Air Conditioner Ratings, A Repairman Ranks The Brands...

With our air conditioner ratings you can cut through all the sales hype and find value. We have taken the time to search the manufacturers' literature and compare the units based on our years of hvac service industry experience. It truly is like you were taking a repairman shopping with you!

These ratings are for ducted split central air conditioning systems that are air cooled. We also have separate pages for water cooled (geothermal), ductless, portable, window units, packaged systems, and units that provide both heating and cooling.

Our air conditioner ratings are divided into three categories. This ensures a fair comparison of features and breaks them down into separate price ranges.

The first category is basic air conditioners. These are the least expensive models. To qualify the unit must have an efficiency rating (seer) of at least 13. This is the minimum standard set by federal law for sale in the U.S.A.

The next category is premium air conditioners. These units have an efficiency rating of at least 15. These are usually two speed units. They are the next step up as far as price is concerned.

The last rating is for ultimate air conditioners. These units have an efficiency rating of greater than 20. They incorporate the most advanced features on the market. But, they are typically the most expensive.
We have given each brand a rating of from 1 to 5 stars. A 5* rating means that, if we were shopping for a unit for our home, that is the unit we would choose. When more than one brand has a five star rating, we would choose the least expensive one. If NA appears in the place of stars, it means that brand does not have a product available in that category or we could not get enough information to make a good choice.

For your convenience, we have included the web address for the manufacturers. We have also included our comments concerning the advantages/disadvantages of their products and an iSearchiGive search box where you can get more information. Not only can you get more information but you will support a worthy cause (Enduring Freedom Ministries) as you do so.

AIRCO--------------olsenhvac.com----<1*------NA--------NA---- This is a brand from ECR INTERATIONAL which is available in North America only. They are only available in 13 SEER units with R-22. (R-22 is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out) The 1.5 to 4 ton units use a reciprocating compressor instead of a scroll compressor (scrolls are more reliable). The warranty on the units is not very good and they may not have a limited dealer network.

AIR-EASE ----------airease.com-------4*-------2*-------NA---- This is a brand from LENNOX INTERNATIONAL. The units have anti- bacterial drain pans to inhibit mold growth. The 413LE model is a 13 seer unit with a scroll compressor for reliability. The 418LT models have an insulated compressor and swept wing fan blades for superior sound control. They also have onboard diagnostics and an 18 SEER efficiency rating.

AIRE-FLO -------- aireflo-hvac.com <1*------NA--------NA---- These units use R-22 which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. The warranty on the units is not very good and their website is not much help.

AIRMASTER----------wholesaleac.com-----4*-----NA-------NA---- This brand offers basic units with efiiciency ratings of either 13 or 14 SEER and with R-22 or R-410a. We do not recommend the R-22 units but the brand is backed by a very good warranty. You can purchase the units as well as installation kits online directly from their website.

AMANA------------ amana-hac.com -----4*-----5*-------NA---- This brand name is licensed and used by GOODMAN. The ASX series units are a premium unit and have Comfort Alert onboard diagnostics, an insulated compressor for sound control, and a scroll compressor for reliability. They have a dealer locator by zip code.

AMERICAN STANDARD--americanstandardair.com-1*-----3*---4*---- This brand is owned by TRANE which is owned by INGERSOLL RAND. The ALLEGIANCE 13 and 16 units have a standard warranty that is not very good. The ALLEGIANCE 20 units have a very good warranty but use two compressors for staging. They have a dealer locator by zip code on their website.

ARCOAIRE-----------arcoaire.com------2*------1*--------NA---- This is one of the brands from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS. These units have a "no hassle replacement warranty". If the compressor goes bad during the warranty, the whole unit is replaced.

ARMSTRONG----------armstrongair.com-1*--------2*--------NA---- This is a brand from LENNOX INTERNATIONAL. The units have anti- bacterial drain pans to inhibit mold growth. The 413LE model is a 13 seer unit with a scroll compressor for reliability. The 418LT models have an insulated compressor and swept wing fan blades for superior sound control. They also have onboard diagnostics and an 18 SEER efficiency rating. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website.

BRYANT-------------bryant.com--------1*-----<1*---------2*---- This is a brand from CARRIER INTERNATIONAL. The EVOLUTION series controls humidity and ventilation systems as well as the ac unit. The units have a compressor blanket and swept fan blades to control noise. They feature scroll compressors for reliability but the standard warranty on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website.

CARRIER------------carrier.com-------1*-----<1*---------2*--- The INFINITY series controls humidity and ventilation systems as well as the ac unit. The units have a compressor blanket and swept fan blades to control noise. They feature scroll compressors for reliability but the standard warranty on the units is not very good when compared to other brands. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website.

