HVAC Owner Reveals the Best AC System for your House - 2021

[@mikeberg5003]

Fantastic information. We put a York system in our 3000 sq ft, 2 story home when we bought it 10 years ago due to cost. Never ran great and the installer was a joke. Our evaporator coil started leaking 5 years ago and the original installer "fixed" it (although they never told us that was actually the issue). More problems this past summer and a different HVAC company came out and told us it had a crack in it. We're just getting ready to get quotes for a new system and we'll be looking at Carrier, Trane and Lennox installers. Thanks so much for this great video.

[@KrazyHacker-mu3et]

Ya that’s good 😌 what Lou do what

[@notyouraveragejoe4865]

Nothing like the old you have a crack in your system and it’s gonna leak CO to scare you into a new system. Meanwhile the CO tester has dust on it in the truck

[@mikeberg5003]

@@notyouraveragejoe4865 Yeah except I saw the crack, the pan was filled with water every summer and overflow would pour out the drain pipe. Nobody needed a phd to figure out it was a piece of $hit system.

[@larrybrautigam7734]

That sounds more like the unit wasn't leveled to drain the condensation. Very common lazy omission. And can cause real problems long after install.

[@shaneyonts5603]

@@KrazyHacker-mu3et 11

[@ss442es]

Our house was built in 1986. It still has the same Trane Executive air conditioning compressor and components including refrigerant. Twice a year I pull the top, clean the cooling fins and lube the fan motor that began to squeak about 28 years ago. The only lube to use in this application is "WD-40". No joke, I've tried them all. Had to finally replace the squirrel cage blower motor after replacing the starter capacitor twice. It works longer than the compressor motor and changing it out wasn't too bad. Changed the thermocouple in the heat side once or twice. I had a shunt of some sort installed on the compressor side to absorb initial power spike to the compressor motor and replaced the starter capacitor on that twice. We are going to have to replace the entire system shortly because the heat exchanger isn't something I can fix. I have to say servicing this system was made easy since the fan motors allowed me to lube them so they would last longer. The new WD-40 containers with the metal spout attachment made it so much easier to lube. I wouldn't have a problem buying another Trane, I am really kind of irritated all the bearings are now sealed as if they are any better today than they were 36 years ago. Thanks so much for the information. Air Conditioning/heating problems always happen when you can least afford them, and they come at exactly the wrong time when you need heat or cooling. Kelly Heat and Air. About 7 years after we had lived in this house, I heard a screeching sound coming from the compressor outside. I called Kelly Heat and Air here in Flower Mound, TX. We went out back, I turn the unit on and Mr. Kelly said turn it off soon as it began to squeal. He said this, "pull the top off this compressor, see this little pin on the side of the motor? there is one at the top and another at the bottom, get some oil in there and that will solve your problem". I was curious that he didn't charge me a cent, Mr. Kelly just said "tell your friends about us and call again if you need help" So, that is exactly what I did and they have had many solid believers ever since then and their card is always stuck to the fridge. Called them to check out the Freon level a while back, they did, all was good. Simply Amazing!

[@scottrothe5947]

I also have had my Lennox system sinc 1983. I am a service technician since starting in the trade in 1974. My home system is the same heatpump outdoor and indoor coils. I have changed the outdoor and indoor fan motor once and I changed the compressor once myself! I found and bought a more efficient compressor. I fixed the old compressor as a back up. The issue was a broken weld on a foot that supported the motor inside the compressor. Not a big deal! That compressor sits on a shelf in my garage with a nitrogen charge ready to go! I have replaced the compressor contactor once. I had to add a timer to cycle the reversing valve to get the gas to equalize between cycles. This my original disign I came up with to fix my compressor starting problem I had. You will not find this type of fix anywhere else.....I doubt! This fix has worked for at least 10 years now. No hard start issues at ALL anymore! As an installer I know for a fact that the the knowledge of the tech, the process and procedures the tech uses plays a huge roll in the life of the equipment. I would want a tech that is NATE certified!! Brazing copper line sets without a nitrogen purge automatically contaminates the system from the start! Copper brazed in the presents of oxygen causes copper oxide to form on the INSIDE of the tubing! This is what you DON'T want!! As a technician I was trained to keep the inside of all my tubing and parts as clean as possible!! So once I learned that purging the system with nitrogen while brazing, prevented the copper oxide from forming, I never brazed copped again without using nitrogen! So, how much the technician knows and cares about his job and those he serves is a big determining factor how long a system will last!! The equipment manufacturing quality matters also!!

[@geffreyacosta8821]

I live in Dallas and need help with my AC. I might give them a call as I am need of a second opinion. Thanks 👍

[@jthonn]

Man thanks for making this video. When I first built my house, I had Trane, a 4 ton unit and had fantastic results, this was installed 1988. Hurricane Katrina all but totaled my house in 2005 and that unit was under about 5ft of water. It was a couple of months before I could get power, but when I did I had to try the unit. The fan was stuck, I broke it loose and hit it with some wd40 and it went to working. My thermostat was fried so I just twisted the wires together to make it run, and it worked like a champ. Well that was great having ac while we were working in the house, but before it was all said and done, I had to replace the unit because one of the trees that hit my house had a branch that lifted up my air handler and furnace(gas) so we didn't trust it. Well the insurance did pay me for a replacement, so I did. I had a guy that I would not normally use because it was so hard to find help of any kind at that time. I got lucky enough because he did do a fine job. I replaced it with a 4ton Goodman unit, I was kind of weary, but felt a little better when I looked at my neighbor's Trane and my Goodman had the same exact compressor. I am still using this unit today. It went 13 years before I had it serviced, since then I have had the capacitor, contactor, condenser fan, squirrel cage(not motor) replaced. It's a leaker now, I have to add about 3lbs of freon a year, but being 17 years old I'm not going to replace the evaporator coil, I'm just going to buy a whole new system. From shopping around on line, many claim that Runtru is made by Trane. That is why I am glad I came across this video. I will go with Trane, if I can afford it, if not I will go back with Goodman, I can't deny the fact that I got great service from them. I'll stop writing this book now. Thanks again for the video.

[@richardstone5241]

I have a 2008, 2 ton Goodman, that ran flawlessly for 15 years. Just replaced the Connector and other than that NO PROBLEMS! I keep the unit clean and lubricate rust prone areas to prevent rust. It looks like it's new and runs the same way!!!

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

awesome Richard! 👍 Thanks for the feedback

[@katyair1]

I am a 33 year AC contractor owner, and in my opinion shopping for name brand units is a mistake what you should be shopping for is a good contractor that's going to install that unit correctly and service it throughout its life, someone you feel comfortable with and is there when you need them. that's what makes the best unit!

[@kennyjohnson3837]

What's your favorite brand ac system? Mine is ancient Lennox... 3 lbs. freon added a few days ago and already back to the start.. hot

[@katyair1]

@@kennyjohnson3837 I don't know how old your system is but I have noticed and heard that Lennox was having a lot of problems with the evaporator coil if that's where the leak is at perhaps you'd be better off just changing the evaporator, the system that I sell is it Goodman I'm not going to claim that their better than any of the others. I just like the way they handle their warranty and since there made here in Houston it's a no-brainer for me. The point I'm trying to make local manufacturer local contractor winning combination.

[@rogexpo9430]

I had good luck with an old Carrier unit in one of my homes but I currently have a Goodman in my home that was installed when the home was built. Everyone knocks Goodman but in twenty years it’s never needed Freon and the only things that have been replaced are the air handler fan motor, the condenser fan motor and the condenser capacitor and that’s it. Not bad for a unit that’s over 20 years old.

[@sprockkets]

HVAC Guy says their coils love to leak these days. In short, none of these brands are good anymore. Which is suckage, cause Rheem was impossible to kill with their 90s units. Same for Trane, which in reality, it was always American Standard, and before that, GE (now there is a brand that was unstoppable).

[@mitchellgoss145]

The design, installation, and maintenance make a great deal of difference.

[@conservativeamber1216]

American Standard for us

[@mazdaspeed-]

I have a Goodman system that's lasted 17 years with no service other than filters and that's in hot & humid SC. Never broke down over those 17 years so highly recommend based on my personal experience.

[@dannyboyce5003]

Mine lasted six years and never was nothing but junk I replaced it with a air ease which is basically a Lennox 20 years ago and it’s still running great

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

Goodman is bottom tier, homeowner variety. It has a low price and they are a little loud but they work well and last as long as high priced brands

[@rsilvers129]

@@DanielJohnson-ec8rknot that low price. A Goodman 5 ton inverter heat pump condenser is $5200 for the part.

