Man, you hit the nail on the head, Steve. I been doing hvac for over 30 yrs, worked on just about all the big name units and like you said, Not any one is better than the other. Really like the Goodman line. Easy to work on and the warranty is just as good as the others, and the parts don't cost an arm and a leg . Thanks for all your videos
had a Goodman for 20yrs (maintained annually). Finally had to replace..Went with Goodman. I agree with some of the comments I've seen (as long as unit is properly installed and maintained) Good video and words Steve 🤙
Well said Steve! I've had people complain about $200 repair on their 10 seer builders grade units they bought for their "$500k lake front vacation cottage" with a Mercedes or Escalade sitting in the drive way! People will spend more money on their front door than they do on their furnce!
Robert Slackware you’re right, but you’re kind of missing the point. What ever you decide to spend is fine, it’s just that you get what you pay for. If you choose the cheapest HVAC equipment that a manufacturer offers then you should not be surprised it doesn’t last. You don’t buy a screen door and expect it to keep intruders from getting in.
Milo Torres most builders grade equipment is not setting around because they can’t sell it. They are, by far the most often units sold. Of course, my company does not have any equipment on consignment so we don’t need to “sell” anyone on a certain system. We advise you what you need, what you can get and what we do if it was our home. I personally don’t recommend high end systems, they are great but they can be expensive to purchase, maintain and repair later. Just like everything else, don’t buy the expensive stuff ,don’t buy the cheap stuff. Usually something in the midrange is best.
Lmao Steven your funny, but so honest. I believe it’s the quality of the installation that really makes the difference. A good install Without cutting corners will make a cheap system last it lifetime. As well as good maintenance and keeping that filter changed. Thanks Steve good video.
My Goodman system was installed in 1996 (cost was about $2500 for 92% furnace and A/C), works great to this day: 01/17/2021. Only reason I would replace it would be easier to sell a house with newer system.
Started in hvac 1986. Ive seen it all. Your 100% correct. I run a goodman in my home. I could of installed anything. At the end of the day your just pumping heat from one place to another .To the young. Techs out there really liston to the techs that have 20 or more yrs in the field. There knowledge is priceless. Thanks Steve.
York is a piece of sh.. no mater how good you install good for business you get called after a year of warranty labor 98% but is bad for your rep if you are the one that recommended I only install it if costumer already have it. or his mind is set for one. more expensive for what?
Howdy Steven! You are my go to AC professional, I learn from your fixes other than replace videos. Your plumbing is not bad as well. After the furnace of the Texas summer I am going to replace my HVAC system. I wonder if you could update your thoughts 8 years after this video was made. Always a fan.
I had a Goodman installed in my rental property approximately 12 years ago and it has been working like a charm. I had a Goodman installed in my home this month, since it was the most reasonably priced.
I’ve learned a long time ago when I go out to work on these units much of the time it’s the installer who put the thing in that determines how great it does. I’m glad I started out as an installer back in the late 80s. After about 10-12 years of that it gave me a good understanding when I’m trouble shooting something, I don’t know the times I’ve had to fix, redo undersized returns ect and whatever.
I own a 3.5 ton Goodman heat- pump like he said it's made ok but to me, now these days everything is cost designed, my 2000 Goodman condenser fan design is cheaply & poorly made, the cover has been taken off a few times to have maintenance work done, and the plastic shroud is warped from heat or due to just taking it off to do normal maintenance work. This has made the fan blade rub it making noise & wear. It's also hard to put on and off due to its design. The screws that hold it on go into wire grate that protects the coil. Hopefully, they have changed the design as most have done with metal vents and solid covers. I don't like having to work on something if I don't have to. You can drive a Yaris VS Corolla they both will need maintenance work but I bet the Corolla has less work & for a few more bucks designed into the car it will last longer & hold together better. When I am forking out that kind of money looking for a few things, like quality, long lasting, less maintenance, energy star rated, cost. and dependability. Goodman I think is in the middle. For a few more buck it may be worth the money to get a better-made unit, but remember it's cost designed, and how much you a afford and A properly installed one Nate Cert, might help to know the contractor might know more & is keeping up with his product. Another thing is salesmen mostly only sell one brand or push one product more than the others he may have. So do your homework this stuff is always changing and companies buy & sell one & anther so what today is maybe something else tomorrow.
