STOP Buying This HVAC Brand 

My son was quoted 48,000 thousand, I. Albuquerque NM. , to remove gas furnaces, install two new units with refrigeration. My son and I got it all done for 12,000

We have a Goodman in our home for the last 5 years, zoned with 3 separate thermostats. Never a minutes trouble and always extremely cold in the summer. GREAT UNITS! Over 5000 sq feet with temp set at 72 the average electric bill runs around 225 a month.

All HVAC scammers must hate you for all that information you providing to all of us .Thank you very much .George Z

My contractor gave me three options based on efficiency and price, Trane and Reem. I choose Trane and have no regrets, my electric consumption was reduced by 20%. I am very happy,

Was able to walk in off the street and buy Durastar (Furgeson Plumbing’s Reem rebrand). Small gas furnace only, no AC for $900. The lowest quote we got here in Seattle to do the job was $8500. Thanks to your videos, I replaced it myself last summer!

I was sweating I replaced my furnace about 9 months and its a Rheem. After watching this great video I feel better.

Learned so much from this free video alone. I can only imagine how good the HVAC training videos are. Thanks so much!

I did apartment maintenance for 25+ years and they typically buy Goodman. Back in the 80's Goodman was owned by the Square D corporation and they were a really good basic A/C. But like so many of the cheap brands they're owned by foriegn companies. I'm retired now and recently had to replace my home A/C. I chose Trane and stick by it. I recommend Trane to anyone who ask me what brand to buy.

KISS. Goodman is "contractor" grade because it doesn't have all the bells and whistles. I put one in my mom's house with a basic 4 time 7 day thermostat. She runs it under time of use electric plan. It's been running perfectly for 17 years now. My neighbor bought dual Lennox units with all the bells and whistles, fancy thermostat, variable speed compressor, etc. Installed by the #1 company in our city. The A/C company has been out 7 times in 2 years so far.

I just had a system cleaning i asked for a quote on a ac and heater they quoted me $9500! Im glad i saw your video thanks.

As a former HVAC business owner, you are offering good advice, and you are right on with your brand recommendations and advice about hiring an HVAC contractor. Way to Go!!!

My Goodman is going strong after 24 years!

About 4 years ago, my small HVAC Contractor replaced my existing 2 Goodman units. 2 new Goodman units. We put a package unit downstairs and a split 96% gas furnace with 16 seer AC. We increased the upstairs unit by a ton. All for $11,500. After it was installed, I decided to create a network with 3 zones. It was a fun project! I am saving tons with energy efficient units. We are empty nesters and it is great cranking up the AC. Our first set of Goodmans could have lasted another 3 years. I had them for 22 years. I had the money and decided to do under my terms. My son is in HVAC in another state and he talks about units lasting 10-12 years. The best thing to do is purchase a case of each filter size you use and set your phone to remind you every 90 days to change the filters. Wash the coils at the compressor with some dawn and a pump sprayer let it soak and was it gently. Before washing vacuum the leaves inside the compressor.. I totally agree dust is a killer of HVAC units. I also agree a good installer makes a huge difference! Especially the line sets. We use the existing one because it never leaked. One last thing, if you get it repaired stand and watch the tech. Some of these guys are thieves. If the tech wants you to see the salesman run! It’s a scam!

Thanks! Looking forward to variable education, including types of homes and electrical needs for new variable installs.

Thanks! I know I need to evacuate my drain from what you presented, and I did not know how best to do this.

I have Lennox heating/AC system, going on 20 years, never have had a problem. Of course, like any other expensive home repair or upgrade, I absolutely dread the time my system will need replacing - not only will it be 10 times the cost of my current system, but also with longevity not even close to what my system has had up to now.

brand new goodman 4 ton 14seer purchased and installed for $4,900, 10 yr warranty parts, 7 year labor warranty, central air heat pump/ac and air handler, ocala, fla

Luckily I have a good HVAC guy who genuinely cares to help people. I can tell you are the type who likes to help people as well. Thank you

LOVE the chart with the manufacturers and their off-brand products. Thanks!

All this info is amazing! I didn't know half the stuff he said and I am so greatful. HVAC guys are up charging so much its impossible to get units replaced.. I'm joining today!!!

Great video as usual. I followed your advice last year and too the initiative to get my cert. I’m in compressed gas business and now I feel better equipped to answer questions from my industrial customers regarding refrigerants and regulations. Also now I can buy refrigerant and maintain my own refrig levels over time should I need too.

