Our owners' satisfaction rating is based on the percentage of members who say they are very likely to recommend their central air brand. Five brands earned the highest rating of Excellent for satisfaction, including Trane, American Standard, Bryant, Lennox and Carrier. Armstrong and Ducane received very good satisfaction ratings, as did Rheem and Ruud. The other 12 brands were rated Good (average) for owner satisfaction.
Neither received a Fair or Bad rating. Perhaps the biggest selling point for Trane is the fact that its chillers are responsible for keeping the tunnel tunnel tunnel, the train route that passes under the English Channel between the UK and France, at a bearable temperature, proving that it is literally “difficult to stop a Trane”. In its more than 135 years of existence, Ireland-based Trane has earned a reputation for building some of the most reliable and efficient HVAC systems. The company consistently earns some of the highest reliability ratings of any brand in the industry.
Trane is also one of the only HVAC companies that do not sell their units in product lines. Instead, it presents products with product numbers, which may be easier for contractors but more difficult for consumers to follow. What is hidden in those product numbers is that Trane air conditioning units have higher SEER (seasonal energy efficiency index) ratings than most manufacturers. Trane is also one of the most expensive brands.
Rheem, which began nearly 100 years ago, is headquartered in Atlanta and is one of the largest suppliers of hot water heaters, boilers and HVAC systems. Although Rheem may not have the reputation for durability like its rival Trane, the company remains among the best when it comes to producing reliable combined air conditioning and heat pump units. What Rheem really shines at is energy efficiency, positioning itself at or near the top. The company produces some of the best AC compressors, helping to keep cooling costs down.
Rheem's HVAC units are noticeably more affordable than Trane's, so they're a good choice for those whose budget isn't big. The company's gas ovens can automatically adjust the engine speed and flame size to work as efficiently as possible, saving up to 33 percent in heating costs. Lennox HVAC systems also have a reputation for being among the quietest on the market. York, nearly 150, headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, began producing ice machines before becoming one of the world's first air conditioning manufacturers.
The company is credited with cooling the first air-conditioned building and serves as the air conditioner of choice for several major landmarks including Sydney Opera House, U, S. Capitol Building and Empire State Building. Ruud began manufacturing some of the first automatic water heaters in the 1880s, before adding HVAC systems in the 1950s. Today, the Atlanta-based company is a subsidiary of Rheem and offers heating and cooling systems through its Ultra, Achiever and Value lines.
The company's high-end Ultra air conditioners produce an impressive 19.5 SEER in the high-end. Its Value series, meanwhile, presents a reliable option at the lower end of the price scale, producing some of the most affordable gas ovens and air conditioners on the market. Ruud also has a strong reputation for producing reliable systems with designs that make its internal parts more accessible, which means that servicing them is easier, faster and less expensive. Founded as Amana Refrigerator in 1934, Amana may be best known for its dishwashers and refrigerators.
However, the company sold its line of appliances to Maytag more than 25 years ago, but continues to produce central air conditioning units and heat pumps. Amana's HVAC SEER ratings aren't as high as other brands, but it does use impressive technology. The heat exchange of an oven is an integral part that normally indicates the end of the oven's life when it cracks. Amana Changed the Industry by Developing a Million-Air Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger with Lifetime Warranty.
That advancement in technology set a new standard for durability in the industry and rated Amana as one of the most innovative HVAC manufacturers. Heil was founded in Milwaukee in 1929 and for many years was a supplier of HVAC products for Sears. After a series of acquisitions over the years, Heil became the property of HVAC giant Carrier. Today, Heil's product lines continue to include oil and gas furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps.
Although the company presents three product lines of HVAC systems, it is perhaps best known for its Evolution series of furnaces, which has one of the highest ratings in the industry for the amount of heat it produces per dollar of fuel consumed. These units are capable of achieving outputs of up to 20 SEER. Your air conditioners are some of the quietest in the industry, thanks to the AeroQuiet System II noise dampening feature. Although Goodman is almost 50 years old, it is actually one of the youngest HVAC brands on the market.