Yes, please, a 2019/2020 update would be hugely appreciated. My personal request is for a gas furnace, if you are interested. Specifying good/bad technology sub-systems is very helpful to then apply to brands. I'm in the Plains, so my brand access is likely totally different than what you have. Thanks for your video's.
I have an Amana/ Goodman, other than the dam Chinese-made capacitors going bad, which I changed out to American made, it's never given me a problem. It's a 16 seer 11 years and going strong. You are right Bro.
Put a 3 ton Goodman system in myself in my own home about 10 years ago. Did everything but final charge. Other then a bad contactor which I replaced myself and a failed capacitor also replaced myself thing runs great. Had a vibration problem since new and adjusted the fan for balance about 5 times with out solving. Finally replaced the fan and found out the hub was lose on the blade. solved that problem in the end. I've been told Goodman were low end junk but like you say (it aint rocket science) I'd replace it with another Goodman in a heart beat. Great video thanks
Just started selling american standard and trane as a contractor and i must say customers seem a lot easier parted with 9k offering a carrier, american standard or a trane than when i was selling goodman. Also the gauges issue is very true. Any 410a in a 22 condenser takes up too much room in the condenser and the oils cause acid. Using seperate gauges is best.
Steve when I first started out 10 years ago, I worked for a manufacturing corp, we used all different parts form all different brands, in the end they are all pretty much the same.
I'm nursing a micro channel before I knew anything about them. I keep a jug of 410A and a scale and give it a small charge enough to bump up the low side to keep the coil from freezing. I managed to pick up a HVAC trade book, and another HVAC book and go thru it picked up torch, Good used vacuum pump, charging hose, blue vac gauge, take a lot of notes to fill a notebook, practice practice listen to the pros, get good used sniffer , analog gauges, so I'm not at the mercy of any Tech. Electrical is no problem for me. I also have taken Thermodynamics and the like. Not interested in doing it for a living , you guys work for your money. Done a couple of change outs with neighbor just to learn while doing. No problems still works fine. "She's a leaker" is the new normal. In the past I could install an R22 package unit myself ( Building my own starter house, done the whole thing) and never ever have a leak. Now with u-channels and designed for failure it's worth learning for me, and pretty fun. I get a kick out of it. Your Dad gave u good advice especially about work ethic and lot of money in MA so you had all the right cards line up. To all the experts that hate DIY ..my response is .. BS. If you learn to do it correctly the AC does not care. Proper install.. yea IF they do it.
Honestly I think any unit that uses copper coils is going to be your best bet. I prefer pistons to TXV and if I was a customer I would want piston over TXV because pistons never fail. I install mostly Goodman units with pistons but I don't mind selling RUUD or ICP as well.
Steve, You are a great HVAC&R serviceman and have some of the best videos. I have been a serviceman for close to 40 years, but I've been out of the trade due to illness that made me have to do other work for about the past 10 years. Now that I am retired and in pretty good health, I am going to start doing service work again. Your videos and some others have really helped me catch up on the last 10 years. I see the HVAC manufacturers seem to be in a race to the bottom to see who can build the cheapest crap. They say they have to go to micro channel coils because of formicary corrosion. Bullshit. They are just using way to thin wall copper tubing in the coils. Best regards and be careful out there. Jim
Jim Gill you’re right on that one! They make everything so it breaks down sooner and then it’s not worth repairing. They want you to buy new equipment instead of repairing it. Or you can’t use universal parts and you have to buy oem parts. smh
The Ruud heat and cooling system in my house is almost 25 years old and still going strong, it started its 24th cooling season recently and no issues so far It's a straight cool unit with a heat kit in the air handler Anyway great video
My 5-ton 13 SEER Goodman system, installed in 2008, has been running flawlessly - zero issues. I plan to replace/upgrade with a new Goodman system later this year.