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

@@rsilvers129 buy the same style in another brand then say it’s not cheap

[@G17-911]

We have a Janitrol built by Goodman. It’s on its 30th year and has never broken down, except a few capacitors needing replaced over the years .

[@travelguy1564]

I have a Heil system, installed when the house was built in 1986, and it still works great! 36 years old and still working, I'd call that one of the best!

[@hdryden7652]

I have a 33yo trane that is still working in my home. The problem is, it's only 8 seer and just doesn't seem to work as well as it did even 9yrs ago. I got a home warranty hoping the system would quit one day but unfortunately it refuses to die! I'm getting ready to install a new system now and was considering a goodman until I watched this video, now i'm having 2nd thoughts.

[@Mike1614b]

the old systems built in the 80s and 90s ran longer. the newer electric heat pump systems now run 14 years average

[@1Mannco]

@@hdryden7652 I just replaced my 30 y.o Heil on the roof with a Trane. I had a dozen contractors out and most were leaning to a 3 ton Trane XL16c 2 stage. Enlarged my 14"x25" intake and 16" ducting ..to 20"x25" intake and 18" ducting. So I hope I get 20yrs +...Love it so far.

[@JuanMaldonado-ik8lg]

​@hdryden7652 the higher the seer, the less they last..

[@magnus845]

This guy is right-on on his advice. My brother is in this business and he has told me this same information for years. I appreciate when I see someone actually giving good advice on KZbin as most of these KZbinrs are yokels with little to no real knowledge. Thanks fella for this info.!

[@Brian_541]

I find it comes to the quality of the install and performing a proper load calculation to ensure ducting is adequate since we all know airflow is king. ECM IDM do not like improperly sized ductwork (PSC is a little more forgiving). When it comes to an outdoor unit make sure you have your proper clearances above and around it. Good video Greg 👍

[@bryanaveri6816]

Just a homeowner here with a 27-year-old Intertherm HVAC in Louisiana. I was told by the installer that this was the cheapest HVAC system made and would probably break in 5 years. Well, that was 27 years ago and Louisiana can be brutal on HVAC systems. Yes, I have had to replace the capacitor a few times and it needs recharging every 3-5 years, I just replaced the Fan. That's all I have done with this HVAC. It's been 27 years and still working strong. I believe all of this depends on the day of the week it was built at the Factory.

[@marcelosantana9311]

Thebiggest problem with older units is energy efficiency. While a unit that last that long save you money in parts, the consumption is brutal.

[@bryanaveri6816]

@@marcelosantana9311 I don't believe that. My home is all electric and about 1800 sq ft, in the summer my electric bill never goes above $170. In the fall and spring, I have seen bills just under $100. I insulated the house very well and the extra cost of the insulation has paid for itself many times over. If I am reading my electric bill correctly, on average for the year I use 45 KWH per day.

[@davidparker9676]

A good installation is a huge component to how the system will work and how well it survives. I have only been impressed with an installation a few times. I run pressure diagnostics on hundreds of systems per year and most fail the standards of 15% leakage or less. Most installs are sloppy, crude and leaky. Finding a good contractor with good technicians is worth every penny.

[@mteevie1609]

I got the cheap Goodman. After 10 years it broke down and required $300 repair. It still ran great after 12 years. I think I got my money worth.

[@kevinmorris4517]

Years ago I went to a manufacturing facility in Louisiana that made AC compressors. They manufactured one style of scroll compressor and put three different fittings on it. One for Trane and two others for the other brands they went into. Other than a small brass fitting that connected the compressor to the rest of the system, they were identical. The only differene was how much each compnay charged for their systems. I believe that the fiacility was eventually shut down and moved to Mexico but does the same thing down thiere.

[@mikep5701]

Retired HVAC tech here. Worked for Carrier residential for 10 years and then Trane commercial, centrifugal and Building automation systems. You said it all for the home/business owner. Installation is the key. I too have seen the Trane residential factory in Tyler TX. We built a Physical Plant with 3 centrifugals and ran it to about 50 AHU's. They had approx. 300 4 ton splits previously doing the whole plant. Crazy. They also had a ClimaTuff Compressor they had slugged for ten years running. It was called "Snowball". Think it ran for almost 30 years before it failed. If I lived in your area you are the Guy I would call. We know about heat down Louisiana way too. Best Regards, Mike

[@Dan-ger82]

I tell people to go with 14 or 16 SEER because above that you get specialty parts and after the ten year warranty you end up spending all that money you saved in electricity costs right back to the service company for that inverter board or other very expensive part.

[@alberthartl8885]

I have been a general contractor for over 30 years. I put 3-6 of these systems in my projects each year. For 25 years I chose single stage condensing Carrier furnaces and 16+ SEER single stage Johnson Controls condensers. Now to be a little more climate friendly, I have switched to LG or Fujitsu heat pumps. Both have ductless or ducted systems in single or multi zones.

[@kenporting9787]

I was in the office of the Carrier local company I was working for when we read a letter from Carrier corporation. The letter stated that we know there has been an inordinately high percentage of indoor evaporator failure. We understand it can be frustrating but the ck5. And cnpvp series coils are our value line of coils and as such we will not discontinue there sale. If you want to buy the upgrade coil with a new coating. I personally replaced new coils by the dozens. Terrible

[@charlesterrizzi8311]

Those coils did suck, their heat pump coils (in the air handlers) are gold.

[@donp1088]

Ken,..I just read your post. Mine “DonP” is right close to yours,…and my experience had to do with just what you were commenting on.

[@fleipeg]

Excellent video...we live in S FLA and have had a Rheem variable speed system for 11 yrs. We love it and have never had any issues. We clean the coil about every five yrs, which I think has really helped keep the system trouble free. I don't see why it can't last another 5 to 6 yrs. Thanks again for the information

[@buddy7485]

Coil in condenser unit?

[@KenSerpico5450]

I had a Goodman AC installed in my rental property over 12 years ago and it has been working without any issues. I also recently replaced my home unit with a Goodman. Plus, Goodman was the most reasonably priced AC unit.

[@michaelwright1602]

I like mine, our Goodman unit. I installed an Aprilaire whole house dehumidifier around the same time, did the install myself. Which had me wondering about the Goodman unit, as I was looking at the different ways to install that E100 dehumidifier. I found a number of installation issues from the HVAC guys, I fixed the major issues and still have a few more to go, just minor stuff that irritates me. I did install a soft start unit on the Goodman AC condenser, while inspecting the installers wiring job. I had to fix a few things there too, unreal. Just a crap install job, like everything else I have had done around here by the so called "professionals". I am now an HVAC tech, plumber, water heater technician, electrician, etc... One thing I did discover, these Goodman units, the parts are pretty much universal, other than say the boards, but everything else is seemingly readily available at many local suppliers if I ever need them. I would recommend a Goodman unit for both price and availibity of parts. Just watch that installer, good luck finding a good one.

[@poisonvax1927]

In have a two ton 25 year old Goodman still going strong

[@cecilia8892]

@@michaelwright1602 How true, a good installer is a must. My latest installer corrected a few things too.

[@jonh901271]

I have heard that the top brands will only let a trained installer purchase their equipment. Anyone can purchase a Goodman online so you have to be really careful when selecting an installer. Sounds like your Goodman installer knew what he/she was doing.

[@jbar_85]

Our Goodman has been since about 2010 and we moved in 2012. It had a cooper pipe leak twitch the Freon, no fault of its own, but it did have a capacitor fry but we got it replaced. We also got the cooper leak discovered and repaired. Now it’s never been better or colder. I clean the ac handler inside every 4 months and the outside one too.

[@johngatsby1473]

What I've noticed is that contractors absolutely hate the lower brands and with good reason. Contractors love to mark equipment up by MANY thousands of dollars and with "lower brands like Goodman" the price is available on the internet and you can literally see how much contractors take advantage of people. The distributor model prevents the diy consumer from seeing prices or buying their product which is like darkness for a thief......the homeowner can't see the HUGE PROFIT MARGINS these guys are making. Do yourself a favor, buy your system online and pay a tech to install it....you will save between 5 and 15k.....there's a reason why contractors have huge houses, nice boats, big ol lifted trucks and lots of vacations.

[@michaelwright1602]

Very true, I was out of town and a goodman was installed, I knew what these things cost, as I have bought online HVAC units in the past, like you stated. They got us for 6k out the door, and did a crap job on the install, I could have done better. But, after fixing all of the contractor mistakes, I am glad I have a Goodman. The parts are universal, readily available in my area and it looks to be very easy to work on. I think with proper care, this unit should last many years. One thing I did do was to install a soft start unit on the condenser, and fixing that rats nest of wiring the installer left.

