Reviews: Goodman Air Conditioner – Is This Brand Worth the Money


goodman air conditioner

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If the summertime temps leave you hot under the collar, you are definitely not alone. About 84% of American homes have some kind of air conditioning. Also, about 90% of modern homes are equipped with a central AC system. If you consider yourself to be an eco-conscious consumer, you’ll be happy to know that modern air conditioners are now more energy efficient. This means that you get to be cool and comfortable for less money.

If you are in the market for a good air conditioning unit, you have come to the right place. Today, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the Goodman air conditioner product line. Is this brand worth your money? Let’s find out!

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  GOODMAN AIR CONDITIONER

 About the Goodman Company

The Goodman brand has been around since 1982 and they claim to have focused on something else, other than simple brand-recognition consumer advertising – which is probably why they’re not a well-known brand.

From the company’s About page:

Since 1982, we’ve focused on helping millions and millions of homeowners achieve reliable, high-quality and affordable indoor comfort with products that continue to be designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A.  As a result, the Goodman brand has earned the loyalty and respect from thousands of local independent heating and cooling professionals across North America.

Goodman focuses on providing quality products for specific indoor comfort needs and indoor air quality solutions. However, it seems that most of their products come at a rather budget-friendly price, considering that many AC units can be pricey.

The Goodman brand is often recommended by HVAC professionals, as claimed by the company. But is it really a good brand? Well, we’re about to find out.

  GOODMAN AIR CONDITIONER

 Reviewing the Goodman Air Conditioner Units

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The Goodman AC units are known for their high efficiency along with their very competitive prices. For this review, we’ll provide the aspects that we liked and didn’t like about the brand. Also, we’re going to talk about the best models from the company’s product line. Then, we’re going to highlight some reviews and feedback from actual customers.

  GOODMAN AIR CONDITIONER

 Pros and Cons

PROS

1. RELIABILITY AT A LOW PRICE

The main selling point of the brand is definitely their competitive pricing. When you compare the brand to other AC manufacturers like Lennox, Amana, and Trane, you’ll see that Goodman does a great job of offering units that don’t cost an arm and leg.

For instance, the GSX130181 Condenser Central Air Conditioning 13 SEER unit only costs about $1,200. The Goodman GSX160481 4 Ton 16 SEER Air Conditioner model only costs about $2,400. One of my favorites, the Goodman GSX160361 3 Ton 16 SEER Air Conditioner only comes at a $1,100 price tag. That’s simply unheard of when it comes to central air conditioning units.

So you are probably thinking, “they are basically just cheap ACs, right?” “How can they possibly offer cheap models without sacrificing quality?”

Well, Goodman’s business model is based on their own distributor-dealer sales model and market positioning. So they can put out quality products without compromising their quality. However, you have to be wary of unauthorized Goodman dealers and contractors out there.

2. LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY

Most of the air conditioning systems by Goodman come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty.

If the compressor of the AC units ever fails, a replacement will be given provided that the original buyer of the system live in the same single-family residence. The main reason forcompressor breakdown is when the refrigerant in the suction lines start to accumulate. Any refrigerant in liquid form will be trapped in the suction accumulator which helps ensure that the compressor operation is fine and all.

Lifetime warranty is definitely a positive but I encourage you not to get too excited. The average lifespan of an AC unit is 12-15 years, give or take. Plus, you still have to pay the extra fee for the labor in case of a repair.

If you want to take advantage of this warranty, make sure that you register your unit with the Goodman company or otherwise, you have to settle with the 5-year warranty coverage.

3. COILS ARE ALL ALUMINUM

These days, air conditioner manufacturers are making use of aluminum coils as a potential solution to the industry-wide problem of formicary corrosion that happens in the copper tube aluminum fin evaporator coils.

It’s a good thing that Goodman is one such manufacturer. The use of aluminum coils also allows the company to keep the price down without sacrificing efficiency.

4. POPULAR IN THE NEW CONSTRUCTION MARKET

Many HVAC professionals and companies favor the Goodman brand.

The Goodman air conditioner units offer good reliability at a decent price which is why many HVAC professionals recommend the brand. While it’s not the most popular brand out there, many professionals still prefer Goodman because they want their clients to be satisfied while keeping the costs low.

HVAC companies and pros also trust Goodman because it follows the proper manufacturing standards and has the right certifications. From the Goodman’s about page:

Select Goodman brand manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001-certified, an independent standard accepted worldwide as the benchmark for quality manufacturing and management processes, and ISO 14001-certified, an international environmental certification.

