You know your central air conditioner needs to be replaced. You’ve been told that fall is the best time to shop. You’ve talked with several contractors, each of whom has their own recommendation as to which brand is best. Now you’re on the fence. Should you spend more to get that expensive model that’s super-efficient and has all the bells & whistles? Or hunker down and get the same thing that’s been cooling you for 13 years? First, forget that last idea. Air conditioners today are far better than they were a decade ago. Chances are, you won’t need as much power. And there are some alternative systems on the market that you might like better.In one survey, three brands had poorer ratings— Goodman, Amana & York. opines that Goodman, with its lifetime warranty (same as the Amana ASXC18), may have a poor reputation because of poor installation practices. So if you go with a Goodman, go with a contractor that has a good track record of installing this brand. BTW: Don’t take these surveys as gospel.

If the number of participants is low, it takes only a few disgruntled customers to bring down the rating. Amana, for instance, rates as one of the best brands even though it had some of the most complaints. How about the best? American Standard took first prize with only 10 percent of owners reporting that their units needed repair. Trane, which makes American Standard air conditioners, also had a good review. Carrier is a solid choice, and is considered by some reviewers as superior in removing household humidity. If you live in a damp climate, that’s a consideration. Lennox rates with the winners, although some experts note that the reason that Carrier, Trane & Lennox are considered best brands is because the companies are careful about installation— overseeing contractors and providing support. Note that Carrier, an old-line American company, also owns Bryant, Payne and Tempstar. Goodman makes Amana and Janitrol. Nortek makes Maytag, Westinghouse, Frigidaire and Kelvinator brands.

Depending on the climate in your neck of the woods, you might also check out heat pumps and swamp coolers. Heat pumps work where the temperature doesn’t fall to extreme lows. Although they are more expensive than conventional air conditioners, the price is falling. Some developers even lay the geothermal coils in the ground for an entire subdivision, which really lowers the installation cost. Swamp coolers work well in dry climates. These units add moisture— the opposite of air conditioning, which is designed to remove moisture from the air. Swamp coolers are generally less expensive than conventional ACs. But ultimately the critical factor in any new system is installation. Make sure you have a contractor who is certified and trained to assess how much cooling you need, and design an installation plan, complete with ducts, that will work at optimum efficiency, and one who is familiar with whatever system you choose.Ranking The Top Air Conditioning Brands When is 25 the same as seven?

No, it’s not a clever math problem, it’s a central air conditioning problem. The top 25 brands of central AC equipment in the United States are actually made by only seven different companies. is my ac unit low on freonSo when you go to compare “brands” of AC units, you need to know that the logo on the nameplate may not tell the whole story.haier portable ac unit review Trane is one of the seven leading brands and top-rated manufacturers in the country. coleman furnace parts calgaryTrane also builds American Standard central air conditioners. Carrier owns the Bryant, Payne and Tempstar brands. This sort of thing goes on and on: Lennox produces Allied, AirEase, Armstrong, Concord and Ducane Rheem makes Rheem and Ruud

Nortek Global HVAC produces Frigidaire, Kelvinator, Maytag, Westinghouse and other brands Two other manufacturers, Goodman and York, make six brands between them. That’s 25 different names on equipment rolling off just seven assembly lines. Which is the Best? Each manufacturer is producing good-better-best lines, in efforts to avoid competing against their own brands by price point. So look for the original name as the top tier, and you will find just a handful of real successes: Trane – The best overall central air conditioner in North America, with the XV20i as the state-of-the-art, SEER 20 dual-compressor system as the gold standard. Lennox – Though once strong products, Lennox AC units have slipped in quality in recent years; one consumer reviewing site listed 193 “very unsatisfied” reviews against only 61 “very satisfied” listings. Rheem – This is the brand to get if you want to beat older models, but it can’t compete against modern, high-efficiency AC units from Trane and others.

The exception to this brand identity is Nortek, which markets a somewhat reliable central air conditioner in America under the Maytag name. However, this brand recently seems to be requiring nearly endless parts replacements, according to a leading consumer review reporting site. The various parts going into all those brands are generally made by only three companies, too: The differences in quality between brands – those attributes that set Trane above, say, Goodman or York, for example – come from the manufacturer’s attention to detail, the unit’s energy efficiency, and its proper, final installation on site. While Trane is widely acknowledged to be one of the best brands and manufacturers, it is the installer who completes the product. It’s as if your family automobile depended on the local car dealer to add the axle, drive train and wheels to make your Detroit car work. The local, trustworthy HVAC installer actually completes assembly by tying the AC unit into your house.

Since the manufacturer is delivering an unfinished unit, you need to select your HVAC installer and technician just as carefully as you select your manufacturer. This is why you will not find the superior Trane brand available from some contractors, such as: Plumbers who also dabble in HVAC Carpenters who “can handle” central AC installation Electricians who “sometimes work” on AC Trane and a few other brands limit access to their high-quality units to HVAC contractors with experience and known track records of reliable, professional installation. Trane trusts their best units to their best HVAC installers. If you search big box home improvement stores for Trane units, you will not find them. Which Brand is the Best? You should partner with your local, reliable HVAC dealer to discuss which brand’s combination of energy efficiency, high SEER rating, reliability and ease of service will be most appropriate for your home. Contact Day & Night Air to learn more about how Trane, the brand and manufacturer we recommend, is right for you.