HVAC Experts Assistance Requested Goodman Products?

[Dave Ritsema]

Our house is 20 years old and we have decided to replace our HVAC system as the original one is becoming problematic. 2000 sq ft two story with a basement. current natural gas system is 94% efficient, 100,000 BTU and 3 ton AC unit. Have several contractors coming out to bid the project.

First guy suggested Goodman products, same capacities and 96% efficient for $5800.00 Any experience with this product line?

[Davemn]

I am not in the business but I believe Goodman is considered bottom tier equipment. That said, my split system AC is from Goodman and it has been great for 15 years.

[Robert]

Wanted a better ac than Goodman so went with a American Standard, mistake. The unit (American Standard) has proprietary parts so you are forced to buy the OEM parts that are very expensive. Many units do that today and all my ac friends told me to buy Goodman since it does not do that.

  So the American Standard was 5 years old and the outside coils went and American Standard would not stand behind it. Even though the coils are known to go since they are made from aluminum on copper and the connection point between the two developed a pin hole leak and needed to be replaced. Not repairable since aluminum and replace only and to replace the whole condensor assembly was cheaper than the coil from American Standard. So replaced the whole condenser and compressor unit with a Goodman and its actually more quiet, efficient, draws less on startup and does the job. Goodman coils are all copper and fins of steel and actually works better than the American Standard, which is a Trane also. The two are interchangeable and actually the same.

  The Blower went on the inside air handler which is American Standard also and was staying on all the time, the part was 980.00 just for a blower that could have been bought for any other unit for 200.00. Same story 5 years old American would not stand behind it, many reports on the internet of failures and I had to buy and install the part myself.

Most anyone I know that works with ac, has mechanical knowledge or in trades has a Goodman unit. Many Goodman units and have never heard of any complaints.

May not have all the bells and whistles that other units have but they work. Like Davemn said bottom tier but not because of quality but because they do not have all the bells whistles and problems that go along with it. Compare construction and parts used to other units and I think you will find your answer. Not cheap parts just basic and they work not fancy thats all.

[bill-jr]

Have had my goodman for 12 or 13 yrs now problem free except for ants in the contactor once but cant blame that on the machine really . . .
Seems to keep up just fine and didnt cost me a fortune to put in . . .

[Wizzard]

Have a goodman AC unit that is 20yrs old and working great

[carolinarider09]

I have no experience with a Goodman unit ( I currently have a Bryant).  However, when I was building my house, I needed to learn as much as I could about insulation, HVAC for homes eat.  I found this website and, for the most part, got good unbiased information.  

https://hvac-talk.com

I know you asked about brand names so, this may or may not be relevant but my Bryant system has zones (3 actually).  But it only has two speeds, full speed (not the best choice of words but...) and 60%.  One zone is small enough that the 60% speed provides to much air flow so an additional vent was added to an open area to allow the unit to operate as designed.   Had I really know enough about zones I would have spent the extra dollars to get one that was more variable.  I believe the new units can be purchased with a wider range of fan speeds so the system does not provide full heating and cooling capacity when not needed.  You might ask that question.

I recently installed one of those "single room" HVAC systems to heat/cool an enclosed porch.  It works well with the exception that it is mounted high on the wall and in the heat mode it is not as efficient as in the cool mode (hard to force the hot air down were the cold air falls down naturally and yes a ceiling fan does help).  it is rated at 20 SEER (or I think its 20).  Only had it for about five months and it seems very efficient  Its a Bryant as well.

Update:  Since I am a member of the HVAC-Talk site (have not used in a several years), I just did a search on Goodman and found some information. 

One thing that I saw was something I had forgotten about and that was a comment from one member that while the brand of unit is important what is more important is the place/vendor you are going to buy it from.  What is their quality of service?  Are they local?  How long have they been in business (just some questions i thought of and did consider when I purchased the my Bryant system. 

I was not a real fan of the Bryant brand but the company was local to my area, had been in business for some years and therefore had the potential to be around for the next 20 years to service the system.  I also had an HVAC engineer (well not that but someone who was independent to look at my house, check for air leaks, provide some thoughts on how to get the most out of my HVAC install, etc).  That was money well spent.

[carolinarider09]

As I said, i am a member of that HVAC-Talk Forum and found this thread that might be of interest. 

https://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?2202746-Recieved-First-Proposal/page2

Their forum shows the last message first so the OPs question is on the bottom of Page 2.  Seems to be some good information that I had forgotten all about.

[Rams]

Recently had my Trane system replaced.

The guy that orginally installed the system (when the home was built) is a neighbor and friend.   Asked him for his advice.  He told me that when it came time to replace his system, he was going with Goodman.   So, we took his advice.

We've been happy with the decision.

Rams

[Ken Tarver]

In my area Goodman is the go to for contractor spec homes. I have 3 units. House was new when we moved in about 10 years ago. Have had some service calls but not anything major. Capacitor on 1 outside, couple of circuit boards on different inside units, some little tube clean out on 1 inside not sure what it’s called maybe a vent? Probly have had 6-7 svcs calls since been here, with 3 units don’t know if that’s a good or bad percentage.

Ken

[hubcapsc]

Goodman: loud but pretty good...

-Mike

[Dave Ritsema]

Thank you for everyone's help! The other two names that came up today were Ducane and Bryant.

[Thunderbolt]

Nephew sells and services AC systems.  He just sold us a new American Standard last year, his best and most reliable brand he says.  He says Goodman is low end.  I guess it depends on which service tech you are talking to and what brand works best for him or gives him the best price/discount.
Our old unit was installed by his Dad, wife's brother when we built the house in 1981, it was a York and the pan/metalwork  inside finally rusted through.  Outside unit still running after 30+ years.

[hubcapsc]

He says Goodman is low end.

It is. It is loud and inexpensive... it works, though...

-Mike

[cookiedough]

NO experience with AC units from Goodman, but my furnace guy local gave me a great deal on either a goodman or amana.  Amana owns goodman (or vice versa).  He wanted to install Goodman since a few hundred buck cheaper furnace than an Amana.  I compared everything and ONLY difference was the warranty was LONGER on a few key main parts by like 5 years MORE on the Amana furnance same thing otherwise as the Goodman he wanted to install.  I figure for 200 bucks or so more,  another 5 years warranty on the heat exchanger, etc. with Amana over Goodman was worth it in the long run just in case something goes wrong.  Neither are high end, but run so far now no issues last 4 years or so. 

All he recommends is Goodman, but if willing to spend a few hundred bucks more,  get Amana, if it has a slightly longer year warranty, up to you.  I say nothing wrong with either of them.  I would take them over Bryant furnance.  Sorry, no experience with AC units since my 1993 Comfortmaker unit is still running.

[¿spoom]

I don't know squat about 'em, so this is just FWIW- When I had a new furnace & ac system put in about 14~15 years ago, I used a guy I used to ride with who worked freelance and helped out a contractor when the contractor got behind. In return, he could buy Trane units from the contractor so long as he didn't do jobs within 50 miles of that guy's location. I got a correctly size base unit with just the 2-speed fan (hi-AC & lo-Heat). Pretty sure it's still down in the basement, it's 27° outside and the house is nice and warm 

[9Ball]

....it was a York and the pan/metalwork inside finally rusted through.

I had the same condensation pan rusting through problem with my York unit that was just 11 years old.  Bad design that caused several floods in our laundry/furnace room.  A can of flex seal rubber limped us through an extra heating/cooling season while saving money for the new unit. 

Our new unit (not mentioned in any of these replies) has a plastic pan...it was my highest required feature for our new gas furnace.