I make good money working on Goodmans so keep buying them please! 😂 and comparing any air conditioner brand from 16 years ago to today is apples and oranges. Goodman is trash today! So is Trane you want a ICP (Carrier, Payne, GrandAire) or Rheem/Ruud.
That doesn't mean anything! Equipment was made differently back then.
I have found that Trane it's actually one the most unreliable pieces of equipment out there. I was a dealer for years and had to stop due to the poor quality, insufficient testing of new technology and extremely high failure rate.
Goodman, I would never consider installing a Goodman unless the customer is okay with a 60-day labor warranty.
I've had extremely good luck with the Ruud equipment.
@@MrDeviousdom Trane used to be number one and we were the top train dealer in Florida. Once they were bought by Ingersoll rand nothing but trash would never sell one again!
Old Lennoxs are beasts. But I agree with your assessments. Can't blame you for picking Carrier with you being a Carrier guy.
I'd pick Trane (any) , York (any), Goodman(furnace)
If I do a Goodman furnace I'll do an American standard or Ameristar A/C.
Have had too much trouble with Goodman A/C having a leak in the coil from the start.
Reehm/Ruud are beasts too. I love walking up to a call with one of these systems, I know it will be an easy fix, or it's dead.
Simple answer- All furnaces are basically the same. So I put Goodman in to save customers money.
A/C- I personally only stay away from Goodman.
Also my personal opinion, I stay away from Carrier. Their presence is huge by me, but I've found they make everything so Carrier specific. And anything with a Carrier sticker on it will be $$$$
I service and install all brands so I've got no allegiance, just observations
Glad you made the disclosure at the beginning. After the ending recommendation was a foregone conclusion. We have Carrier on our current house and would not use Carrier again. We have had a number of repairs both in and out of warranty and have had our technician relate that most of the problems are known to Carrier but instead of notifying customers they just let it go until the unit fails. One of the failures was so common the technician knew exactly what it was from my brief description of the issue.
Can you tell us any more about this? Which Carrier models? Have Carrier Infinity in our house and so far so good, but would like to know ahead of time if we have the same models.
Likewise, with our Carrier Infinity system. Never again will I go with a Carrier HVAC system!
I installed quite a few Carrier/Bryant in the 90s and early 2000s when I was a tech and service manager in Phoenix and never had issues.. I did a couple Carrier Infinity units around 2014 for a friend and they worked great and air have never even received a call from him about the unit and we still chat today… Although, Goodman has improved as they used to be noisy as hell due to thin steel and poor construction… But now, for the price, a decent budget unit… However, American Standard is my goto for mid-line as their incremental cost for more efficient units is the best value (or used to be), similar to Bryant…
Had to replace the Payne HVAC system in our beach house last year. The tech checked the serial number on it and it was 24 years old. It never failed once for us but the AC was fading. Had the same company that installed it back then install a Bryant system. Works flawlessly.
Over 15 years ago I installed a new Goodman AC and furnace myself. House did not have AC before. It has been working flawlessly with no service since install. I have been very happy with it.
Great review of these 5 companies! It’s good to hear from an experienced HVAC tech and get his considered opinion.
Thanks for a very helpful video. Boy was I shocked. About 5 years ago, I looked at all the sources I could find, including Consumer Reports, and then replaced our HVAC with a Lennox Heat pump. We have already had to replace the blower at a cost of about $1000. The Lennox has been no more reliable than the Heil unit in our detached guest house. What a bummer. I saved your video to my "Home" and look forward to more. Live and Learn.
Thanks for the advice. I bought a Bryant electric AC unit and gas boiler in 2005. Replaced the capacitor on the AC unit once. On the boiler replaced the motor that opens the chimney flue and the motor that opens the valve for one of the two zones. Overall I'm happy.
We bought a new house back in 1998 and it came with a basic Lenox furnace. It did not come with with A/C but we paid extra for wiring and a fuse box when our home was being built so we could add A/C later. We chose a Carrier brand A/C and used the same company that builder used and worked great. We eventually had to our Lenox furnace replaced but the company was not installing any Lenox equipment anymore so we chose a Bryant heater and A/C instead. No issues after almost 5 years of use.
What a great review. Finally someone who explains the hvac racket. And he's correct about Lennox having problems.
I have a Lennox at my other home. Going strong since 2019 but the condenser is corroded. Poor paint from the factory. I do live 1/2 mile from the ocean, so that's why it's that bad.