Had a Rheem A/C and 90% efficiency furnace installed back in 2002 and still going strong. It was suggested by the HVAC contractor, (had a Lennox furnace and A/C unit) and when the time comes for new units, wouldn't hesitate for another Rheem.

Thanks for all your help ❤😊

Love the videos Dave! I’m getting ready to diy a aciq heat pump and run it dual fuel with a gas furnace. Learning a lot from your videos, thank you! I already contribute to you patreon but am looking to step up to get additional advice. Thanks again for the help you give us diy’ers!

I live in Canada and this guy is spot on,10 grand thumbs 👍and my guy installed a Rheem

Great Information, Thank You very much for taking the time to educate us

Great info from your video's. I bought my house in 2010 and it has a westinghouse single stage split system I only replaced a capaitor 1 time and never payed for maintenance so I figuard I have saved about 1500 dollars minimum. And at the high cost for HVAC I will install myself after online purchase of Rheem or Ruud equipment. I don't see any independent HVAC in Reno NV. And with all the scams HVAC installers pull who can you trust.

Great advice Dave 👍🧡 Congrats on the launch of learning center! We are one of the few premier HVAC contractors willing to help DIYer in Dallas, TX and surrounding cities.

Before I retired I was an energy consultant for residential homes. I never peaked out my system but I did get up to 40,000 cu. ft. @ ton of cooling. I worked with the framers, insulators, HVAC, and I did a caulking package on the home. I blower door tested each home twice. 1st time when the insulators finished (they were still on the job site) and 2nd when the home was finished. I only used either variable speed or multi speed HVAC systems. I also installed ERV's (in my area). 70,000 cu.ft homes heating and cooling with 30,000 Btu's. Less than 1 degree temp difference from basement and main floor. This was done in SW MO.

Most licensed and insured HVAC companies I know of will not install customer provided equipment. We did it one time, and the evaporator coil was no good. The manufacturer who made the equipment would not warranty the part, as a licensed contractor didn't purchase the system. The homeowner was forced to go through the website they ordered it from, and that took ages to get any resolution

I already have the basic knowledge for repairing car AC. Recently bought a Goodman (Daikin made) mini split for the shop. Got new gauges for R410, adapter, flare tool, bender, micron gauge. Got everything connected and pulled vac for an hour, and we were in business. The information is out there and it’s free, thanks to great guys like these and their content.

A lot of companies won’t install what you buy. I ran into that with a mini split and ended up installing it myself. Check with an installer before you buy.

Fudge...I wish I knew all of this before getting a new system last year. Great vid and content!

10 years ago I did a full replacement of my furnace and AC with Lennox, put in by a small local outfit. The sales guy named a price that was lower than everyone else and said the parts warranty was 10 years and I only had to pay labor, after the original full warranty was up. I decided to shoot for the moon and I asked the guy if I could add labor warranty and how much it would be. He said sure, and with them, apparently it wasn't set in stone because I haggled it to $150. It was written into the contract too, 10 years parts and labor covered. I was amazed, didn't know you could ask for that. So OF COURSE it hasn't needed a single thing in 10 years. I wash the coils every year and it has one of those 5 inch 1 year filters but I change it every 6 months because the installer told me no matter what a filter says, change it twice as often. I looked inside with my flashlight after 10 years of changing that filter every 6 months and it's clean as a whistle inside. Hoping for many more years of service.

I had a little Trane unit installed in my new house in 2003. I lost a capacitor and the compressor oil heating unit (rusted out) maybe 15 years later, had them replaced and then it soldiered on for a total service life of 21 years (2024) when the compressor was deemed unserviceable. Air handler was still working great.

We installed Goodman units in a school, one section of it for temporary service, ended up being in there several years, those units worked superbly! No maintenance except for filter changes! Goodman is an excellent product!

I have always said..no matter the brand..as long as you get it installed properly.

Thank you for all your help my AC works perfectly !!

We replaced both of our late 80's vintage Trane air handlers and heat pumps (our home has two systems) about 3 years ago. We replaced them with Trane equipment, and have been very pleased. For both air handlers and both heat pumps it was just under $10K. If they hold up as well as the 30+ year old units they replaced, I'll be happy.

My AC Contactor charges 5k for a complete 2ton air package system including the lineset, drainline and return duct... He is a Mom and Pop Operator. I don't think I could do it cheaper than what he charges. I am enjoying using this guy as long as possible. The Bigger Companies want arount 8 to 10k for the same setup.

Excellent video. Great information!

I always recommend purchasing a package unit if the duct system is compatible or can be adjusted. This is the best bang for the buck.