[@franklong6269]

An excellent video - superb job! I am a licensed general contractor in AZ with considerable experience and my observations confirm yours. I bought a Trane XR 17 two-stage, 5-ton unit for my 1850 SF home a little over a year ago. I could have easily afforded the high-end variable speed models, but when I researched them, I found that the XV 20i, top-of-the-line, system is only 8% more efficient than the XR17 unit. The cost was at least $5000 - $6000 more and as a degreed engineer, I realized that I would never gain back that extra cost over the life of the unit. Also, Trane forces you to use their thermostat for their variable speed AC units and I have not had good experiences with their thermostat. With the XR17, I can use an Ecobee thermostat which has been the best thermostat I have ever used by far. I can easily program it or change temperature by voice command with Alexa. I can also use Alexa routines to set the thermostat. The XR17 has been very efficient, and my AC bills have been approximately $100 during the worst summer months here in the Phoenix metro area. So far this year, despite having temperatures as high as 114 degrees F, my unit has not switched into the Stage 2 mode where it operates at 100%. So essentially, I am paying the electricity cost for running a 3-ton unit (my unit is a 5-ton unit), even during some of the hottest months of the summer. I also looked at Lennox, but their installation and purchase costs were higher than Trane's costs. Also, like Trane, I was spooked by the ultra-high repair costs for the variable speed units. While the XR17 is not as exotic as the Lennox 28 Seer unit, I doubt that there would be a whole lot of savings on my house because my house is very energy efficient. Further, if a Lennox or Trane variable speed AC unit broke down, the repair costs would be astronomical compared to the repair costs for the more simple XR17 unit. Thanks for a great review.

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Great info Frank!

[@tr8388]

If you don't mind , would you please share which air handler you installed or are using? I appreciated your info and explanation, thanks!

[@franklong6269]

@@tr8388 I am glad that this information helped you. I have found it very difficult to research the actual facts of various AC manufacturers online. There is a lot of contradictory information and a lot of superficial, lazy reviews of the "best AC units." My system is a split system and I have a gas furnace and an electric AC unit. The air handler has a nine stage, constant torque ECM blower motor. This is one step below a full variable speed blower. This is important because you will need the same blower for your air handler. You DON'T want the variable speed blower because if it breaks, it costs a fortune to replace. The nine-speed blower I have is also not as cheap to replace as a single speed blower, but ECM blowers are much cheaper than full variable speed blowers to replace and repair. Variable speed AC units have up to 750 "stages" for the compressor, but I am not sure how many speeds the blower motor has - it probably varies with the compressor stage. ECM blowers have nine fan speeds. For houses under 2500 SF, the variable speed AC units are overkill in my opinion. The furnace (which is part of the air handler) that my AC contractor installed is a 80% VS, single-stage furnace. I would have preferred to have an two stage 96% efficient furnace to have been installed, but in the very hot Phoenix AZ location where I live, it really isn't necessary. I barely use my furnace in the winter. If you live in a cold climate, definitely upgrade to the two-stage 96% efficient furnace because they are more efficient (if you have a gas furnace). If you have a heat pump, then your furnace will be a two-stage electric system that uses the AC condenser in reverse to heat your home. In that case, your air handler will use the AC cooling coil in the air handler and it the condenser (outside heat pump unit) will run at two speeds. The model number for my air handler is S8S1C080M5PSABA. This is the model number of my furnace - which is the air handler with the upgraded nine-stage ECM blower. According to Trane literature, this furnace should come with a "variable speed" blower, which I believe is the nine-speed blower I have. It is housed in a "Vortica II blower housing," and has "multiple heating blower speeds." This saves electricity because the blower motors are large motors that draw a lot of amps. In my attic, the air handler has these components: 1. Auto shut-off valve in case main condenser line is clogged. This is important and these valves are cheap. They are not "Trane" shut-off valves, but are made by other manufacturers, which is fine. 2. The AC cooling coil, which is housed in the air handler. This is a large triangular coil that the cooled refrigerant from the outside condenser flows through. 3. The gas furnace, which is a separate furnace installed in the attic air handler unit. When the furnace is in use, the air handler blows heat from the furnace into my house. When in cooling mode, it blows air over the triangular coil that is cooled by refrigerant. 4. The ECM 9-speed blower, which is used for both heating and cooling. I speculate (an educated guess) that for houses less than 2500 SF, you don't really need more than nine blower speeds, if the house is well insulated. According to Trane, their top of the line 20i variable speed AC unit is only 8% more efficient than my two-speed AC unit. As I said previously, the cost difference was over $5000.00 and I would never recover that cost with just an 8% more efficient rating. My unit is a 5-ton unit and I probably could have gotten away with using a 4-ton unit because my house is well insulated. This would have saved me some money, but I wanted the bigger unit because I believed it would run in stage 1 (the low power stage) for most of the two-stage cooling. That has proven to be true. My unit almost never kicks into Stage 2, which is the full power cooling stage. The Stage 1 runs at approximately 70% power and it is roughly equivalent to running a 3-ton unit.. However, a 4-ton unit on my house MAY have saved me a little in operating costs (it's hard to make real-world comparisons). I may add on to my house and if I do, I will need the extra cooling capacity of the 5-ton unit. I hope that this helps you.

[@meltdownblitz]

Deciding between the 16 steer 2 stage trane or lennox unit. Any recommendations?

[@franklong6269]

@@meltdownblitz Hello, I looked at Lennox carefully because Costco sells that brand and it has very high seer values. Theoretically, the Lennox variable speed units should be more efficient than the two-stage Trane XR17 I have, but the question becomes, how much more efficient. When I compared the variable speed compressor on the high-end Trane units, the difference was just 8%. That isn't much unless you have more than one unit in your home. Also, I installed a Trane thermostat for a client and I REALLY don't like them. My client cracked the glass on the unit and it was something like $700.00 to replace it. Fortunately, my subcontractor warrantied it (he didn't have to) and replaced it for $350.00. By comparison, my Ecobee thermostat responds to voice commands and can be programmed through Alexis to perform functions. It is easy to use and far superior to the Trane thermostats. But back to your question. When I researched the Lennox units on line, as well as ALL variable-speed compressor units, I found that if they break down for some reason, they are vey expensive to repair. The contractor that installed my two-stage unit confirmed that repairing the variable speed Trane units can be unbelievably expensive. The same is true for Lennox's variable speed units. The variable speed compressors for both Trane and Lennox are VERY expensive to replace. The materials cost a fortune and they require far more labor. So when you consider a variable speed compressor unit of any kind, you are gambling that it isn't going to break down. I didn't want to take that gamble. As far as the non-variable speed Lennox units, the problem with them is that they didn't have the part supply chain that Trane does. Trane can provide parts in major cities for most units on the same day or within a day or two. I was told that with Lennox, I might have to wait a week to two weeks for parts, and in AZ where I live, being without AC in the summer is not an option. Temperatures can rise to over 110 degrees F in the summer for weeks on end. Trane can be expensive to repair also, so it is not that superior to Lennox in that respect. However, Trane has a reputation for reliability that is unparalleled and that is what swayed me towards Trane. Lennox has a good reputation for reliability, but Trane was the most reliable manufacturer (along with American Standard which is the same as Trane) I found in my research. My contractor stated that having a Trane unit installed on my home would increase its resale value and I believe that is true. Also I got a screaming deal from my HVAC contractor. He supplied and installed they XR17 and a Trane gas furnace, re-worked the air return ductwork, installed a new air return grill and hooked it up to my Ecobee thermostat for $8,300 total. The next highest bid was over $12,000. I didn't price Lennox units because my house didn't have AC at the time and I didn't want to wait. But based on my research, they cost more than Trane units - though the prices are fairly comparable. As an engineer, I would have preferred to get the Seer 28 Lennox unit because it is possibly the most efficient unit offered right now. I could have afforded to pay the extra money for that unit. But after the warranty is expired (10 years), the repair costs and reliability are BIG issues for Lennox units. I reasoned that it is FAR better for me to install solar panels on my home to offset electricity costs for the ENTIRE home as well as the AC unit. For about $10,000, I can install a 7 -10 KW solar panel system on my home myself and then it will be irrelevant how efficient my AC unit is. I saved approximately $7000 - $8000 by purchasing the XR17 Trane unit over the variable speed compressor units. That savings will pay for most of the materials for my 10 KW solar panel system. That system should drop my electric bill to nearly 0 dollars a month in electricity cost because I will be selling back a LOT more electricity to my utility supplier than I use. If you do get the two-stage XR17 Trane unit, make sure to get the upgraded two-stage gas heater (if you have a gas furnace). It doesn't cost a whole lot more and it will save you some money if you live in a cold climate. I would recommend that you get 2-3 estimates for both Trane and Lennox and then see what the actual costs are. That being said, I think the Trane units are the better buy based on the reasons I have listed.