The company, which also owns Amana's HVAC systems, launches a large line of heating and cooling systems. Trane Named America's Most Trusted HVAC Brand by Lifetory for Seven Consecutive Years. Homeowners trust Trane for the quality and reliability of their products. Its HVAC units have a sleek and distinctive design, but the brand's portfolio of equipment and systems goes far beyond domestic air conditioning units.
Customers also turn to Trane for ventilation and indoor humidity and air quality solutions. Lennox was founded in 1895 in Marshalltown, Iowa. Now headquartered in Richardson, Texas, the brand is recognized for its high-efficiency air conditioning units in all price ranges. With more than 6,000 independent Lennox dealers nationwide, there's likely to be an HVAC expert nearby to install one of the best air conditioning units available.
From smartphone compatibility to fresh, clean air, Lennox is leading the way in HVAC innovation to make indoor comfort accessible to everyone. Find Rheem Installation Products and Services at Aireserv, Sears and Home Depot. Available Copeland variable speed compressors, along with Carrier's CÔR home automation and smart thermostats, allow you to save energy and control your home's conditioning remotely. Their top line has SEER ratings of up to 26, proving they are best-in-class for comfort and efficiency.
Carrier sales and installations are available through Aireserv, Sears and Home Depot. The York warranty on its Affinity product line is the best in the industry. Provides a lifetime warranty for your compressors and 10 years for any other parts. QuietDrive system dampens vibrations to support longevity and keep noise below 74 dBA.
That said, York has a less-than-perfect reliability rating. It's probably not a big concern in cold, limited-use climates, but it could be a deciding factor in areas where air conditioning is needed for most of the year. Our fourth-ranked air conditioning brand is Trane. Although Trane's offerings are arguably some of the best on the market, they come at a price.
With a BBB rating, Trane is at its best in hot climates, where reliability is the main concern. Trane has built its reputation for providing long-lasting and long-lasting air conditioners. Its nine-product line is packed with features that provide comfort, extreme reliability and ease of use. Variable speed compressors backed by 12-year warranties for compressors and 10-year warranties for all other parts, including labor, demonstrate that the Trane brand stands behind its product.
Find Trane air conditioning products at Airserv, Sears and Lowes. Rounding out our top five list is American Standard. American Standard, an A- at the BBB, offers great features at a modest cost for its mid-range units. It's another brand that backs up its word with a solid 10-year parts and labor warranty and 12-year warranty for its variable speed compressors.
American Standard air conditioners are available through Aireserv and Sears. There are some brands of air conditioners that can claim SEER ratings with numbers in their twenties. Those units usually come at a very high price, so you get. For normal purposes, a system with SEER ratings in the twenties or less is considered to be very efficient.
Of the brands we have reviewed, Carrier offers the largest selection of highly efficient products. Amana is one of the best brands of central air conditioning overall, as it comes with the most efficient models and the longest warranties. A good example is the Amana AVXC20 central air conditioner, which has a lifetime warranty and can achieve an energy efficiency rating of up to 24.5 SEER. With that said, you will be happy to know that there are several very good and reliable brands of central air conditioners to choose from.
Among the most recommended and best brands of air conditioning systems are American Standard, Rheem and Trane. The most reliable central heat pump systems with the least repairs reported are American Standard, Bryant, Trane. A really big savings compared to older central air conditioning systems is one more reason to install a new one or replace an old one that broke down. As we have mentioned, most brands are well built and the most important element is the way it is installed.
But you may want to give a pass to the central air systems of York, Goodman and Amana. These brands performed worse in a consumer report than the top three brands American Standard, Bryant and Trane. Remember that American Standard and Trane are actually the same manufacturer (Boer Brothers mainly installs Trane, but you can install other brands if the customer considers it strong). See the table below for more information.
From there, you'll want to get quotes from qualified HVAC contractors and check out the best HVAC companies. . .