100% agree! a contractor you can trust, that has installed systems leak free and remain leak free for minimum of 5 years. I am in Memphis Tn and 25% of the work I do is fix the leaks that other contractors either create, leave in place or ignore. Its disturbing.

Good video, thanks for posting.

I bought my central AC united from Carters Lumber and installed myself, that was almost 30 years ago and still running. In that time, I replace the capacitor twice.

I had a Goodman HVAC system installed in 1990. It was called Janitrol then. Cost was 2300 dollars installed. It is still working good.

I had Daikin furnace and AC installed by AH here in SLC two years ago. I got a 12 year bumper to bumper warranty. Couple of issues from initial install and they were very quick to come right out and makes things right.

In Lawton Oklahoma estimates for multiple different rent houses were 15 thousand minimum up to 25.000. of course I purchased the exact same unit online and installed it myself new electrical new thermostat and wiring new plenum. HVAC cabinet rebuilt. New lines brazed and charged myself. $6400 total

We have a place in NM and thankfully can get by with a Mastercool evaporative swamp cooler. During monsoon season we have a room AC unit in the bedroom. When it's hot and dry the swamp cooler will freeze you out of the house! And electric bills are never over 100 bucks.

My Lennox is 18 years old. Now the furnace it replaced was from 1963 and not broken. The old one wasn't really dirty inside. We always change the filter, vacuum the vents of debris and on the old furnace we used to lube the parts. I don't know if you have a video explaining the differences in a high end HVAC unit or not but if not, you should. One thing that I would want to mention is the blower motor. When people are considering a unit, the lower end motors can start with such a snap, all the ducting shakes. The Lennox unit we currently have ramps up so slowly you don't get that noise. Also, it might be my imagination, but it seems to operate at lower speeds at times and we aren't sure the motor is on until you use a piece of tissue paper at a vent to see if it flowing air or not. The single speeds and two speed motors make a lot of racket and in a small house, you'll enjoy the noise more than you'd like.

"Does not matter how good the equipment is, if it is poorly installed " - very important. Undersized duct work is a real issue. Oversized filters on the air return is a great idea. Proper wiring as systems are getting more complicated.

Really informative clip. thanks

I have a 10 year old Duane system. Made by Lennox. Have no problems with it. Caveat I take care of it. And that is with the installer was a hack and had to come back and rebraze the copper lines twice cuz he sucked. But still running good!

Gracias 🙏 señor Dave!!! This information is very helpful for us homeowners thanks 😊

I have a twelve year old Rheem AC and am on my third evaporator coil, the third one being a parts-only warranty replacement that cost over $1000 in labor to install.

Boy last year we had our heat pump replaced in our small home and it was 20K. Ten years ago we had the same installed for the first time for 5K. Amazing the price. Tucson, Arizona Lennox

Both of my AC units are Trane and I've very pleased with them. Yes, they were expensive, but they are quiet and very efficient. I live in central Florida, so they get a workout. Trane won't allow installers unless they approve them, which goes a long way to ensuring they are installed properly and reliably.

I put in a Mitsubishi split system. Love it.

larger companies won't install systems that they didn't sell you .. I'll tell you one thing the Carrier vs Bryant i know for sure is all about the amount of units a contractor sells.. Carrier will only give Carrier units to contractors that sell a lot.. I don't think you can buy a full carrier system unless you're a preferred dealer

Still have my reem from 1995 only replaced the connector switch fan motor

My adult son lives in another state from me. Based on my past experience with a local contractor that installs and services Trane and other makes I strongly encouraged him to replace his 18 year old Carrier systems with a Trane from a local dealer even at a much higher cost than some other quotes he got. Unfortunately his experience has not been good so I have a lot of remorse for having made the recommendation. One of the two Trane units he had installed has been constant trouble over the past two years. From the beginning when cooling the unit dripped water on the filter and onto the floor. Different technicians came out at different times, added refrigerant. Then after a year and the labor warranty expired another technician decided the condensate catch pan was leaking and replaced it with the part provided by Trane but my son paying for labor and more refrigerant. The last technician determined the evaporator to have a very small leak and replaced it, part provided by Trane but my son again paying for labor and refrigerant. Clearly a quality problem by Trane but a very expensive problem for my son. How do you get Trane to step up and take responsibility for all the cost caused by a defect and less than expected technician skill that the leak was not detected and repaired while under the full one year warranty?

I just purchased a 36,000 BTU Mitsubishi mini split. Trane-American Standard have teamed up With Mitsubishi. I purchased it through a commercial Trane account. I’ve worked out the installation with a certified/registered installer of Trane/Mitsubishi since it comes with a 10 years parts/labor. It cost more than a Chinese knock brand like Pioneer, Mr. Cool. Mitsubishi has an excellent reputation for quality and reliability for the long term.