CENTURY------------heatcontroller.com--5*-----NA--------NA---- This is a brand from HEAT CONTROLLER. They offer basic units with either R-410a or R-22 refrigerant although the units with R-22 are not recommended. The units are backed by an outstanding warranty.

COLEMAN------------colemanac.com----<1*-----<1*---------NA---- This is a brand from JOHNSON CONTROLS. The COMFORTEER YCGD models are basic 13 SEER units that are available with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant. The standard warranty on those units is not very good. Their new LX series units are smaller due to their "microchannel" coil design but the efficiency is still only 13 or 14.5 seer and the warranty is still not very good. The ECHELON 5T models are the manufacturer's attempt at producing a premium unit. They feature an insulated compressor compartment, base pan made of composite materials instead of metal, and a swept wing fan features for quiet operation. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website.

ComfortAire-----heatcontroller.com--3*-------NA--------NA--- This brand is from HEAT CONTROLLER. They offer basic units with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant although the R-22 units are not recommended. The units are backed by an outstanding guarantee.

COMFORTMAKER-------comfortmaker.com-2*-------1*--------NA---- This is a brand from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS. These units have a "no hassle replacement warranty". If the compressor fails during the warranty period, the whole unit is replaced.

COMFORTSTAR--------comfortstarusa.com-<1*------NA--------NA--- The MIA SERIES units are 13 seer units that use R-22 which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. They have a factory installed filter/drier in the refrigerant system that removes mosture from the system and can help them to last longer. They offer a good warranty on the compressor but not on the other components. (Only 1 year guarantee on components other than the compressor.)

CONCORD------------concord-air.com---<1*------NA--------NA---- This is a brand from ALLIED AIR ENTERPRISES INC. which is a LENNOX INTERNATIONAL company. The 13 SEER units are only available with R-22 and although the warranty on most parts is good, the warranty on the compressor is not very good. They also offer 14 SEER units with either R-22 or R-410a.

DAY&NIGHT--dayandnightcomfort.com-----4*------2*--------NA---- This brand is from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS and is available in the United States. They offer 13seer units with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant but the units with R-22 are not recommended. The SX2300 and SXT+ units feature two stage scroll compressors and two speed condenser fan motors for quiet efficient operation. They have a dealer locator by zipcode or city/state on their website.

DUCANE-------------ducanehvac.com----<1*------NA--------NA---- This is another brand from ALLIED AIR ENTERPRISES INC. which is a LENNOX INTERNATIONAL company. The 13 SEER units are only available with R-22 and although the warranty on most parts is good, the warranty on the compressor is not very good. They also offer 14 SEER units with either R-22 or R-410a.

FEDDERS------------fedders.com------<1*------NA--------NA---- This brand is now a part of the AIRWELL GROUP which is a French company owned by ELCO HOLDINGS. These units are only available with R-22 which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out.

FRIGIDAIRE---------frigidaire.net----4*-------2*---------3*-- This is a brand from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. The ultimate units use IQ DRIVE control which combines the state of the art inverter rotary compressor technology with humidity control. They have a dealer loactor by city/state or zipcode on their website to help you to find an approved installer.

GIBSON---------nordyne.com/Gibson----4*------2*--------NA---- This is a brand from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. They offer basic models with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant and a good standard warranty. They have a dealer locator by state or Canadian province on their website.

GMC------------goodmanmfg.com/GMC---<1*-------NA-------NA--- This brand is from GOODMAN MANUFACTURING and is part of their value line. The VSC13 units use R-22 refrigerant which is not environmentally friendly. The warranty on the units is not very good but they are low priced units.

GOODMAN------------goodmanmfg.com----4*-------5*-------NA--- This brand offers 13 seer units in either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant but the units with R-22 are not recommended. The units with R-410a have a reliable scroll compressor. The SSX16 models have a 16 seer efficiency rating and are backed by a lifetime compressor warranty for peace of mind. The units feature a scroll compressor and a sound blanket for quieter operation. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website.

GRANDAIRE----------grandaireac.com---4*-------2*-------NA--- This brand is manufactured by NORDYNE (which is a subsidiary of NORTEK) for BAKER DISTRIBUTING COMPANY which is a subsidiary of WATSCO INC. On these units, if the compressor fails in the first year, the whole unit is replaced. The 16 SEER units have Comfort Alert onboard diagnostics to aid in locating problems with the system. They also feature swept wing condenser fans for quieter operation.

HAIER--------------haieramerica.com--4*-------NA-------NA---- These units are only available in 13 SEER models with R-22 which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. The D1 models feature a very good warranty but they have a limited distributor network.

HEIL---------------heil-hvac.com-----2*--------1*-------NA---- This brand is from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS. These units have a "no hassle replacement" guarantee. If the compressor fails during the warranty period, the entire unit is replaced. These units are available in the U.S. and Canada and they have a dealer locator by city/state or zipcode.