I’m a 40+ year HVAC&R tech/contractor primarily service as others have said most times on the installer. The only air conditioning systems that have an unusual number of failures have been any with “micro channel” coils. I installed Goodman in our current home to replace a 30+ Lennox the home we just purchased has a Rheem system. Most systems appear to last 20 to 30+ years.
My Goodman has been doing good after 12+ years
Goodman here too... I like the fact, that if I need parts, they are readily available and inexpensive. Only work I have done on my condenser unit is to install a soft start. 5 years no issues.
My brother in FL had his original AC/heat pump last over 40 years! Don't know the brand and even if so, it doesn't mean the same quality is there today.
@@michaelwright1602 Did you notice a difference with the soft start?
@@davidcallahan5157 Yes, I did. How to explain this? That hard bang snap start is now non-jarring, just a nice smooth start, if that makes sense? I can see how this would help with extending the life of the condenser unit. And it was easy to install, a simple nut driver and swapping some wires around. I would recommend getting one, they are inexpensive, and do make a difference.
I installed Trane, Carrier and Rheem products in the North Texas area for many years. I eventually landed with my favorite being Rheem. I had several Rheem Classic systems that went 20+ years with next to zero issues. The Trane and Carrier systems didn’t go the distance and were much more expensive for the homeowner. As many have stated, proper installation and design matters. Go with a good, local company and get a few estimates. Referrals from friend is always a good idea as well.
Rheem/Ruud the best all around A/C units...I am very loyal to that brand, they've never failed me.
I agree 100% with you on Lennox. Garbage, can’t wait to get a new AC.
What about Train?
I have an Intertherm HVAC system that was installed in 1996. These past few years I have had to add refrigerant and replace 2 capacitors and finally the fan. Other than that this no-name brand has worked wonderfully. I keep telling myself, 26 years later, it must have been built on a Wednesday.
Ditto Chris. The installation is the key. I put my first A/C in my home Back in early 80s myself. It was running fine until change out, I actually bought it from Sears. I changed it out for a Goodman heat pump 4 years ago, It is running Great. I am FAA Licensed Aircraft and Jet Engine technician and have always paid attention to detail. Actually for me I find HVAC to be quite straight forward and fun. The main reason I do my own HVAC is a few years ago I talked to a couple "Licensed HVAC techs" for a quote to install my first A/C. I did my homework and found they were blowing smoke up my ass. So now I do it myself. Just like aviation, attention to detail the right procedures and tools and pubs are key. And before I forget RUclips has a wealth of information.
What AMM did you follow?!
Dude!!! Exactly my situation.
These clowns came out and quoted me $8000.00 for a 2 ton install, mind you at that time I was looking to replace around 9 units to start with. Do the math....I wasn't having it so I hit RUclips and learned what I could and then bought a Goodman unit for 1850 delivered and filled ...hired a tech to do it as a side job and then had him sit and watch me and tutor me though the job. I've done 12 now and still need to do quite a bit more. Fukem
You're absolutely right. There is only one correct way to do an installation. I haven't watched any YT videos on the subject but should, I guess. If done meticulously with proper evacuation, testing and charging the result will be a reliable system. The DON'T let anyone touch it...no attaching gauges ("measuring charge"), etc. When functioning correctly, just like your home refrigerator/freezer, no one can make it function better. It either works or it doesn't. Keep it clean and that's it.
Given that you are an FAA Licensed Aircraft and Jet Engine technician, I'm sure you have done a much better job than many technicians do.
Nowadays the HVAC schools are turning out junior sales people.
Upon arriving in the job market these techs are groomed to dissuade the customer from repairs with immediately condemning their unit. Most folks fall for it...desperate for A/C in the hot humid south. Many a unit has been condemned because of a tri cap or contact switch or fan motor. This trade is open to corruption and deceit too. Years ago I learned how to repair our home A/C system. It is a very simple basic mechanical system. It has gotten somewhat Muddy with addition of heat pumps, solid state boards D.C. motors, variable speed compressors & blower motors. yet a customer can still purchase a basic unit which is strongly recommended. There are thieves everywhere today from the lowly trades person to the politician....Healthcare probably being the worse of the lot. If your a home owner take the time to ask around, speak to your neighbors, friends about a good A/C tech. You will eventually need one if you decide not to be a DIYer...my experience the big blow hard companies that over advertise are like the big blowhard law firms that do the same. You most likely won't be treated well....in America everyone is just a customer...