My home here in Apex, NC has Tempstar AC and Heat units .... This is also made by Carrier

My Ruud is 27 years old and has never been touched. 13 SEER and works great

I put 3 window inverters units in for cooling. Electric bill went down $100 a month. And not as noisy as my central unit, which still works. Propane for heat in the winter now too. Fill my 500 gallon tank in July to take advantage of the lower summer rates. I can run two years on that 400 gallons.

AWESOME video !!!! thanks man !!!

Thanks for the information, I learned a lot from you.

I have in my house HVAC Goodman brand 3.5 ton unit installed in the year 2013. I have not done any maintenance other than replacing air filter. One thing I noticed is the sheet metal they use is of thinner gage for the furnace. This perhaps reduces the weight of the unit but looks flimsy.

My current system was installed in the summer of 1997 when my home was built. It is a 4 ton Intertherm/nordyne system and is still operating. I replaced the capacitor 3 times and the evaporator coil once due to a leak. I will buy a new system this year before the new refrigerant system becomes mandatory and the 410a systems will no longer be sold. I also will buy a couple jugs of 410a and store it for future use. I am fortunate to live in a rural area and have a lot of outdoor storage and can do this. From what I am told the new refrigerant for next year contains propane and all sorts of safety sensors and evacuator fans will be necessary in the event of a leak since the propane is flammable. The EPA has been sticking it to the people for several decades now and there is no relief in sight.

Dave.....thanks so much for this valuable info.

Great video thanks brother

In my experience, I agree with you about ruud. I have a ruud system from 1989 that is still hanging in there. It’s a leaker, leaks, a little bit over the winter so I have to juice it up every spring but other than that it’s been great. Only thing I ever had to do to It was change the capacitor couple times and the contactor once. Still blows, ice, cold air in 2024.

Thanks for your honesty

I'll be ordering a 2 ton ACIQ with coil box to go with my carrier furnace. Thanks!!

My home only had electric wall heaters so I had a local pro install a ducted Lennox 3 ton heat pump 8 years ago. I've had no problems at all and just installed a Micro-Air soft start myself last month. The only maintenance has been regular air filter replacements.

I've had good luck with Bryant also had good luck with Goodman even though I know lot of people say Goodman is junk haven't had that problem.

I installed a Montgomery Ward furnace back in 1979 in my home and it ran until I upgraded to a 96% Carrier in 2013. Never had a problem with that MW furnace.

$10,000. On Average? Thats a Joke !!! I was quoted by a A/C company that i have been using for 10 years for service on both my units. To Replace The Outside Unit and the Coil Only $15,556.00. And For that price it does not include the furnace !!! That price represents 1 UNIT only !!! On 6/26/23.!!! Needless to say i purchased the equipment my self and the equipment cost me a tad under $5,000 14 Seer Goodman with Coil

Bought a carrier during the txv fiasco - I’m on the 5th txv but it cools great.

The bigger problem with oversizing equipment is in cooling mode you don't dehumidify the air enough, so you end up with cold and clammy air, and in heat mode you will get constant hot and cold swings as the heat shuts off before the structure and contents warm up. (Thermal inertia.)

have had an amana system since 2009 and it is still going strong!! 🤠

Rheem/Ruud now owns Freidrich (the king of window units, and the last company making them in North America) and according to their web info, they now brand Rheem/Ruud central systems under the Friedrich name. Friedrich used to make theirown central systems back in the 60s and 70s, and they were battleships. You can still find some old ones still running, much like old York units and Airtemp units from the era before Chrysler sold the brand off.

I helped my brother choose a replacement 4 ton heat pump to replace a 4 ton R-22 based AC + propane furnace in the Houston area. Propane has become extremely expensive; they are in a rural area without natural gas available. Heat pump is a great solution for them. We got the system online - then spent MONTHS trying to find a company in the Houston area that would install it. No takers. I had a friend in the DFW area (4 hour drive away) who is an independent HVAC contractor come down to do the install; had to pay for his gas, hotel, meals and travel expenses. Just be aware - it can be very difficult to find an installer.

My experience has been that If you shop around and buy privately, most HVAC contracting firms will either refuse to do the installation since they didn't sell it, they won't warranty the installation and or the product. It's the same as with Auto maintenance repair! And by the way, as you mention that the same company such as Carrier having products under multiple brand names is just like GMC and Chevrolet. Both GM identical products but branded separately. Anyone else remember when GM, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Buick and Pontiac and maybe more were all separate entities and until GM bought each of them out?