KEEPRITE-----------keeprite.com------2--------1*-------NA---- This brand is from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS. These units have a "no hassle replacement" guarantee. If the compressor fails during the warranty period, the entire unit is replaced. These units are available in the U.S. and Canada and they have a dealer locator by city/state or zipcode.

KELVINATOR--nordyne.com/Kelvinator---4*-------2*-------NA---- This brand is from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. This brand offers a very good guarantee and includes a 1 year quality pledge where the entire unit is replaced if the compressor fails within the first year. They have a dealer locator by state or Canadian province.

LENNOX-------------lennox.com-------<1*-------<1*-------3*--- The XC21 is part of the "DAVE LENNOX SIGNATURE COLLECTION" and is one of our ultimate units. The unit has onboard diagnostics. The 13ACX units are basic units from their MERIT SERIES and feature scroll compressors but the standard warranty is not very good.

LINCOLN---------- lincoln-hvac.com--2*-------NA--------NA---- This brand is from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS (ICP) and is sold in Canada. The SX2300 units are 13 seer units available with either R-22 or R-410a. The SX2400 models are 14 seer units and use R-410a. All of the units have a two speed condenser fan for quiet and efficient operation. They also have COMFORT ALERT onboard diagnostics to aid in diagnosing problems. They have a dealer locator by Canadian province to help you to find an approved installer.

LUXAIRE------------luxaire.com-------1*------<1*--------NA---- This is a brand from JOHNSON CONTROLS. The CLIMASURE TCGD units are 13 seer basic models with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant. (The units with R-22 are not recommended.) The ACCLIMATE 5T and 8T units are their premium units and have SilentDrive technology which includes a swept wing condenser fan blade, isolated compressor compartment, and a base pan made out of composite materials. These features combine to ensure very quiet operation. The standard warranty on this brand is not very good but extended warranties can be purchased. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website to help you to find an authorized installer.

MAYTAG-------------maytaghvac.com----5*-------4*--------5*- This brand name is licensed to NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. The M1200 PLUS series has the best warranty in the industry. The 23 SEER (24.5 SEER with air handler) unit uses IQ DRIVE which combines state of the art inverter rotary compressor technology with advanced humidity control. The 16 seer units are two stage premium units. All of the units feature stainless steel cabinets for durability (they will not rust). They have a dealer locator by zip code, city/state, or full address on their website to help you to find an authorized installer.

MERIDIAN-------texasfurnace.com---<1*-------NA-------NA This brand is from TEXAS FURNACE LLC. The 2AC13 series units are basic units with a warranty (on the compressor) that is not very good. The 2AC14 series units are 14 seer units and have a better warranty. The units use R-22 which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out.

NAPOLEON-----napoleonheatingandair.com-4*-------NA-----NA--- The AIRamus series is only available in 13 SEER units with R-22 refrigerant which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. The units are backed by a very good standard warranty.

NUTONE-------------nutonehvac.com----4*-------2*-------3*-- This brand is from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. The units have a very good warranty including a 10 year quality pledge where the entire unit is replaced if the compressor fails in the first ten years. The 15 and 16 seer units are two stage for greater comfort and efficiency. The 23 seer units feature iQ Drive which incorporates state of the art inverter rotary compressor technology, onboard diagnostics, and advanced control. They have a dealer locator by zip code, city/state, or by full address on their website to help you to find the closest dealer.

OLSEN--------------olsenhvac.com----<1*-------NA-------NA---- This is a brand from ECR INTERNATIONAL and is available in North America. The C13 units are 13 SEER with R-22 refrigerant which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. The standard warranty is not very good but can be extended through their "COMFORT PLUS" program.

ONEIDA ROYAL-------oneidaroyal.com--<1*-------NA-------NA---- This is a brand from ECR INTERNATIONAL and is available in North America. The C13 units are 13 SEER with R-22 refrigerant which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. The standard warranty is not very good but can be extended through their "COMFORT PLUS" program.

PAYNE--------------payne.com---------4*-------NA-------NA---- These units are only available in North America. This brand offers 13 seer units with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant but the units with R-22 are not recommended. They have a very good standard warranty. They have a distributor locator by zipcode on their website.

PHILCO--------nordyne.com/Philco-----4*-------2*-------NA---- This brand is from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. The units are backed by a very good warranty including a ten year quality pledge where the entire unit is replaced if the compressor fails during the warranty period. The 15/16 seer units are two stage for enhanced comfort and energy savings.