What I've picked up with Goodman is that they perform best with a TXV. Lots of installers are not matching the correct piston size with the condenser. I had one that was performing terribly. It had the 4860 coil. I thought maybe the wrong piston size was in it. I pulled the piston and it had the correct size per the chart. The unit was less than a year old and there was no obstruction in the piston. I put a TXV on it and the 4 ton unit went from operating at about a 2.5 ton capacity to a 3.9 ton capacity. Just from adding a TXV.
Dennis Noone said it best. I don;t like train condensors because they are great for two years but to hard to clean and the fuzzy coil flattens out and looses efficiency big time. love the rest of their stuff. I like ducane for price and quality. I installed alot of them.
You are so right on. I bought a new spec house that had a builder's grade Freidrich air conditioner. That unit lasted 14 years on the Texas coast and it was the heater plenum that cracked that forced the replacement. So, I replaced it with an expensive Lenox high efficiency unit. I was smart enough to get the 10 warranty because every component in that unit had been replaced in the 7 years that I owned it. It was nothing but trouble and couldn't keep up with heat load or the humidity.
Thanks. I agree I have been in the field for close to 25 years. I told a friend of mine last week that in this day and time, they all do the same, Look at the warranty. His Carrier compressor, from a 2020 install, stopped working. You pay Carrier prices for Carrier parts.
Trane has a plant where I used to live. My father was very loyal to that locally produced stuff. Bryants were noisy, but mostly it was the tin box that rattled a lot. I saw a lot of Bryants with bricks on top so they would not rattle. I am moving mack to cold country from Phoenix Az, and am trying to bone up on Hydronics again. I like you! That accent, and attitude are priceless. Most of what problems I see are bad installations.
+steven lavimoniere Thanks! I shot down 3 houses with bad roofs, & lots of other problems. One was totally uninsurable. One had a boiler in it that came over on the Mayflower. I said, "Triangle Tube quit making parts for that one years ago, it looks like crap, and it is leaking". The owner comes back, with "Well, ABC Plumbing has all kinds of parts for it." Oh good, I really want to huddle around an electric space heater when it is -6, waiting for the repair tech, praying my pipes don't freeze, & burst, before he can fix it. The roof on that one was defective. Never seen anything quite like it. It was just falling apart. Another one, some f'er stole the air conditioner off the pad. They even got into the basement & took the air handler too. The plumbing was so poorly vented when the shower drained it blew bubbles of aromatic sewer gas up through the traps in the sinks, and they had PVC & ABS glued together. A real DIY'er special. No permits, & lots of new work. Open valley cut shingles with no flashing in the valleys on the roof. The evap cooler was leaking & the roof was leaking & rotting from the evap cooler. New evap cooler, new roof, and they are letting it leak & rot all over again. Go bend the rod on the float valve, so it shuts off before it overflows. You don't even need any tools. It ain't f'in rocket science! They had child proof locks on everything, and then they left the live 240 volts hanging off the wall, where the AC unit was stolen. The place I am looking at now has an old Amana in it. Goodman, Amana, whatever. I quit doing AC work, when they made everyone buy the recovery units and get a certification card to buy refrigerant. Someone had a nice house out east of town, but they pulled it off the market, the day I submitted an offer. It was one of those hybrid manufactured homes, that is built kind of like Lego, over a basement. All 2x6 construction, 100% well insulated, really nice, but the manufactured part, makes them less desirable, and cheaper. It had an Armstrong system in it. An offshoot of Lennox. Copeland compressors, Parker Valves, Emerson motors, pretty standard stuff. Just a different name on the tin box. I agree with you on Nordyne. Their stuff sucks. I think the Trane we have has the scroll compressor in it. They don't make their own anything now, either.
Steven...love this and absolutely true. Properly installed and maintained system with a scroll compressor will last for years. My Bryant/Carrier 3.5 ton 663C 12SEER is 22 yrs and still gong strong in Florida. Only maintenance is once a year coil cleaning and checking the capacitor which has been changed twice.
I agree, Steve. Just had a Janitrol 3 ton unit fail after 26 years of reliable service. I had to replace the contactor several years ago and the run capacitor last year, and that's the only things that went bad in all that time. A small hole in the compressor from rust did it in. I think keeping the unit's coils clean as well as electrical connections helped keep it operating well for all these years.