Thanks for the information. I went through this same research back in 2006 when we built our home. After determining a 5 ton unit, I was bent on Lennox and Carrier however the AC guy was pretty fair and told me Bryant and Carrier pretty much use the same compressors and hardware but at a significant lower price. I've had the unit since then however in 2019 had to replace the start capacitor. Of course it was supper hot the week it failed and no technician could give me an ETA so I did a bit of research, pulled the fuse and followed safe removal and handling and replaced it. It wasn't easy to find an AC supplier to sell me one but I did eventually find one. Since then it's been running fine. A few days ago I noticed while cleaning the coil fins the fan bearing seems to be dried and humming a bit so I'll likely be doing a fan motor early next year before summer to be proactive.
I installed a HEIL back in 2015 after lightning struck the house and fried everything. It has a been a great unit. I change the filters every 2 months or so and clean the compressor coils twice a month.
I live in Northern Ohio and installed a Carrier furnace & AC back in 94. It has required minimal service and parts are readily available. -6 last night and the house is toasty warm. Happy with my purchase.
Our first Goodman heat pump - only 1/4 mile from the Atlantic Ocean - lasted us for 17 years until we sold that house. Our second Goodman is still running fine after 22 years. We’ve just moved to TX, and our builder just loves Rheem; so that’s what we have now, and so far, so good.
REAL information, thank you!
Great video. Thank you for putting this out.
Greetings from Jacksonville Florida USA. Two years ago, we installed a 5-ton, high-end Goodman A/C-heat pump. No problems, so far. All of the maintenance men say that they like Goodman units, because they are straightforward and use mostly generic parts that they can get quickly. When that subtropical sun is beating down, you don't want to hear that what you need is on back order! They told unhappy stories about Carrier, Trane, and especially Lennox on this score. So-called premium might not always work out better.
I used to work in the fire safety field. One of our clients was Trane in Trenton. What an amazing factory. Pieces move along on hooks, not conveyor belts, to each station. It was pretty impressive and huge. Well, not at big as an Amazon warehouse.
Across from Hamilton Train station, hmmm Ironic? Trane joined up with Mitsubishi Mitsubishi is king of mini split systems, all types, all ratings
Thank you for the video. Blessings to you.
A critical point that the video missed is that you absolutely need to make sure that your servicing company is recommended by the equipment manufacturer. We learned the hard and expensive way. Fortunately we were eventually informed by our mismatched service rep that his company had little experience with our brand and really didn’t understand many of its features. After we changed and brought in a recommended service provider, it cost us $4,500 to correct the deficiencies in our two Lennox units. One major problem was that the prior service company had installed the ultraviolet lights too close to the filters and melted them so that particles were being blown into the system.
Good video! I had two Ruud systems (over a 25 year period) in my Florida home. While they may not have been the most efficient systems, they were tough as hell, and tolerated abuse from idiot service techs (ex, overpressurized coolant to over 400psi) as well as a hot climate up to the day I finally replaced the second unit with a Carrier (impressive system).
Hi we replaced our Ruud heat pump after 38 years of central Texas weather, it was a beast.
We installed a Ruud in 2015 and it’s been a total POS.
I have an Amana package gas unit that was built by Goodman. It's been 22 years with only one repair...one of the spark wires had a break in the insulation allowing the spark to ground itself out. Repositioning and some electrical tape fixed it in 10 minutes. Been working fine for several years since I did it. We had 0 degree temps last week and the house was toasty warm.
Enjoyed your presentation no bs just facts nice !!! No sales pitch for one brand
This was helpful thank you for the review
When I bought my house it in 2007 (central Florida) it still had the original Carrier AC (although it had a small refrigerant leak) still running. I replaced it in 2007 with a Trane XL16i heatpump, which has worked up until today with no problems at all. I consider them both to be excellent equipment and agree with your assessment.
Carrier is not even compatible to Trane. Trane is much better
All brands are going to have issues, no one is perfect, Installation and maintenance is key regardless of brand you get. That's what I hear a lot.
Absolutely true
Installers tell you this. I wonder why?
@@KingArtexerxes Because everyone pushes their HVAC system over the edge which puts more stress on the system and causes premature failure.