[@edwardluth7740]

I’ve had two Trane units since 2006. The first heat pump Trane compressor broke right at 10 years. The second unit is a Seer 18 Tam 7 electric heat strip heat pump Trane and over the past six years I have had this unit, The compressor board on the outdoor unit was replaced after the first year and it has had to have refrigerant taken out and added twice and another minor issue. I Had a fuse that went out that stopped the fan from working. Had I not had a five year warranty that I purchased I would’ve been out over $3000. No more Tranes for me and for all those that say well you didn’t have a good installer… Oh yes I did and they were rated well. I’m going with a simple, decent propane Amana 90 or 96 Efficiency furnace and a seer 14 or 16 central air conditioning unit with no frills. Probably a two stage but no variable. You will not make up the money on these high dollar high seer unit heat pumps. Hi Seer units over the years save some but not enough because they only save you maybe $200-$400 yearly, and they generally cost about 3000 or more dollars extra over the cheaper models so you won’t get that back right away or anytime soon. And you’re likely to have problems today within the first 5 to 8 years so if something goes out on it then you’ve lost all that money on top of what you paid or gained. Your good HVAC guys will tell you similar stories. Stay simple unless you got money to blow.

[@seanoneil1681]

I'm factory trained in all brands. The company I work for is mainly a Carrier dealer. We install Tranes for certain builders & we're installing Goodmans for a couple builders (Lennox as well years ago) I personally prefer Carrier. At the end of the day they all have their quirks. Most of the parts are universal (the engineering is the difference) when a customer asks me I say we'll you got Mopar, Ford & Chevy techs etc. I prefer Carrier. Anything but a Goodman! I'm fortunate to work for a company that strives to be the best in the installation process which in turn leads to reliability in any brand. Great video & enjoyed/ still learned something.

[@Kenster-man]

Yeah I’ve seen from other HVAC techs who prefer either Ducane, Comfortmaker or Payne over Goodman for an budget-conscious unit.

[@tsmith3139]

Great video! I appreciate your honest assessments. In 2017 I built a new house in Arizona with a Carrier system. Recently I discovered my house was not getting cool enough so I called the local Carrier dealer. They said my condenser coil was leaking and would have to be replaced. Carrier would cover it under warranty (5 years) for the parts, but the local company wanted a $1000 for labor! Since my house is only 4 years old at this writing, I'm not impressed with Carrier. In my opinion this system should be working without issue for 10-15 years at the minimum. I'm in the residential real estate business and I often see homes that are 25 years old, or higher, that have never been touched. Please let me know when you are opening a branch in Phoenix. I would love to hire you!

[@KAMARILEON]

This was amazingly informative. I'm in the middle of trying to decide what unit to go with and with all the information overload from 4 different contractors I'm like :(((( The contractor I settled with recommended a certain brand i was not comfortable with. But after seeing this video, i called him immediately and had him change it to a brand you discussed. Thanks for helping a non pro slightly understand the choices before him.

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Sweet!

[@BlueBabyBlue7077]

Leon Rutherford..can you please share the new choice you went with ?? And are you happy with it??

[@bobfarley4102]

I work in the industry and this video is spot on. You want a good system go with one of these three manufacturers. Don't fall for some vlogger that doesn't know what they're talking about.

[@mccoyji]

I like to focus on reliability first, cost a close second, with efficiency third. Like you said, efficiency is nothing to get hung up on. All really close.

[@genehart261]

14 SEER American Standard heat pump in Southern Nevada works almost year 'round, 115 degree summer days and 100 degree summer nights not uncommon. 15 years with minimal repair (a couple of capacitors) 5 ton unit, 1800 square foot house, power bills about $150.00 monthly in summer. Speaks for itself.

[@gilianrampart8514]

Sounds like my goodman

[@meltdownblitz]

@Gene Hart I live in southern Nevada too and debating between 16 steer 2 stage trane or lennox unit. What do you think Gene ?

[@genehart261]

@@meltdownblitz I don't think you can go wrong with either. I would probably lean toward a Trane.

[@Gr3gar10us]

Thanks for the analysis. I recently bought a Bosch variable speed system. Despite Bosch being mid-tier, your shout out for the variable system was reassuring.

[@percyfaith11]

Wooo hooo! I've got a Rheem system installed in 1996 still going strong. I lucked out with this "middle of the road" system.

[@MrSprintcat]

Too bad it's not middle-of-the-road I've been installing these systems for years it depends on you maintenance

[@dandaman2226]

As a 15 year HVAC tech in S. Florida.... I couldn't agree more. THANKS FOR HONESTLY EDUCATING THE CONSUMER! SEER= Sales EER

[@dalpz205]

I have a guy trying to sell me 4 ton RUUD. How do you feel about them? I'm south Tx so basically same weather as Florida

[@woody5077]

I’m in SWFL, 1400sq ft home, what do you suggest works best and lasts longest down here?

[@UltraHydrophobiccoat]

@@woody5077 3 or 3.5 ton unit should be good for regular summer days in Florida

[@UltraHydrophobiccoat]

@@dalpz205 Ruud is a good brand too

[@stangcobra592]

@@UltraHydrophobiccoat Sound advice on the 3.5, a lot of Florida HVAC guys go by SF of a house not factoring in tree cover etc.. some will suggest as small as a 2 ton for 1200+ which will be running all summer long and still won't cool right..

[@titom2916]

I'm a tech/installer I do believe that installation is key for any brand. I also thought for many years the Compressor was the heart for the system but in reality it's the Indoor Blower motor because it works in both AC and Heating mode and if it fails your asked out! Just my opinion after many years of technical repairs. 😎👍 Great video tho bro

[@joseochoa7043]

Couple of questions if you don’t mind. I have a Mr. Cool gas furnace that I believe is a single stage that puts out 88,000 BTU. Is it worth it to get a two stage system or even a variable system? Who manufactures Mr. Cool? Because I want to find if my model is still under warranty? I can’t find who makes it lol. I don’t really care about brand but more reliability and warranty. Install is a major part to any system but is there is system you see that would check those two boxes? Do HVAC newly installed duct work normally come with a warranty? Any advice would be appreciated. Apologize for asking a lot of questions

[@harbbains5718]

Daikin should be along the top group in my opinion

[@VeraMahnken]

Great presentation. Very informative and so many good points made. I am shopping for a new HVaC system. I have a 30 year old Trane that is still working here in the hot AZ weather.. but I want to replace before the summer. I have been watching lots of videos ( yours is the best) and I have also gotten a few bids. Your video has helped me make my final decision. Thank you !

[@davidhoover2446]

In my new house, I have a Lennox Merit 2 stage with variable air handler. Unfortunately, it is oversized by a lot. We have a lot of comfort and air quality upgrades to the enclosure, which, apparently weren't reflected in a manual J. Setting at 74 degrees in FL we have never needed stage 2 and I never saw 100% run time on stage 1 ever on the hottest days. I'm glad the Lennox has options which include dehumidification. It helps a lot slowing that fan down to get more run time when called. We have a retrofitted whole house dehumidifier with ventilation to carry us through probably October through April where the air conditioner doesn't run hardly at all. I think every home needs one as I sleep so good now. The Lennox is the nicest system I've experienced and the duct system cools evenly within 1 degree throughout at all times. I just wish it was smaller to take advantage of the 2 stage abilities lol. What we have is essentially a very fast pull down at 45,000 btu. We have about 2000 Sq ft and even running on stage 1 31,500 btu while cooking, doing laundry, using the fume hood, and everything at once - we don't need more than that. Contractors need to stop oversizing so much! We are 30% oversized it seems.

[@grassroot011]

All air conditioners dehumidify, that's what they do besides cool. it's a by product of the process.

[@FatManDoubleZero]

A lower than 50 percent humidity "control setting" on my TRANE XL-824 programmable thermostat makes my skin and my solid wood furniture "dry out." At outdoor conditions of 100 Degrees F and 78 percent relative humidity in the summer time, my air handler "run times" are only 7-10 minutes max. And yet, the humidity is a constant 50 percent in my home. I have never once regretted "slightly over-sizing" my new replacement system at 5-Tones (and 60,000 BTU's) of "awesome cooling power." My energy costs were DECREASED by more than 50 percent!

