re: HVAC brands for dummies - Goodman

Goodman is fine....now. Goodman gets the bad rap because of their history as the low cost leader and, in the beginning, they would sell directly to the contractor. Their products were very cheaply made while under the ownership of the Goodman family. Mr. Goodman went to market as a low profit margin brand. He knew there was a huge market for a budget brand of air conditioners. The reason he didn't use Copeland compressors was because Copeland wouldn't sell to him when he was trying to get started. He went with Bristol instead and stayed loyal to them. He bought billions of dollars worth of their compressors. Copeland will always regret not selling to Mr. Goodman.

Goodman quickly became a huge player in the hvac equipment market eventually becoming one of the largest in the world. Daiken (Japanese), the largest in the world, bought Goodman several years ago and has brought their quality up to a much higher level. The Japanese do not manufacture junk. You can feel comfortable having one installed in your house. Regardless of which brand you use, the installer is the critical part of the equation. Get the best installer.

Here are the best brands in my opinion:

1) York...and any JCI branded equipment.
2) Rheem or Ruud...exact same thing.
3) Trane or American Standard...however, their compressors are suspect and you're paying for a lot of advertising.
4) Carrier...only their Infinity series.

Second tier:
1) Goodman...borderline first tier.

Third tier....everyone else.

I manufacture a/c equipment. I'm friends with all of the c-level folks in the hvac manufacturing and distribution businesses. I know their equipment inside and out. I work with them on a daily basis. The founder of our company was the first person to ever put a/c in a residential home. He's the reason you and I are comfortable in our homes. The founder of our company is the reason Lennox went from a furnace company to an a/c company. The founder of our company put Mr. Goodman in business....they were good friends. We work with all of the OEM's and build niche market equipment for most of them....as well as coils or emergency need products.

Fyi...inside Goodman's cooling side plant. This is the one shutdown first before moving into their new hi-tech plant.