BUY YOUR INSTALLERS!!! The install will make or break your system
@@Freonleon So how do you go about buying a honest/reliable/experienced installer in my area? Hmmm
You HVAC boys are blessed. Your industry protects you. Your supply houses watch your backs as well. I commend that. Plumbing supply houses will sell to anyone and your systems can use the same thermostat. Tankless water heaters are all so different even within the same manufacturer. I regret not being able to pursue HVAC. 👊🏻
I switched from Rheem to Train as well as switching my HVAC contractor. After having 2 Rheem units that had a lot of service calls, I knew I wanted a Trane because I felt they were a leader in technology. My original contractor said he could get one but it was a "contractor" grade. His level of service was getting worse over the years. I switched to a Trane contractor and bought one of their most advanced 19 SEER units with variable speed on blower and on the compressor. Local gas and electricity companies both sent out reps to see the unit's commissioning and also supplied me with $2500 in rebates. The contractor was very well trained and did a great install, commissioning, and has supplied good follow up maintenance. If you don't have an HVAC contractor that invests in training his people, you will be in trouble because of the current level of electronics.
Love our 7 year old Lenox 4.5 ton mini split system. Being a 24 SEER system it’s super inexpensive to run in the summer and saves us 200 gallons of oil or more in the cold months.
15 years ago I was a parts manager for a HVAC company in Texas. Goodman had the best bang for the buck back then. Carrier and American Std had the best warranties. Lennox was run away fast even then.
Great video! Great info! Thanks!
I swapped out my 25 year old Carrier A/C & Furnace with a new Payne Heat Pump & Gas Furnace. The build quality looks look identical to the old Carrier. The dealer stated the lower end Payne legacy units are the exact same as the Carrier / Bryant. Saved $$ but it's all on the quality of the install. Very satisfied with my new system. Using outside air sensor with Gas Heat backup.... best of both worlds.
I've been in my home on the East Coast (USA) for 36 years. It's a custom home and a mid-level Carrier heating/AC system was installed. It constantly broke down and was in need of repair. Eventually, it was replaced with the top of the line Carrier unit. Same story, it was unreliable, constantly needing repairs and frustrating. Eight years ago, I had a top of the line Lennox model installed. It came with a 12 year warranty. To date (after 8 years), not a single breakdown and has performed flawlessly. I couldn't be more pleased. The only thing I have down to the unit is routine cleaning and maintenance twice a year. When this unit runs its' course another Lennox unit will replace it, period. Two of my brothers and one of my son's have also purchased Lennox units (at my recommendation) and have experienced the same perfect and reliable results, as well as several of my neighbors.
Same here, I would never purchase another Carrier. I don't get it. My Lennox has been stellar.
I've been doing HVAC for 28 years. We in the business call Lennox leaky Lennox. Thier gas furnaces will last 30 years but thier evaporator coils will leak in 3 years. Goodluck getting a warranty coil 6 months minimum wait time.
I'm no HVAC expert as you, merely a consumer. I can only report my own personal experience with the Lennox product. To date, after 8 years, zero leaks, zero breakdowns and absolutely 100% trouble free. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this continues...
Same here, installed a mid level Carrier in 2010 with a twice a yr service plan and it has been nothing but constant trouble. Would never purchase Carrier again! Total Trash!!!
Mother in law installed a high end Carrier system with twice a year service contract in 2019. Again nothing but trouble. One part to get up and running took 1-1/2 weeks! You couldn't pay me to use Carrier again!
Just had a premium Trane 5 ton 18 seer variable speed system installed here in Southeast Texas. Simply amazing!
That had to be a pretty penny
I had a Tappan AC unit installed in the spring of 1980 in North Mississippi and it ran without any problems until July 2005, so 25 years I thought was very good. When it did go out it was replaced with a Goodman and when we sold the house in March of 2019 it was still going without any issues.
Informative video.
25 year old Ruud 10 SEER 4 ton system here. I recently replaced a corroded mechanical switch in the unit myself when it failed to turn on this year, but otherwise it just keeps on truckin' as does the furnace. I do clean and care for my HVAC equipment, paying particular attention to keeping the condenser fins clean and the evaporator coil's drain pan in the furnace blockage and leak free, which obviously makes a big difference in system performance and longevity.
I plan to sell my house in 5 years or so, will probably replace the entire system at that time, as nobody wants a 30 year old HVAC. I bet it still runs fine when it comes out though 😆
I live in DFW, my house was built in 1999, had a Goodman installed, heat pump. It blew up spectacularly the day before Christmas in 2013. Had ESP air come out the day after Christmas and replaced the inside and outside units with a Carrier. Been bulletproof since, very efficient. Totally happy so far.
Carrier/Bryant paid for me to go to the Indy 500.....tickets, hotel, airfare, factory tour (pre-Mexico), catered dinners, transportation, a lunch cooler with a few Budweisers for the race itself. Then they moved to Mexico and no more Indy 500.