[@FatManDoubleZero]

Factually speaking, the "size" of your 2-stage Lennox system has less effect on it's limited ability to "control" the relative humidity in your home than the "output speed" of the air handler blower motor. AT HIGHER BLOWER MOTOR SPEEDS, YOUR SYSTEM is removing more humidity from the controlled space. Conversely, AT LOWER BLOWER MOTOR SPEEDS, YOUR SYSTEM IS removing less humidity.

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

Over sizing is a huge Mistake. If a system has to run all the time or close to it to maintain, that’s perfect

[@jacksprat7087]

I cut a hole in the wall and used a window unit. One in my house and one in my shop. Works great and cheap. Going on 15 years now for both.

[@stanleyhenry3700]

I have Lennox variable speed units installed in my two-story house. Just before I retired I have my old carrier units replaced due to constantly repairing cost. So I decided to upgrade to Lennox. Seven years after install I started having cooling issues. The contractor check the system and discovered that my Evaporator coils are bad causing leaks, he saw rust at the back of the unit's coils. I have a 3 ton and a 2.5-ton system. It cost me close to $1200 to replace the refrigerant 12lbs total. I had a warranty so Evap coils are free but the labor cost will be $2350. How can a unit only seven years old having problems with evap coils having rust issues? I thought the coils's tubing was made with coated materials why they rust so easily? $4000 every 7 years doesn't speak well for Lennox units at least that's how I calculate it. I had carrier units before and didn't had to replace evap coils. I had other issues but it was not that costly for repairs.

[@Notmeanymore949]

I had the same exact problem in the same amount of time. Heard they don’t use these copper coils anymore. Very frustrating to say the least.

[@stanleyhenry3700]

@@Notmeanymore949 Lennox foots the bill for the coils but not the $2350 labor cost. The new coils are now aluminum. Since it was their poor design they should have covered all the cost.

[@yem7157]

I have a Goodman ac. Installed in 1984. Still running!

[@markpayne6803]

Been doing HVACREF for the last 30 years was very satisfied with your opinion although I do believe you pay more for a Carrier because of the better or longer warranty on the compressor finally someone I can relate to as far as equipment yhoughts

[@Michael-we9vp]

Carrier-Bryant use the exact same parts. Excellent quality...Trane is also a high quality product.

[@kirkfreeman5765]

I am a second generation hvac contracting company owner. We have installed most of these brands over the years. Everybody is using the same component manufacturers with occasional spec variations. Across the board, every manufacturer has had trouble keeping 410a inside the systems bc of the indoor coils perpetually leaking. Hopefully this changes in the near future, but I’m a realist. To be very clear, manufacturer’s want to move boxes. There is not a lot of price difference in the boxes between brands at equivalent tiers. The pricing comes from the distributor’s buying power and your personal sway with pricing that you have with them. Some contractors buy directly from the manufacturer and shave off a tier of overhead pricing. The largest contractor in our local market recently went from goodman to Lennox, not bc of quality concern (trust me), it is buying power. They are getting it cheaper. I won’t get into the brands “hater” point of view, but I can tell you that one of your top 3 has the absolute cheapest doors on any furnace that I’ve ever seen and the contractors have to carry a bag of quarter turn knobs to do maintenances. This same brand had the largest recall I’ve ever seen with all of their high end condensing units just a few years ago. Point is it’s not always as straight forward as you would think. Really good video though. I would have to say that installation is paramount to system performance. We come across a lot of new systems that are at factory sets and never changed from the installing contractor. We always tell people that no manufacturer is perfect or heads above, it’s the company that installs and serviced it that matter the most.

[@stanleyhenry3700]

I just caught on something in your earlier paragraph. Is the 410a refrigerant less efficient than the R22? Could this the issue causing my coils to have gone bad in seven years whilst the r22 in my Carrier units had no problem? Is the 410a that is now a government requirement causing costly issues?

[@tonyv8450]

As a 54 year old and hvac business owner, in the business since age 5.... excellent, excellent video.... thanks so much... I hate customers that say... my computer said....... or the internet said..... Thanks Man

[@BubbaShaffer]

I am a AC contractor here in Orlando, one of the main reasons we use Trane is they are the only manufacturer that has non-metal air handlers. In fact we decided a few years back never to install a metal air handler again. I also think that there is a huge amount of details that are often overlooked when installing/replacing AC systems. Balancing what the customer is willing to spend and what is needed to be spent is always a tough battle. Many years ago I toured the parade of homes where it featured multi-million dollar homes and was surprised to see poor installation techniques and track home level equipment. Most folks are more concerned with the visible fixtures of the home therefore the mechanical and electrical systems are often overlooked.

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Well said

[@universem2978]

I’m looking for an ac install. What is the reason to have a non metal air handler? What is the pro and con?

[@BubbaShaffer]

@@universem2978 I do not know of a con. The pro is that there is no steel to rust and no exposed insulation inside the cabinet. The cabinet is aluminum outer, plastic on the inside, and the insulation sandwich between the two. Trane has the TAM9 and the GAM5 air handlers. I have (3) of the TAM9s for my home and woodshop.

[@nram1]

I'm in your area. I have a Trane 14x something for many years. Of the 5 companies that service Central Florida, none offer Trane. One said they don't meet the new requirements. Any reasons that you know of? I would like to get a new one.

[@rzh3443]

We’ve had a disappointing experience with Rheem two stage furnace and AC combo. Things were ok for four years then stuff began to happen.Repairs have swallowed up any energy savings. One tech at the installer told me almost nobody buys these extra stage systems due to cost and one old timer warned me that these systems need more repair . Looking back , we had the Lennox pulse furnace which was ok until a leak in the exchanger and then was replaced with a Lennox HE furnace for which they paid most of the replacement cost under an extended warranty. The parts in the Lennoxes we had did not seem any better than those in the Rheem , however. The inducer blowers are made by Fasco, the inducer pressure switches from a factory in Costa Rica , etc. The only savings grace is that I know how to diagnose most problems and make repairs myself. The local people want 200 bucks to come to “diagnose” and carry no parts on the truck, of course. The parts mark up is 300 percent, plus another 100-200 bucks to return to replace the part (no concern over how long they take to get them). We live in a old climate and heat is essential, so I now “ stock “ the usual suspect parts at no mark up. For folks out there, it is ESSENTIAL to change furnace filters every month or two in winter. DO NOT USE those very high level allergy filtration filters as they create too much pressure on the blower motors. It is also essential to hose off the outdoor AC unit fins before AC season starts and then every month it is under operation.

[@Garth2011]

Our Amana A/C condenser unit is 32 years old. So are (is) the capacitor inside of it. Have had zero issues, no repairs. No leaks, never recharged and we keep the coils washed regularly. The price of power is making it a power consumer, about 5 kWh on average as a 10 SEER 4 ton. 5 Ton evaporator in the attic. No complaints with that brand but they aren't making any of them like they used to these days which means it is very important to get the right brand and system and the best HVAC folks to install them for the least problems long term.

[@jnick303]

Your one of the lucky ones...

[@darkchocolategirl51]

Great content. I have to get AC replace and trying to educate myself. Thank you.

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Thank you and good luck with your purchase! Just make sure your trust your installer. 👍

[@RSTI191]

Hands down the best, most informative HVAC video on You Tube.. Wishing you were in Tehachapi, Ca..

[@jimpie231]

5-3-2022…Great video, timely & important….thank-you! Jim PS……my comments……I had a home built in a Chicago suburb in 2003. It was in a subdivision with 195 homes with a set architectural plans, you choose one & they built it on one of their lots. You picked the inside & outside choices or upgrades. The home was a ranch with 2240sqft., 9’ ceilings and a 14’ vaulted ceiling between the entrance and family room. I chose the standard furnace which was an 80% efficient one (Trane 80XR). The a/c option was 3ton and $3600 which I declined. I later installed a 3ton (36k) York condenser, line set, & packaged A coil. The furnace was facing the wrong way (I finished the basement and the furnace could not be serviced facing a wall) so I turned it around 180 degrees, added an electronic air cleaner & humidifier. I then with a friends help (licensed tech) silver soldered all a/c copper tubing, vacuum tested the set-up for 1/2 hr, then added 1/2 lb R22 and the system was done. Total cost was $850, including the techs charge. Both systems have been working since 2003 without any issues.

[@michaelwright1602]

Good for you, I have had to do the same with many systems in our house. I am now an electrician, a plumber and HVAC tech. You have too, most of these "Techs" could care less, or are poorly trained. I have the sore back and busted knuckles to prove it. Goodman unit here, I like it, parts are readily available, nothing really proprietary about it, other than the board. Looks to be an easy and simple system to work on, and so far so good.