They all break down it comes down to two things who has the best warranty .The most important day of ANY equipments life is the first day Is it installed properly . Yes micro channel suck. Have a blessed Christmas . Keep up the good work
Ha! I like your sense of humor Steve. I owned my own company and was in business for 29 years. I always told my customers, it's NOT the Brand, it is how it is installed. The best damn unit won't last any time at all if some hack installs it. I always pulled a good vacuum, put all the safety devices (time delays, post-purge, dryers, sight glass, etc.), and I very seldom had call backs. If you do a good job for a customer, they will tell 3 other people. If you do a bad job for a customer, they will tell 10 other people! Make your choice. Doesn't make sense to not have the time to do the job right the first time- but have the time to go back for free the second time! Also make sure you check for proper amps, and check for proper capacitance on the capacitor on each job. That's my 2 cents.
I’ve installed a lot of Goodman currently and installed train only 20 years ago. Trane priced themself right out of the picture. I feel Goodman is a great value and has really stepped it up.
Blue Label installed our Goodman 4 ton 18 seer and it’s so awesome. We have no more humidity upstairs and it’s nice and cool. It’s quiet you don’t here it run and it’s 100 outside here in Houston. Lifetime warranty on compressor and they replace the whole unit if it’s under ten years. We keep it on 74 sometimes 73 on real humid days. I can’t wait to see our new light bill !
Good info. Two years ago, we had a Goodman condenser unit replaced due to a leak. An Aire Flo unit was installed. It works fine, but it's noisy. It's what the home warranty people called for.
in my old house I sold a year ago I had a Goodman AC unit w heat pump 13 seer. The unit is now 17 years old and I understand it's still working. In my new house the AC unit is 18 yrs old an 11 seer and third time going out. I am replacing it with a Goodman 16 seer. By the way this guy is down to earth, I could have a beer with him.
I did HVAC&R FOR 49 YEARS ,last 17 years at Hershey Chocolate, retired 2yrs ago you are spot on about equipment, back in the 70s put in Day and Night ,junk York so so ,at Hershey ALL equipment was TRANE !
I'm with you mnn. In Atlanta the service from Goodman and especially Ruud brands exceed availability and customer service of any other brand unless you are moving bulk. I try to match a homeowners system to the nearest appropriate supply house. Micro channel is only a good option if it is easy access and in a predictably clean environment.
We have a Tempstar / ICP 3 ton that has been running well since it was installed in 1989. We're only concerned about what to do when R-22 becomes impossible to get or too expensive causing us to buy a new unit, because the quality of nearly everything (NOT just HVAC products) made nowadays is so sub-par as compared to the "old" days.
Thanks for the info Steve. Guess I don't feel bad about getting a Goodman replacing my Carrier AC unit 2 years ago. If it's loud, how would someone know if they're inside the house? Do they run their AC with their windows open? Tell them to close their windows. It's much quieter that way. Bless you for adopting "Baby"! You have a heart of gold.
goodman is a good product if installed right. Evac. is the key. Steve I like your video's for straight forward with people. My gages list more than one refrigerent on them.
Like most of your videos, this one had me cracking up. People always talk bad about different brands and it's all the same at the end of the day lol. I've got a Goodman system that I installed in my house and it works perfectly. Thanks for all the videos 👍 you are the man!
I got an old Janitrol furnace, thing is about 55 years old, still runs great and I've lived in the house for 7 years now, the manual is right beside it, I bought extra easy changeable parts for it just incase, but it's quiet!
i agree with you steve... i also like the payne line(carrier)... they are cheap, save money for the customer, still use copper evap's and condenser coils, and use copeland scroll compressors... we have installed a good 43-50 of them(systems) in the past 4-5 years and people around my way love them- just a couple calls backs for us that is it consisting of problems not caused by the equipment. good in my book. I can access payne with a 15 min. drive or the gibson line- i stopped using gibson though due to them switching to the micro channel
First I had a Carrier heatpump (6 seer) in 78 when the house was new.....it went 18 years and got 1 fan motor. Then it got upgraded on the condenser side to a 10 seer Heil and it went 17 years and one fan motor,cap and one charge. The handler never got anything! Then I got a 16 seer Amana scroll and matching handler and so far so good! It is over 120 F here on occasion and Summer is 100+ days over 100 and A/C runs about 5 months straight then about 3 months of Heat action. I flush both coils twice a year and change filter religiously! Good primary install and maintaining the system means the Brand is not the only factor!