RHEEM--------------rheemac.com-------1*--------2*------NA---- The PRESTIGE SERIES 16 seer units have "comfort control system" onboard diagnostics and two stage compressors for enhanced comfort and energy savings. The RAND series units are part of their VALUE LINE and have an efficiency of 13 seer. They feature scroll compressors for reliability but the standard warranty on the units is not very good. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website to help you to find an approved installer.

RUUD---------------ruudac.com---------1*--------2*------NA---- This brand is from RHEEM MANUFACTURING. The ULTRA SERIES 16 seer units have "comfort control system" onboard diagnostics and two stage compressors for enhanced comfort and energy savings. Their VALUE LINE units have an efficiency of 13 seer and feature scroll compressors for reliability but the standard warranty on the units is not very good. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website to help you to find an approved installer.

TAPPAN-------------tappan.net--------4*--------2*-------3*-- This brand is from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. The TECH3 series includes the 23 SEER (24.5 SEER with air handler) unit with IQ DRIVE. This combines state of the art compressor technology with advanced humidity control. They have a dealer locator by zip code, city/state, and full address to help you to find the closest authorized installer.

TEMPSTAR-----------tempstar.com------4*-------2*-------NA---- This is a brand from INTERNATIONAL COMFORT PRODUCTS and are available in North America. These units have a "no hassle replacement" guarantee. If the compressor fails during the warranty period, the entire unit is replaced. The 13 seer units are available with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant but the units with R-22 are not recommended. The SmartComfort TX5300 units are 13 seer units with R-410a refrigerant and a very good warranty. The SmartComfort TXT+ units have a two stage scroll compressor for reliability and an 18 seer rating. They have a dealer locator by zipcode or city/state on their website to help you to find an approved installer.

TFC---------------texasfurnace.com--<1*-------NA-------NA---- The 2AC13 units use R-22 which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out. The warranty on these products is not very good.

THERMO PRIDE-------thermopride.com---1*-------NA--------NA---- This brand is a subsidiary of BURNHAM HOLDINGS. The AC13 units use R-22. The "PREMIER" series units are 14seer units with R-410a refrigerant and onboard diagnostics. This brand has a very limited dealer network.

TRANE--------------trane.com--------<1*--------3*-------4* This brand is being owned by INGERSOLL RAND. The XB13 models are the basic models and are available with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant. (The units with R-22 are not recommended.) The standard warranty on the XB13 units is not very good but you can purchase an extended warranty contract. The XL16i units are two stage units for enhanced comfort and energy savings. The warranty on the Xl16i and XL20i units is pretty good. The Xl20i units contain two compressors for staging which is not the best way. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website to help you find a dealer.

WEIL-MCLAIN------- weil-mclain.com---1*--------NA-------NA These units are available in either 13 or 14 seer efficiencies. The 1.5 and 2 ton sizes use a reciprocating compressor while 2.5 ton and larger units have a compliant scroll compressor. All of the units use R-22 refrigerant which is not environmentally friendly and is being phased out.

WESTINGHOUSE-------westinghousehvac.com-4*-----2*--------3*- This brand is from NORDYNE which is a subsidiary of NORTEK. All of these units feature reliable scroll compressors and environmentally friendly R-410a refrigerant. They have a very good warranty that includes a 10 year quality pledge where if the compressor fails during that time, the whole unit is replaced. The 23 SEER (24.5 SEER with air handler) unit has IQ DRIVE which combines state of the art inverter rotary compressor technology with advanced humidity control. They also have a dealer locator by zip code, city/state, or full address to help you to locate the nearest authorized installer.

WHIRLPOOL----------whirlpoolhvac.com-1*------<1*--------NA---- This brand name is licensed to TRADEWINDS DISTRIBUTING COMPANY. All of the units use reliable scroll compressors. They offer 13 seer units with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant but the units with R-22 are not recommended. The GOLD series 16 SEER unit includes COMFORT ALERT onboard diagnostics. They have a dealer locator by zip/postal code on their website to help you to find an approved installer.

WINCHESTER----hamiltonhomeproducts.com-<1*-------NA----NA-- This brand is from JOHNSON CONTROLS. The WAQ series units are 13 SEER models using R-22 refrigerant. They feature quick connect fittings for easy installation. The warranty is only two years for most parts (5 for the compressor)but you can purchase them online.

YORK---------------yorkupg.com--------1*------<1*------NA---- This brand is from JOHNSON CONTROLS. The TCGD units are part of their LATITUDE series and are 13 seer units that are available with either R-22 or R-410a refrigerant. (The units with R-22 are not recommended.) The AFFINITY 8T series units are available in seven different colors/college logos. They feature a two stage compressor, ComfortAlert onboard diagnostics, and their QuietDrive system. They have a dealer locator by zipcode on their website. The standard warranty on this brand is not very good but can be extended with their YorkCare comfort plans.

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