[@jimpie231]

@@michaelwright1602 Jim pie here…..I too have leaned to be a jack of all trades. I took plumbing in College as a sub for an easier class to graduate, no knowing that my life would need it. I too do electrical, bending pipe, etc. I have my own hand threader. I have repiped a whole gas line in a home. I have taught soldering, even to a woman, after 5 minutes, she got the hang of it. Done many different things with pipes. I have done many remodeling things like, hanging doors, tile, dropped ceilings, trim work, staining, carpentry, designing layout, built a few bars, etc. I also have some bruised body parts, like knuckles, banged my head, and dirty oily hands. Cars are my love. My first car was a 1960 Corvair. In the 60’s my love was my 1966 SS396 Chevelle Convertible, with a 4 speed. It was fast. I’ve had many cars since then. In the mid 90’s I bought a Honda and have driving them since. In 2017 I bought my wife a new RAV4 XLE, it’s a great car. You don’t work much on these you just drive them. Life goes on!

[@johna9994]

This is the best video about bands of HVACs I have seen!!!!

[@zohso]

Mechanical engineer here. I hear a lot of talks about multiple brands under one house. Quite a common things these days. But you can't make blanket statements that just because they're built in the same warehouse therefore they're the same. The biggest difference isn't in the Engineering but in the quality control and assurance. I gauNtee you all these brands "built in the same factory" have radically different quality control measures. Which as you know affects the life of the unit.

[@stevenichols3374]

Quality installation, proper sizing, and parts availability are key points. You're not just buying the equipment you're also picking a dealer who will be there for you when something goes wrong. There have been times where a contractor undersized the equipment to get the job for less money and it won't cool your house. Now for the parts availability...Its 95 degrees outside, your unit just failed, do you really want to wait 10 business days to get it back running again? I hated working on a Carrier ( had to go to a Carrier dealer to order the part that that was made to their spec} Trane, good equipment but overpriced. We were always Rheem and Goodman dealers, so I'm kind of biased. I could get you back running that day or the next at the most with the pats availability in my area so your top 3 wouldn't be mine.

[@HumptyDumpty01]

Man! My company doesn’t rep Rheem, but we do install many. Love them and the part ability.

[@kevingray8616]

I really like this comment. Quality installation, proper sizing, and parts availability is KEY; no matter what brand you go with. My previous house, a brand new house, had a Goodman. It failed in 7 years. Why? Piss poor installation. The evaporator core died because drainage was bad and the compressor ended up being .5 tons smaller than it should have been because I had an issue with bent fins on the compressor when I bought the house. (They changed out the compressor to fix the problem; likely putting in a smaller compressor than they should have; inspector found the breaker oversized for the compressor when I bought the house.) My current house. RUUD unit downstairs, 18 years old, recently failed; will be replaced with a RUUD unit because my trusted HVAC guy uses RUUD. He had a capacitor in his truck to get the current unit going again in the meantime. (parts availability) I assume the upstairs unit was a RUUD as well, but we had to replace it when we bought the house in 2014. (got seller to pay for most of that) That unit is an American Standard. Why did the upstairs unit fail? RUUD failure or installation failure?

[@shanefarley3575]

Payne is also the same as Carrier and Bryant. It’s the economy line of Carrier.

[@AlexBianco100]

Hey I live in Sac! The company I work for is a Lennox distributor! Variable speed systems can be tricky to troubleshoot. Don't get me started on modulating gas valves! Much time spent with tech support!

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Hey Alex! Nice to hear from you.

[@AnalogueKid2112]

My unprofessional opinion is Goodman of ten years ago was so-so made worse by Chuck in a truck installers. I think today with a good installation, they are much improved.

[@Leti264]

I was going for buy a Trane but after reading the comments I will try another brand, thanks

[@visualverbs]

Back in May we replaced a 14 year old "amana" system with a new American Standard, 16 SEER, single stage, with a variable-speed AHU. A local company installed it for $9150 (+ tax). We couldn't be happier. During one of the hottest summers on record in NW Arkansas, our highest electric bill for our 1900 sqft ranch house (one story), was WELL south of $200. Can't wait to see what the cold, cold winter brings. Well worth the expenditure. I recommend America Standard.

[@buddy7485]

What Temp was it set at? Jesus. 200$

[@redbaron2448]

$200 something is not right should be around $120 tops

[@visualverbs]

@@redbaron2448 Do you live in Arkansas? Are you familiar with out electric rates? Upon what knowledge are you basing that dumbass claim?

[@karissakline6765]

@@buddy7485 you clearly do not live on the west coast. Our electric bill in the summer is $300+ on average for a 1400 sq ft home, the energy sector here like everything else is highway robbery!

[@juanzingarello4005]

From what I understand, RUNTRU is just Tranes value line. You're basically looking at a Chevrolet vs a Cadillac. I have a two zone system which is only 2 years old and installed when the house was built. The 1st floor and basement are served by a Trane XR unit which has been solid so far. The second floor (smaller unit) is a RUNTRU. It needed a compressor replacement already. Luckily it fell under Tranes 10 year warranty and getting it replaced was seamless. I just needed to find a certified Trane installer (which are plentiful in northern NJ) and they did the work in one hour.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

I once had a tech tell me the main thing Goodman has going against it is the lack of information for the installer, otherwise from a hardware reliability perspective when installed by someone who has a very strong general knowledge and ethic they are perfectly fine.

[@realSamAndrew]

When you say lack of info for the installer, do you mean Goodman doesn't give any help, or the installers are less capable and/or qualified?

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@@realSamAndrew Well, you know as well as I do that the person who said that was bit biased to have me believe the former. They did say a really good tech could start one up and make it work good and last but that the average fare would #%$& it up.

[@realSamAndrew]

@@InsideOfMyOwnMind thanks, though I'm still not clear. Does Goodman give less guidance than other mfgs? It could be a function of self selection. Since Goodman has low hurdles for buyers, the lower skilled people try to install them. That could make excellent units look bad.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@@realSamAndrew That's kind of how I took it.

[@edlauren9434]

I am a licensed HVAC contractor. Would agree that with some minor design differences all the hVC systems are very close and n reliability and manufacturer’s warranty for most brand is identical. Yes, there are high efficiency units like investors, two-stage systems etc. and these ARE different. However, basic models would be very very close between brands. I personally would stay away from York and Lennox. These two brand use too many OEM specific parts like motors, fan blades, blower drums… that the only supplier for these parts will be the manufacturer and no generic parts are available. Especially with Lennox in our area for 2021-2022…. They had extremely short staff issues and some days local store wouldn’t even open the door…

[@tristan2332]

Yea my Lennox a module went bad...told no part available have to buy a new blower motor. Lennox experience the last 8 years horrible....coils last 2 years before they leak.

[@sasquatch5712]

Daikin is the biggest HVAC company in the world, they also make Amana and Goodman which is their B and C line up. Consumers cannot buy Daikin equipment directly they have to go through a licensed contractor. Daikin pulls in 12 billion more a year in annual revenue than Trane and has 50,000 more employees. I doubt an Irish company makes better HVAC equipment than the Japanese.

[@tomsahunter3395]

Daikin is Chinese! Run from it!

[@Coltrain207]

Started installing diakin fits recently. They claim they have never had a compressor fail

[@brandongraser2939]

When I get a little bit older I plan on working in the HVAC industry and I agree from what I've learned and what I've seen all the brands you mentioned we're in the right categories just in case you're wondering I'm 17 now

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

That's great Brandon. Good luck to you man 👍

[@bryanwake8176]

This was the most informative video I've seen to help us decide what brand to get. Thank you for your impartiality. I will save and share your video with others.

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Thank you!

[@heyboy33333]

I bought a Goodman system for my rental property. The property is a duplex. On one side I have an old Bryant system that is 18 years old. Never had a problem with it. The Goodman is 5 years old and I've had the heat exchanger replaced, a couple of capacitors replaced and electronics replaced. Fortunately, I have a really good technician.

[@zackhowell9047]

I am a Lennox dealer and this guy speaks the truth!

[@Nolaman70]

Single stage Ruud 4 ton 18 Seer installed by my AC guy that lives down the street. I will be adding a Aprilaire whole house dehumidifier, just need to get it in the attic. Feel like it's a good system, just needed that dehumidifier for certain times of the year. My advise seal house, insulate attic, replace duct work if needed, then size based on testing in your house. Mine may be a little too big since I've done those upgrades, that's where the dehumidifier comes in. I'd get a mid or top brand due to repair parts availability. Ruud rectangle designed systems are good enough and easily serviceable.