I installed a Goodman 2.5 ton straight air gas furnace in my house in 1994, the condenser unit is still working great. I have only replaced 1 capacitor 1 fan motor and 1 contactor on the outside unit. It still has the original liquid line dryer and have never had to adjust the charge. It is all about the installer no matter what brand it is.
My 1998 house has the original 3 ton Goodman and it still running like a champ. Thanks for the info as I am sure mine could kick the bucket any day now, or not 😎
I have installed and/or serviced almost all of these brands over the past 40 years. I recently began installing Bosch heat pumps. They are inverter units. In my house I installed a Daikin Skyair inverter ducted system several years ago and it works very nicely. One thing that seems
to be important is the actual availability of tech support, parts, and warranty.
Thinking about installing a Bosch hybrid system. Any thoughts on their products since you've been installing them?
Just a few points...in the Northeast, Carrier can be very difficult to get parts for sometimes, and many times the new replacement part needs to be retrofitted. Carrier also has a tendency to mark up the prices of their replacement parts considerably, not just a little. In the northeast, Trane still rules as far as quick parts access and overall build quality. Carrier would be better if they didn't play games with their customer support and parts line. In the commercial sector, one brand that is emerging, but stands out for constant issues are these "AAON" systems. We are scratching our head with these because they have good brand name components inside but have constant problems with leaks in their alluminum microchannel coils, constant control board issues, heating section inducer fan failures (and these little motors have hall effect sensors, so you must purchase from AAON) temperature sensor failures, hot gas valve seats erroding away, etc. These are expensive units and are mainly a standalone rooftop package. The ones we deal with seem to have an excellent installation ( proper duct sizing, wire sizing, plenty of service area around the units, proper pitch angles for drains, very neat piping and wiring with most everything labeled...whoever did some of these installs did a nice job. ( I know that's rare to hear) So, in this case, I would not blame the installer. We found an extremely wide pressure differential for the condenser fan cycling switches that is non adjustable. We know from past experiences that an excessively wide pressure range causes leaks in coils...AAON did not seem to be interested.
Your take is interesting, in the south getting carrier parts same day is easy but we have to fight tooth and nail to get trane parts!
Thanks for your explanation. It seems you're sincere.... Very helpful...
Based on my experience , the potential “killer” weak spots are the heat exchanger in the furnace , the ECM motor modules and the AC compressor. That can be mitigated by regular change of the air filters and rinsing the compressor coils. A lot of the ancillary parts are made by third or fourth party overseas companies ( circuit boards, pressure switches, etc.). The more sophisticated the system , the more likely a costly or fatal breakdown. Bryant and Lennox are the two big names around here , Trane and Carrier following behind. And, of course, you can’t get specific quality/ durability statistical data from the manufacturers.
Bryant is carrier.
in over 50 years of homeownership across three homes in the northeast I have used Rheem HVAC systems (85,000 to 100,000 Btus and 11- 13 SER) and never had a problem. I had/have routine PM every year which makes a huge difference.
Rheem is definitely the best even right now
My Rheem AC. Is 30 Years old .
@@boydguie8129 My father's Rheem gas furnace and Central Air is 35 years old!
When you look at the Scroll Compressor manufacturers (The part that does the work), there are really only 2. No matter who you buy from the only part that really matters is only made by 2 companies.
Which 2 companies?
@@nostradamus7648 The one in my Goodman was made by Tecumseh.
@Bill Pearson My AC guy just installed an old school Trane heat pump compressor (2007 model XR13, using the old freon).
He even threw in a free Fan motor ($600 value) and a new booster and electronic switch because it took much longer to finish than anticipated.
Did the entire replacement for $2865 after his military discount.
I think I got a great deal.
@@nostradamus7648yes, great deal indeed 😂
We've stuck with Trane, especially with their upgraded Hyperion air handler!
As others have mentioned a lot has to do with the installer, which we found a really good one with our Trane system!
I agree got 25 years out of last Trane and got another one last year. Goodman is pushed by a lot of big companies and they price them like a premium brand. According to Consumer Reports Goodman is low on the reliability list.
I can't speak for other brands, but I know from first-hand experience that Trane can be neglected (no annual servicing) for years and still "run like new".
You are amazing in your explanation! Ty man
I purchased a spec home in 1996 with two Goodman units. Both lasted 16 years. Both wore out within 1 week of each other. They were both budget friendly’s . These units kept us cool and warm so no complaints. We are on my 4th home now and we installed Trane’s. These are very efficient and no issues after 3 years. It is 6 degrees F outside this morning and it is very warm inside 😊 72 F & happy !