Our 20 year old 4 ton York is still going only because it got a new compressor about 10 years ago. The old compressor was loud and eventually bit the dust from a storm. It was replaced with a much quieter Copeland scroll compressor that still rocks to this day.
I agree with most of what you say Steve. No question how it’s installed is more important than make installed. However, here in Canada Ozone Depletion (environmental) laws will not allow you to empty your gauges every time you switch refrigerants. There are big fines for this.
I also run one set of gauges. I have an old crappy uniweld pair for recovering burn outs. I'm not putting my good gauges on those systems. I also have used goodman..... With excellent results.
Really glad I watched this, just because I saw a huge compressor running and I could tell how it was designed by the sound. I have to buy an hvac system and this really helped, Thank You !
The York I installed had a scroll compressor which was lighter than the ones I use to install which were the reciprocating type. The guarantee was good as well, 5 years I believe. I like that and the light weight and smaller size. Less complex and simple,which I prefer. I did buy a set of those valve locks, had heard kids suck in the refrigerant to get high so did not want to loose the charge due to it. So far so good.
I'm a Straight C student (B+) in my in my major, l'd have listen to my 1st truck driver trainer. Move to south meet a good southern girl. 20/20 . enjoy your videos, the pup, and shots. ty.
Goodman has been bought out by Daiken (6years ago) and they are implementing Daiken things like there Scroll Compressor and top Quality inspections I know you get more for your money with Goodman And its one of the Best units out there
I agree Steve, most units all meet the same standards. I think a lot of the icp brands have thinner sheet metal and more sharp edges. My personal condenser of choice is trane xr13. Your next attic AC job, give the hyperion air handler a try, it is a nice unit but has a couple flaws that I'm not a fan of.
I have apartment 5 properties with Goodmans, all are still running after 24 years! Regular maintenance, cleaning, new caps every 2-4 years. One had a compressor burn out about 10 years ago, thats it. Still relatively quiet to this day! I did switch out a couple properties that had Nordynes with new 410a Ruud units, Jeeze..they are the quietest units I've ever had, I was shocked! My high end Carrier 410 units are louder. I'm buying more Ruud/Rheem, quiet, simple and affordable!
I love this guy, experience is the best teacher. Not big fan of China parts, whatever I know, but the thing about hoses is when a past tech poisons the system with dye. Pffftt! Oils can be an issue with flooded compressor and would be disaster with microchannels.
its good to see this Im just getting started and I didn't want to buy 4 sets of gauges and I have a 4 ton Goodman on my home and am happy so far thanks for the info keep up the work and sent us some snow to fl. plz it hot down here.
Great vlog Steve, I agree completely. Will most likely go Goodman or ICP here before too long as we get this place ready to eventually sell. A good install will beat a brand name every time. Take care, Brett
Thanks for the vlog...I live in an older neighborhood in the southwest. Temps are expected to be around 112 today. My 8 year old Carrier unit has been working fine. I do see quite a few Tranes in the hood...one just went in a few weeks ago a couple houses away...interesting. Not sure they are paying much attention to cost differences or getting this kind of insight. Thanks again!
steven lavimoniere Sorry Steve, I wasn't clear....not sure what brand failed down the street but my neighbor replaced it with a Trane as others in the area have done.
I really enjoy watching your videos and learning from you! thanks for all of the great times and laughter! and for making these great videos!....you do very great work sir!
I'm with you on the gauges and hoses....Testo has 60 different refrigerants in their gauges....are you suppose to buy hoses for each kind?....just blow them out with some nitrogen and roll with it!!!
+zeke112964 i just reliece the gas for the gauges,and leave my hoses empty, and next unit i hook them up and purge air from hoses i am ready to go .. thats all i do .
TIP, Instead of mastic, if you have some old house paint, USE IT. It's a rubberized latex coating that works outside in the sun (outdoor paint). Clean/prep the surface and glob away. Leave the lid off till the paint thickens a touch. Easy way to recycle that old paint.