[@ghettohey2388]

Doesnt matter what brand or how expensive the hvac system you have it all comes down to the hvac company who designs it and installs it that will determine what kind of outcome and product you end up with. Make sure you get 3 bids and ask these hvac companies questions before deciding. Ask them why they sell what they sell. Ask them about the warranties, whats included and not included and who will register them. Ask them about servicing and maintenance and especially parts. Get references and go check out there work on new construction. Check how long they have been in business and check the bbb for complaints. The amount of time and effort that a home owner does regarding the above things will help for a happy outcome.

[@amnika2536]

Best tips

[@ACoustaDC]

New ac last year... went with single stage trane. We replaced a trane that lasted 23 years....this is the best video.

[@purplemonster2239]

You forgot Frigidaire and AirTemp?? (Made by Nortek) . Been installing them for many years. Excellent units. Very reliable. Hardly any issues with them. Parts almost always available when needed because of the many branches of their distributor. Not so by Trane, Carrier and Lennox, that have only one distribution center for that city. If they don't have the part, you are SOL untill at least 3 to 4 days later. When it's really hot or really cold, that's a really long time.

[@jayc4715]

Frigidaire is a good brand

[@jackalopasaurus]

I've been an HVAC contractor for 33 years. I've sold Lennox, American Standard, Payne, Janitrol(now Goodman), Rheem, and a host of others. In my humble opinion, Trane, Carrier, And Lennox are no better than Rheem. The big 3 are over complicated, and if you are not a big 3 dealer, they sometimes don't want to sell you parts. In fact, the Janitrol 3 ton unit cooling my house has been running trouble free for 30 years. I've never had to touch it. The Arcoaire furnace I installed in 1989 has went through 2 igniters in that time, that's it. And I've dealt with a lot of crappy big 3 Ac units and furnaces.

[@shanew7361]

I have a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath 2800 sq ft 2 story home that has gas single stage furnace comfort maker 125kbtu and ac single stage. 48 gallon bradford and white 40kbtu tank water heater. I've gotten multiple quotes for Lennox Elite series and Carrier, plus a quote for Navien npe-240a2 tank less water heater. These quotes are ridiculously high. I also asked for a media box, uv light and bypass or steam humidifier. I was recently diagnosed with cancer and want a clean air environment due to my health. I believe the ac is a 4 ton and in the winter and summer upstairs is 4-6 degrees hotter year round and in the winter the humidity is at best 10-14% in the coldest months. Any suggestions on an hvac system that's reliable and going tank or tank less? Current tank is to small and inefficient. Thanks.

[@sak1339]

Nice presentation of a lot of complex information that a home owner must learn to know what he/she is buying.

[@michaelwright1602]

We have a Goodman unit, it was installed when I was not in town when the 30 yo Carrier unit was said to have gone teats up. I wish I was here, I bet I could have fixed it. But, I have a Goodman now, still need to correct mistakes the installers made. I had issues when the power went out for roughly a week. The whole house generator was the issue, not the Goodman. I made the needed repairs, and installed a soft start on the AC condenser. I'm no HVAC tech by any stretch, but have been ripped off more than a few times. This latest install was a perfect example, which drove me to learn how to be an HVAC savvy homeowner. You have to now a days, same goes with auto repair, etc. Honestly, after digging into this Goodman unit, it is a pretty simple piece of kit. Parts are readily available and relatively inexpensive. There is not much there that can go wrong, and it it does, I more than likely can find the parts locally and easily fix it. It has been here a few years, eventually I will get around to fixing the botched install, nothing major, it is the little things that annoy the crap out of me. This system works, and so far so good. I would recommend Goodman, just make sure the installer gives a shit.

[@G0dyo]

Rheem. Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain. Works good.

[@timothydevries383]

Rheem is the worst. Massive problems with evaporator leaks.

[@HumptyDumpty01]

Rheem are great units. Company I work for does not rep Rheem but we install a lot of them. Very few complaints over 20 years. The video was informative, but I disagree with his assessment. I’d go with the minimum SEER unit allowed by code and the most basic single stage setup. Easy to get parts especially nights & weekends.

[@tronixfix]

Just wait 30 years... if it still runs i'll call it "good". I got a 1995 Fujitsu General 24000btu split unit with radiator style evaporator. The Fujitsu needed a new compressor after 25 years because the powerlines shorted outside and gave it a massive powerspike.

[@boywhohadatiger]

Rheems aren’t as universal as other brands norr innovative just a little edgy they aren’t in the same room as daikon Trane carrier Lennox

[@floobertuber]

"Ive seen the process, and it's very cool."

[@deanwells2859]

I appreciate your content and it is allowing me to have a broader knowledge of what to keep in mind with respect to your field of work. Unfortunately I have had a really bad experience with an HVAC contractor in our area and how he stole from me and my family. Thankfully I found a guy with a ton of experience, due to working on AC systems all day long, who came along and fixed my problem without emptying my pockets. How would you recommend a homeowner go about finding a true workman in your trade? We live in one of the hottest zones in the country and there are still charlatans who are stealing from unsuspecting homeowners all day long. (We have licensed contractors selling underrated systems and people are getting hurt continuously. Example - A home successfully using a 3.5 ton system and someone comes in saying a 3 ton is good enough. It becomes a nightmare when you have 12 people over for a family gathering and the temperature keeps rising inside the house while the family is gathered. This contractor deserves a beat down and how does it get done legally and in a short amount of time?)

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Glad to help Dean!

[@jamesbrowning2006]

I'm a ks licensed contractor and have over 30 yrs Experiance . This man is not near as knowledgeable as he presents himself. We have been installing concord equipment and some Bosch for 4 yrs locally without a single failure . Lennox is owned by allied air which also owns Armstrong and concord and alot of concords data tags list them as Lennox. Anyone with any experience knows that American standard is Trane's high end line and are by far more costly. In today's market you can take equivalent samples from any of our manufacturers and open them up and find none of the parts are American made and for the most part there I'd no difference except for the shell and maybe coil. Very few contractors size equipment or their greed has them selli g you oversized equipment for larger profit and assures the customer will have premature failures , discomfort and high utilities. At least 80%of the replacements we do we install smaller equipment. I would not sale a customer any of his top 3 when I can provide them higher efficiency at a lower price and a better warranty. Most contractors replace perfectly good equipment by scaring the customer. Don't be fooled educate yourselves

[@GoodStuffForeverMore]

Thank you so much for this valuable information!

[@mrGrimmWasHAPPY]

Yeah the brands are way more connected then he has led us to believe

[@gregz1235]

Hey! Out of curiosity I have 3 quotes for furnace replacements. Any preference in Coleman vs Lennox vs rheem?

[@jamesbrowning2006]

lennox would be my choice but the installer could be the difference. there's little f differences in the equipment of installed alike

[@JuanMaldonado-ik8lg]

What are your recommendations on an average house size, 2300 sq.ft.

[@MaMa-qh4dy]

OEM Trane parts are sky HIGH. Yes, the quality of the install is much more important than the ranking of different brands. Shop for the best qualified installer,. and then follow his/her advice on brand selection!

[@patbhvac1]

I agree. I priced a ecm motor last week from train at 1000 dollars. The furnace was 15 years old so went ahead and put a psc motor in obviously changing the wiring. It's ridiculous.

[@armandorizo39]

Same for carrier

[@jkbrown5496]

Yeah, the get people to pay more for an "efficient" system then should their be any energy savings, they take that money from the customer at the first non-warranty repair.

[@theserulesoflife]

💯 this!! I’d take a Goodman installed by a great technician over a Trane installed by some random newbie or guy cutting corners any day of the week.

[@Kittycat822]

Thank you for the honesty. If I lived in Sac I would be calling you. My AC went out last week and I’m gettin a Lennox and had no idea what the new technology was and how the brands measured up anymore. Very helpful. Redding is hotter than Sac so AC is a must.

[@watermanone7567]

Good info and video. I like systems with PSC motors and not ECM motors. Price is much lower on the PSC and they usually last for many years longer with no issues, Maybe a capacitor for a few bucks. The higher end systems are far more exlpensive to maintain and the modern T stats control the temp very accurately. Many thanks for great video's.

[@Kman-hw9pf]

I heard that it is illegal to manufacture a furnace or air handler with a psc blower motor since 2019. Has to be a ecm motor now, either variable speed or a basic CTM.

[@scentlessscents699]

@@Kman-hw9pf not sure in that, just installed runtrue by trane has PSC motor.. made Dec 2022..

[@Kman-hw9pf]

@@scentlessscents699 furnace or air handler?