Old goodman build quality is really good. But newer one just not as good as use to be unless you pay for 16 or 18 seers
We have a basic goodman unit. 6 years in, no issues. Its also only $1000 for the unit outside so it won't break the bank if needed to replace. Also has a 10 year waranty
If you are a diy guy, inspecting the furnace is a vey good idea. As time goes by, small water leaks, smells and coaglated dust can lead to early demise. If not danger.
I currently have a Carrier and I’m done with it. It came with the house and I had to replace the leaking evaporator coil in the 5th year ,the blower motor board, a capacitor, a transformer, and multiple damper switches. My first condo had a Rheem A/C and when I sold it , it was 21 years old ( and still working) and the only thing that I replaced on it was the drain-pan. My A/ C guy says that he loves Carrier because it keeps him busy.
i wasn't looking for this information, but i'm glad i watched it because it cleared things up a lot. plus, even though the information didn't help me, i have a sister, a rental unit, and a church that i support. so yeah, i'm glad i watched it
Very informative video, thank you!
One thing I would like to add about multiple brand names being sold under a few manufacturers the biggest reason why they do this is so they can have more ““exclusive distributors and dealers they make more money that way it’s just the way it works
I purchased a Ducane back in 05 and it has never failed me. I had help installing it with a coworker, he too told me that this is a Lennox brand, but I didn't care, just wanted my AC running. So to say that no one should purchase is wrong, unless you owned one and had endless problems with it, but I'm not knocking you at all. All brands fail, some sooner than others, I guess mine was a Tuesday, Wednesday, or even a Thursday made unit, like some vehicles.
In Slidell, Southern Loisiana, my Goodman CK49-1B, R-22 unit, lasted from March of 1996 to July of 2022, 26 years 4 months, I'd say that's a good run. It ate Run Start Capacitors like candy but in all those years I only put about two pounds of refrigerant in it and Caps that's it. No start switches, no boards nothing, just caps and R-22 and cleaned the outside coil every year and the inside Evaporator once. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith
Rheem / Ruud for me. Rheem furnace in our old house worked perfectly with no issues for 18 years. The Rheem furnace in our new house had a minor flame detection issue after about 20 years ($10 part I replaced myself) - still going strong without any other issues after 24 years. Our Rheem central air unit has had no issues so far (24 years).
No issues except for bad efficiency.
@@Ace707xtc I’ll concede that point. Predictable reliability and long life is more important to me.
As a former AC tech myself, I really like carrier. Things like dual pole contactors, better sheet metal, and better motors and fans really make a difference.
thanks for the information I had a carrier unit at my home had it for about 15 years it was a very good unit very little maintenance a few service calls but nothing out of the ordinary so I thought it was time to replace it it was still working just fine other than old so I decide to replace it got a home improve loan approved and replace the carrier with a Lennox oh boy a terrible mistake I will not by buy another Lennox product again I will go back to carrier or perhaps Trane no Lennox I have had the company who installed the unit come out and work 3 times nothing happened there for no more Lennox going back to carrier but anyway thanks for the comment
@@jameseverly8501 My two Carrier units are awesome; SEER 19, 3T and 4T running 24/7 here in AZ. Passed 15 years in service.
In my line of work, Carrier Corp was my biggest customer for 28 years.. I’ll always care for those folks! However, as far as home life goes, the most reliable unit I’ve ever owned was a Goodman unit! It was already at an old house I bought to restore… It made cold air when you wanted it, and warm air when you wanted it… Not a bunch of whistles and bells to tear up all the time…. I hope they haven’t changed….
I’m a builder and have installed Goodman for over 20 plus years and it’s served me well
Great info !!!! Thank You
We had a new Lennox AC and furnace installed six years ago. Never had any problems with it, and I am very glad we went with Lennox.
Same here where we live in far west Houston, ours was installed about 4 years ago and as long as the filter is changed (I do mine every 6 months or as needed), we've had no problems with it. We had Abacus plumbing install ours (and remove the old ac system that went out after many years) and they'll come annually to check it. They also (after completion of installation) sprayed insulation in the entire attic, the insulation has worked wonders in keeping our house cool during summertime and warm during cold snaps.
Installed mine 7 years a go - no problems. An initial fan unit failure but they fixed it for free. The previous Lennox system in my house ran for 24 years.
I moved to my home 20 years ago. I just had to replace a new capacitor in the air. The furnace and air are 31 years old.