I was quoted $22000 for replacement on furnace and outside unit last year in Texas.

I’m in Davis County and I had my AC tuneup last week. Was told my Heat Exchanger is cracked and that it makes sense to replace the whole unit. It’s a single stage Furnace and AC and when the air turns on the return vent is sooooo loud. It’s an annoying. Now looking to replace the furnace and ac completely (so the new system runs cohesive) with a 2 stage system. Is also have a few hot and cold spots throughout the house so I figure the 2 stage will help. Lastly whoever installed what’s in my house chose the cheapest brands because they are not energy efficient/certified. It’s a headache. lol. Need to get some quotes this week.

Great video . Thank you

Thank you. This is a good video.

I purchased a Goodman HVAC system 3 years ago (pretty much a shoe-in replacement for my 30 year old system). I used my HVAC tech/ friend's account at the local Johnstone Supply and paid $2800 + tax, complete. (quotes I received for turn-key contractor replacement costs to me ranged from $6K to $7K) not terrible but this was really an easy job for just about anyone... I did the fit-up, plenum work, wiring, copper runs myself. I then hired my friend for 3 hours to check my work and help me with the final tie-in...brazing, vacuum, pressure test, freon charge etc. I paid him $300. Some friend, huh?...and, well, I do give him lots of HVAC referrals from my RE client base thus, we take care of each other.

thanks for the tips

I have a RUUD force air For heat and cold that’s about 30 years old and still running .

I typically buy Carrier for my own home one of their brands. No issues with like "Day and Night"/ACIQ, don't like Traine (their coils leak on well known places) - no, Lennox on my NO-NO-Never list, York/Coleman etc - unknown to me (I can troubleshoot them easily), just not sure about them. DAIKIN - is something I want to try, Goodman is ok (I had prior failures, may have been other issues).

My Goodman has been running strong for twenty years. I've had it maintained a couple of times.

I have a Mitsubishi Mr. Slim system that is 25 years old and running strong. When it eventually chuffs out I will replace it with another Mitsubishi modern system. Great quality and longevity!

I have that same coffee mug. Utah

So your point is: Don’t worry about the brand, focus on the install? I could not agree more. In upgrading the HVAC in my house, the hardest part was finding a “contractor” who was willing to do a professional job. Sadly, I was unable to find one willing to manage the entire job and wound up acting as a general contractor myself. Let me explain: I was a fully licensed / bonded electrical contractor. I had partnered with several other trades, including an HVAC contractor. Our work was primarily light commercial. As such, I learned what a “proper” install was. I also had relationships that allowed me to call upon other trades as needed. For example, if I needed a slab poured I had someone to call; if I needed something fabricated, I had two sheet metal shops that would fabricate as needed. To my amazement, NONE of the HVAC companies in my area had any means of providing a concrete slab for anchoring the unit or providing a protective cage. NONE of them were willing to get under the house to run the condensate drain (I guess they planned to dump the water into the crawl space). None had any interest in running the line set in the shortest, most direct manner, or supporting and protecting it in any way. Don’t get me going on their proposed “electrical” work. None were interested in pulling the necessary permit and inspection. Heck, none even checked the availability of the equipment I wanted. At the time, there were major “supply chain” issues. I eventually did half the work myself, bringing in a guy from two states over to make the connections and replace the ducts. What I had to do myself included: - Perform all calculations; - Purchase and provide ALL equipment; - Pour the slab; - Run the line set; - Wrap / protect the line set; - Construct the protective cage; - Run the drain line; - Replace the access door; and, - Provide the necessary electrical work.

I replaced my Trane unit with a high efficiency natural gas unit with a variable speed motor. Saved me tons of money on my electric and natural gas bills. I did not swap out the AC side though when I did this. My summer AC bills are ridiculous. I’d really like to swap out AC unit to be a better match for the heat side. Is a diyer able to purchase trane or American standard?

Had a Luxair for over 20 years only had 1 repair. Replaced it with a Bryant and had 1 A/C and 1 heating repair in less than 3 years. My house was more comfortable in the winter with the Luxair.

In Salt Lake City UT what you have one month maybe one and half months of air conditioning season . Remember you can not make cold ! You can only remove heat !!!

I have a Goodman furnace that is 23 years old. Flame rod failed again. I need a new furnace. But it's only 14" wide and NO more room! Trying to find a replacement. Found one on HVAC direct! I need an 80k but 14" only goes up to 60k btu. May need to do that.