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

I have American Standard. It’s a 3 ton that my HVAC guy installed for $4600. This was a replacement so no ductwork was needed but he did build a new plenum

[@rogerhodges7656]

This is one of the best videos on the subject! Knowing the big three and their secondary brands is importnant. I think that the Goodman is a better system and bargain than he gave it credit.

[@RS-sl5ko]

I have been extremely pleased with my 17 seer York two stage unit. But that could be because of the quality installer.

[@DavesShop]

Thanks this is a great video, I agree with you I have had Carrier, and Lennox AC systems and have always had them installed by a company that also services the system. I haven't had a system last over 8 years and some only 5 years. The last time I was given the option to purchase a Trane unit but the price is out of this world. They just don't seem to make things last anymore.

[@donp1088]

Our Carrier (“top model”) HVAC system failed after just 10 years due to copper condenser coil developing an unrepairable leak. Carrier’s customer service was pitiful…they purposely dodged our repair contractor by telling them only one replacement unit was available in the U.S., and it might take 3 weeks to get it shipped from Louisiana to Tennessee….the temperature here was in the 90’s,..so 3 weeks wasn’t going to work. I volunteered to drive to Louisiana and bring it to our home myself,…but Carrier wouldn’t let me. They may be tops in your rating,..and I trust you are skilled and know your profession,…but this kind of treatment DOES NOT register as top shelf to me.

[@carlossol9386]

I had a Lennox for 30 years and still working fine.

[@gao57009]

Multiple homeowners in my Arizona community are experiencing problems with the coil leaking with Lennox systems installed since 2014. Maybe Lennox now is not what it used to be.

[@GeoFry3]

Good information. The biggest factor of quality are the technicians and installers. If you live someplace hot do yourself a favor and install more than one unit so WHEN it breaks down you don't lose the whole house in the middle of summer when you can't get a technician to come out for a few weeks. Other things to address is make sure your windows and insulation is up to snuff. If hey aren't you won't be able to spend enough on AC to overcome this. I'd like to point out the coils all of the companies are selling these days are bi-metal construction. They are designed to fail due to corrosion. Why you ask? Because they are cheap. Last thing is if you live in a humid area just go ahead and buy a dehumidifier to supplement your system. Unless you house is tight the house AC will never catch up when you do things like run your drier or turn on exhaust fans.

[@felixvara8467]

From my experience as a service Tech I have found that Carrier, produce more evaporator coils that leak than any other brand and you can’t own a new Carrier Condenser without the Condenser capacitor going out on it within the first three years. Trane is not what it used to be, they have cheapened the quality of their residential products. Lennox systems under 16 Seer is no better than a Goodman system and Lennox systems in the higher SEER are overpriced. But RHEEM/RUUD Systems are well designed better built and you get more from your money than you would from a Trane or Lennox. I’m a installer and a service tech for over 20 years and that’s the brand I recommend for anyone that’s looking. They have consistently maintained good products without cheapining them to make a bigger profit

[@jamesdonnell5069]

I have over 20 years Service & Install and I agree 100%. Trane is good but over priced.

[@percyfaith11]

I've had a Rheem over 26 years, still going strong, knock on wood.

[@valortizo8175]

Wow this is the statement that I’m looking. Coming from the veteran and expert. I’ll most likely to decide on Rheem based on this.

[@stangcobra592]

My neighbors $8K Trane broke in the first month, their overpriced garbage!

[@tristan2332]

Odd cause my service tech said Carrier was great and Lennox and Goodman have coil issues. Seems like these days all of them suck now.

[@richegan7381]

I just ordered a Trane single-stage 14-seer AC and a two-stage furnace. I live in western NY state just four miles from a big AC unit called Lake Ontario. For the number of times we run the AC, a single-stage, top-tier AC unit is plenty. Now the furnace…that’s a different story. You want really efficient unit.

[@Kenster-man]

Yup I'm in the North Midwest region and in the same boat --- most folks go with 13/14 SEER single-stage AC and it's fine. I use it about 5 months of the year - with 2 of them being hot. But yes with the high usage of heating here - consider a 2-stage furnace. And the central humidifier is a god-send --- Makes a huge difference in air comfort during super dry winters.

[@rokashi2104]

great video ! i do have a question regarding icp :day and night comfortmaker isn't it like carrier and bryant ? Personally I don't think Lennox is top of the line plenty of leaks in coil and burnt compressors recently ,seer rating isn't everything proper Install is ,I seen goodmans last for 20+ years

[@hvacmike1175]

Most units are built from off the shelf components very little is made by the factory

[@newkidontheblockism]

15 years installing Goodman without a single legitimate warranty part replacement. I’ve never lost a compressor, evaporator coil, condenser coil or even a circuit board on a system I’ve installed myself. The problem with Goodman is that they sell to anyone and your system is only as good as the installer. For 3 years, I offered American Standard as an option for a much higher price. I had so many warranty issues that I finally stopped offering them. When you are buying Trane you aren’t just buying their equipment you are purchasing from a Trane approved dealer and that in itself has value

[@TheTartesos]

For a package furnace unit today, would you install a Goodman over a carrier?

[@mikehunter1369]

Wonderful and very informative summary ! I installed Goodman heat pump last year.. I hope it will last longer my expectations.. Thank you so much !!

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

12-15

[@KB-xd5wq]

I've had an Amana system for 19 years and have had no issues. My parents had a Carrier and had a rusted out heat exchanger. The so called top tiers seem to change based on who sells and installs them.

[@1videorick]

I live in Houston Texas and know the demands of having AC for 9 (or more) months of the year as we live in a Very, very humid environment. Comfort for us is definitely "humidity removal". I have 2 mid-line Carrier units that were installed in 96 and are still pumping out good cold air. Yes, I have replaced many a capacitor, contactor, and occasional fan motor (mostly by myself as there are plenty of KZbin videos on diagnosing these common problems) but these R22 units are still running. When the units were installed (by the builder) I insisted on having a proper TXV and site glass incorporated into the system. These things weren't normally done, but I believe they have paid off. I don't expect them to last forever, but so far so good. Yes, once the compressors (Emmerson scroll) go out, I will replace them (with a Carrier). But until that happens, we will continue to enjoy the cold air they still pump out.

[@toddsmith1617]

That was the same year my Bryant was installed. They must have made them better back then because finally our a/c needs replaced.

[@joemartino6976]

28 SEER.....wow! Good info. I live in SE Virginia and had a Trane variable speed heat pump system installed 5 years ago. Very happy. And you're right about someone writing about technology with which they have zero hands-on experience. Happens more often than not, particularly when you stray from the leading trade publications/websites.

[@Dan-ger82]

Any that still use copper aluminum coils. I know ICP international cooling products had copper aluminum coils but may have switched over. I could patch those old coils over and over. Most of the aluminum alloy repair kits don't work or the techs aren't skilled enough to patch them. That's why there's a copper fitting where you change out the coils because they manufactured to be changed out.

[@SeanBaker]

I have an 09 Trane furnace that is still running strong as ever. My condensor is a Carrier.

[@Andrewz9oh4]

Technician for 5 years in DFW, now running my own company. Did a lot of home warranty work on very old systems. I my opinion, the best designed condenser is the old Rheem/Ruud condensers. I see so many of them around, still kicking 20+ years later. All of the components (pressure switch, compressor, capacitor, contactor, etc) are on the side of the condenser under a shielded cover. Even has an inverted suction loop built into the condenser to mitigate flood back. Capacitor is hung in the air stream of the condensate to keep it cooler, aka living longer. Such a great model, I don’t understand why they changed it.

[@desimo147]

I had a 1985 Ruud system in my old condo. The air handler lasted 18 years and the condensing unit lasted 30 years! Currently have a Rheem (same company as Ruud). It's only 7 years old but so far no problems and it cut my electric bill by at least a 3rd after it was installed. We'll see how it holds up over time but so far so good.

[@halfsleep3554]

What’s the name of your company

[@marcelosantana9311]

They probably changed because it became too good and not enough repair parts or replacement system been sold. 😆

[@lawrencefieselman3803]

Really informative. Now I know why my daughter's HCAC system (York) was so much less expensive than mine (Trane). I'd hire you if you were in my area (LoCal).

[@WhittyPics]

I care about which ones will last the longest and has the least problems

[@vickiistre6155]

I’ve had two Rudd units for the past 25 years. The unit in the front of the house, we’re told, has a small leak in one of the lines and it loses its coolant every 2 or 3 years, and they have to come refill it. They’ve run dye in the lines and still can’t find the leak. It could have happened when the house was being built 25 years ago. When it becomes necessary, I’ll probably go with Carrier.