Yes, this is an awesome brand. Our apartment was built in the 80s and the original guy that built the boys put one of those air conditioning‘s in here the Lennox and it still works perfect to this day. The only thing we’ve ever had to replace on this brand was a transformer five years ago when we first rented the place
Installed 3 in 2015. All three have broken repeatedly with normal maintenance. Circuit boards, coils, and compressors have all failed. Never buy Lennox.
I'd agree with you 100% with Lennox. Their parts are to specialized and exclusive which drives the costs sky high. A few of the parts they use come from Carrier aka Bryant Payne. I use to work for a distributor/dealer for Bryant/Payne. Lennox would order a few parts thru them. Builders in Michigan installed Bryant HVAC systems in the high end homes. $150-$200,000 and up. One builder would order a 53' trailer load of HVAC systems at a time until the 2007 housing crash.
My Bryant system died after 13 years and I replaced it with a Daikin Fit and have 12 years parts and service warranty. The system is awesome and QUIET and keeps everything nice in summer & winter here in Florida. It was well worth the money and I even got a tax credit and rebate for 3,100. ! Happy with Daikin.
Great breakdown. I’m in the Los Angeles area and used to work for a Carrier/Bryant/Payne distributor. Bryant will be cheaper than Carrier but have the same components. Trane’s new logic boards are becoming more proprietary and difficult to troubleshoot. Lennox has had its issues for sure. I second all points made here for each brand.
I bought about 30 Haier units back when federal standards were about to change and I didn't want to pay a lot for new units. Just 10 seer r22 units. What I couldn't believe after installing was the condenser fan motors were failing after about one year. The first couple i thought was just a fluke, but petty much all of them quit after one year of use. They were just psc motors. Something was wrong at that factory.
I recently installed a new mini split system in my home, so I did a ton of research. When settling on a brand, it came down to the features I was looking for, warranty, and price. I went with an LG Red outdoor unit with 3 indoor ceiling cassettes which are ducted into adjacent rooms. Unfortunately in my situation most indoor units are oversized for all 3 bedrooms in my home, especially 1 of my rooms which is only 99sqft. I wanted the zoning capabilities though, so that eliminated a ducted system. I also hate the look of wall hung units. There are very few brands that offer ceiling cassettes that can be branch ducted too, so this limited my options even more. I also live in the North East so cold weather performance was a high priority. My point here, is that I bought based on my needs and desires. A good installation with any brand will result in a more reliable system as well.
Lt. DAN
Reminds me od Forest Gump..
Anyway, I sold LG for 18 years here in Australia, stoped 2023 end.
We had ability to use DUCTED units as well. Great for High End Apartments..like you maybe.
All LG Multis are 'backward compatable' ..you might be able to upgrade those Cassetts.
But I have no involvement now.
😊
In the area that I live in you see a lot of Rheem, Lennox, Bryant and Carrier, plus a few off brands you didn't mention. We put in a new Bryant HVAC in our house about 6 years ago and it has worked flawlessly. Bryant used to be made in Indianapolis Indiana, but I believe that Bryant and Carrier are now made in Mexico. It replaced a Rheem system that was about 30 years old.
In 2016 Carrier planned to move all of its manufacturing to Mexico. In January of 2017, after winning the election but before taking office, Trump met and negotiated with Carrier in Indianapolis, Indiana. He managed to save about 2/3 of the jobs slated to be moved. Most of the jobs not saved were being phased out due to automation and would have been gone anyway.
There have been further job losses, some due to the market and the pandemic. But, Carrier still has about 800 employees at that location.
Since your old system of 30 yrs was Rheem, what made you go with a new Bryant system? Curious as I am trying to decide between Bryant, Ruud(Rheem), and Goodman.
It's crazy how people have different experiences with these different brands.
I think some of that may have to do with who installs what in your area. Rheem and Ruud are top tier where I am with virtually no failures ever. Goodman is absolutely awful. Probably the worst. We’ve changed plenty at year 7 from dead compressors and unregistered warranties. But here’s the thing: the cheapest brand in your local area will attract the worst contractors. The bad fly-by-nights won’t install anything higher end, because they sell only on price. So whatever’s cheapest in your area will probably attract the worst contractors. In my experience with acs, it’s 90% the install, 10% the equipment. Although I can’t prove it, I’m pretty sure all those dead compressors on 7 year old Goodman’s was more due to poor installation finally killing it. If you buy high end or mid range, you’re more likely to avoid bad installers.
very informative ,thanks
I have a Carrier gas furnace I installed 3 years ago and has been excellent. I upgraded the AC unit this pre-summer and was planning to purchase a Carrier to keep them the same. After studying different models along with price I then purchased a Goodman. So far this summer the Goodman has run great but time will tell. Both the Carrier and the Goodman AC units use the same Copland scroll compressor. The Goodman was less expensive and has the filter dryer built-in. Carrier has the filter dryer separate which l did not like since more leak potential. My previous AC unit was a Carrier and to me the Goodman looks to have a better and simpler design. (I took the exam to get the refrigerant license).