Agreed Steve American standard and Trane with the electronic expansion valve are the biggest piece of suit. I am old school either piston or a mechanical txt more bells and whistles more issues
Steve, what I need help with is how to find a real HVAC tech to install the unit? Last year we paid 250 and the guy said we needed more coolant. He put more refrigerant in the unit, next day we had to call him back. We paid 250 more to hear our condenser was shot. So 500 hundred dollars later we have no unit. Would have been nice if he had realized the unit was no longer good for 250. So this is why I think people need help in finding a reliable person to do the job...like you Steve.:)
I've got a 1977 coleman unit that's had few parts replaced over the years...Still works, just looking at replacing before it dies completely, maybe a heat pump system to upgrade system while it's apart. We have a Bryant gas furnace about 8 yrs old but ducting is terrible, leaks and sloppy workmanship of air handler when furnace was replaced. So thinking of redoing all of it... Expensive project.
hanky97007i usally tell my customers to cover there unit with a piece of wood and a cement block so the unit can breath .covering with a tarp the unit will sweet with the wood it can breath .all you are trying to do is keep the leaves out in the fall
well said. Goodman is the best bang for the buck. I install nothing but Goodman. I would put it up against any other brand any day. not only because it's cheaper, but it's just as reliable than anything else.
Only preference I'd say is stick with a good brand with plenty of techs in your area buy the highest seer professionally installed unit you can for your area....pay attention to the normal lifespan in the south vs north due to weather humidity etc this takes account for a 20 seer vs 15 to 16 seer if they only last 8 years
I appreciate the time you take to make these videos. I have become very informed about my Trane HVAC and what to know going forward as I look to possibly getting a new one in the future as this one is 21 years old and installed by the builder (builder grade unit). I am not impressed with my system overall and I think I will go to ICP (arcoaire or comfortmaker) when this one starts to cost me too much.
We had a Trane that jumped the Track about 2 years ago. It didn't last any longer than the unit that We had before The Train. Dad ordered Our First Central Air Conditioner from W.W. Granger and had a Neighbor to do the duct work. I think it lasted about 30 years. I don't think the Trane only lasted 22 years.
Any brand will have positive and negative comments from posters. As mentioned before, the most critical part is getting a good installer. There is company in town that I have always used that has a good reputation. In the past they have installed Carrier and American Standard. Not long ago I had them out just to clean it out(Rheem ac) and general service as this is a fairly new house for me. A 15 y/o unit that cools well. I asked them what they install now days and he said Goodman. He said they are a good as any and have had good luck with them. So next time I need a new unit, I will probably go with one. My gas furnace is a Goodman and it's original to the house as is the Rheem ac.
Steve you crack me up." You're stuck on stupid " I have to use that one You are one down to earth guy and like you said it's a Coil a fan and a compressor the rest is fluff put on for marketing to use in advertising Keep doing what you do
I work in HVAC and we are a lennox dealer/installer. Good equipment. Serviced/worked on call type of brand units. Goodman gets a bad reputation due to poor install. It's about how well the system is installed no matter what brand it is.
I’ve been installing Tempstar/ICP products for 2-3 years and the only small problem with them is that they occasionally have bad ECM caps for the blower motor, but aside from that they’re solid units
Great Video Steven the unit in the apartments here are Amana/Goodman PTAC,Basically a under window heat pump/air conditioner.I am sitting here right now nice and cool and comfortable
Im a HVAC contractor in HAH Florida [Hot As Hell] for over 30 years and I agree, MOST units are pretty much built the same.. except 'York'. I HATE York. Weirdest wiring setup.. fan without capacitance for the most part. The one I worked on yesterday, and today, [condenser] doesnt have the controls inside the 'control box', behind the panel [like every other AC condenser. NO! I have to remove the top, crawl inside to the electrical addendum box mounted behind and below the normal control box. Anyway.. I use 1 set of gauges as well. My Testo 550 works for everything I need and if Im changing refrigerant systems, I'll purge my line if its refrigeration and the system only holds 1 ounce, otherwise 'contamination' is good chest-pumping dialog for the local pub.