I my son and I installed a Goodman in our house in the fall of 2019. We chose Goodman primarily because it was the one we could purchase easily at a reasonable price. I figured most brands use the same compressors, and that the differences would mostly be workmanship. When we go the Goodman, we were impressed with the build quality. So far it has worked well and we are happy with it.
Goodman is trash. I know from working on them.
IF the installation was PERFECT, they will hold up very well. Copeland scroll compressors.
@@FoUoCoKRUclips Starting the 13th yr. with mine and zero issues.
If installed correctly, the Goodman will perform well. I don’t like HVAC equipment that requires proprietary parts and specialized training to service. Customers will get reamed when the equipment needs to be serviced. Keep it simple. That works for all appliances too.
Love my Goodman dual fuel. Simple, and starts all the time. Going into year 5, great price.
Goodman was actually a A/C components manufacturer here in Houston. My previous system (which I think was a Bryant) had a Goodman evaporator. The new one is a Daiken built at the old Goodman plant. Daiken has the bulk of the business here.
Actually, the coils were probably made by AllStyle if they were aluminum… They are in Texas and OEM for a lot of the other manufacturers…
My mother had a Fedders for over 40 years. I added freon once a year. Changed out one capacitor in 40 years. Compressor and fan motor still original. Only changed it out because the coil was falling apart due to the salt air in her area. She lives 8 miles from the beach.
Great information. Thanks
We have a Trane furnace and replaced the AC with an Lennox. Both units perform very well. Again, it all depends on how they are installed
Just replaced my 24 year old Trane furnace and AC. In that time I only needed a new blower. The air conditioner was still great but eventually the heat exchanger cracked and leaked carbon monoxide so I replaced both units. With no hesitation I went with Trane again.
You made my father very happy with your pick of TRANE, and I first by myself being an adult purchase was my AC unit and it was a Rheem so that makes me feel pretty good.
2. Weeks ago , I had a new Lennox installed for my home in Las Vegas , I’m hoping I made a good decision, here in the summer we use our AC’s a lot with days going as high as 110-115 being the norm, I guess only time will tell, but thanks for this honest and informative discussion
Had to replace two units this year. A unit in my rental house went out in early October of '22 and the unit in my personal house went out in late October '22. Put Comfortmaker in both houses. They seem to be working fine. Hated having to part with so much money back to back like that though.
Whatd they get you for them? What sizes?
Just curious
We had a new lennox system installed 28 months ago. Furnace, A/C, and heat pump. Never had a heat punp so i was a bit skeptical. Well I gotta tell you, we are so satisfied with the system. The smart thermostat is wonderful, programs so many features, and you never hear it running. It is a propane system, and our propane usage has dropped 40% (approx) and our electric has gone up may-be 10 %. We are way ahead of the $ game. It does need to be checked every 6 months, but I really don't mind it. The system is in the crawl space, I certainly don't want to go down there at 76 y/o. Also had a humidifier installed so the humidity is just right. I realize its still early (28 months), but so far its a great system.
Bought our Lennox condensor/air handler/smart thetmostat/zone control system over two years ago. Not a single issue what so ever. Bought thru Costco.
@@bradbyron3620 We just bought our Lennox system via Costco and will get installed next week. Hope it last a long time despite few bad things said about them. Mostly about coil leaks when the unit is less than 4 years old. I am hoping they redesigned the coils to last longer.
I had a new Lennox installed in 2022. Hate it. DO NOT BUY LENNOX!! I am doing multiple service calls a year to deal with the "smart" thermostat failing to connect (search Lennox thermostat failures). Also I am having moisture problems. The system builds up mildew and bacteria but is not sold with antibacterial strips .... which require a service call every 6 months. The humidity level I set is never achieved...even when it is dry as a bone in the heat of a Dallas summer (July or August). I do NOT see any electricity savings over the previous "inefficient" AC unit. Buy something else.