5. EFFICIENT AND ECO-FRIENDLY

Goodman air conditioning systems utilize the R-410A refrigerant which is known to be an environmentally-friendly solution. This particular refrigerant is chlorine-free and formulated to not cause significant damage to the ozone layer.

Also, some of the best central air conditioners by Goodman come with a two-stage scroll compressor which allowed them to incorporate less moving parts which translate to better efficiency.

CONS

1. NO HIGH-END UNITS

As of this writing, the most powerful unit offered by Goodman is the GSXC18 which features up to 19 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) performance. While that looks good on paper, it simply pales in comparison to other brands like Amana and Trane that offer units that feature a rating of 22 to 26 SEER.

Goodman units have an average SEER performance rating of around 15.3. Again, this average just doesn’t measure up with other leading brands. However, it is still higher than the minimum federal standard of 13 SEER, so there’s that.

With such a low average SEER rating, it’s not surprising that Goodman’s AC units tend to be less expensive when compared to other brands. A 16 to 19 SEER rating should be sufficient for residential use and economical needs but if you are looking for a unit with ahigher SEER rating, you will want to check out brands like Trane, Amana, and Lennox.

2. QUALITY OF CONTRACTORS MAY VARY

Unlike other manufacturers like Lennox and Trane, Goodman doesn’t sell directly to dealers. Instead, the units go to a middleman called the distributor.

The distributor is free to choose which dealers to do business with. For the intent of higher sales revenue, many not so desirable distributors choose to sell AC units to unqualified dealers which can lead to issues like improper installation. This is one of the main reasons why Goodman received several negative feedback from consumers.

While the Goodman AC units are fairly reliable, it’s important that you find a reliable contractor. As a rule of thumb, only purchase units from dealers that are authorized as GoodCare Dealers or A-Plus Dealers. These labels are only provided if the dealer has attended Goodman’s correspondence course every 6 months.

  GOODMAN AIR CONDITIONER

 Best Goodman Air Conditioner Units

So which units you should buy from Goodman? Here’s a couple of the best options for you:

1

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As of this writing, the most advanced unit by Goodman is the DSXC18 air conditioner. It is a two-stage scroll compressor and features a two-speed ECM condenser fan motor.

One of the most notable features of the unit is the integration of the ComfortBridge technology. Basically, it’s a technology that features a smart home algorithm that gathers HVAC system performance data and uses it to automatically make adjustments for the best energy efficiency.

It also comes with a high-density foam compressor sound blanket which helps minimize noise and make sure you don’t annoy the neighbors. The cabinet is made from heavy-gauge galvanized steel and louvered coil guards. So, it’s a fairly durable model as well.

If you are looking for the best that Goodman has to offer and you are planning to use it in a residential home, then this 18-19 SEER AC unit should be more than enough for your needs.

2

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The Goodman 3 Ton 16 SEER Air Conditioner R-410a GSX160361 is a good unit to consider if you want an AC with a little bit of oomph but comes at a great price.

The unit has a rating of 16 SEER which is not the most efficient out there but it’s still way above the standard required by the federal government. Like our previous recommendation, the model features the ComfortNet Compatibility which is great.

Like most Goodman models, the GSX160361 uses the environmentally friendly refrigerant R-410A.

There’s one thing that you have to keep in mind about this unit. If you want to achieve the 16 SEER efficiency of this AC, Goodman recommends that you also install an evaporator coil, furnace, variable speed air handler, or variable speed modular blower and thermostatic expansion valve (TXV). It’s not required but it can improve your efficiency by 7 to 8 percent.

  GOODMAN AIR CONDITIONER

 Goodman Reviews and Feedback

So what do the consumers and reviewers think about the Goodman brand? Here are some reviews that we have compiled for your perusal:

Goodman central AC units are energy-efficient products that can save you money over older generations of air conditioners. However, they’re not quite as impressively efficient as other brands’ units. They’re durable and efficient, with environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant and an impressive warranty to provide you with a comfortable indoor environment for many summers to come. – John Carlsen

In April 2016 we had Goodman Central ac condenser installed, Model # gsx160301 and a cased coil installed Model # capt3131c4. We’ve had no problems what so ever. The outside condenser is quiet. We’ve saved on our electricity bill. Installation is important. From our experience I recommend Goodman. – Jeffrey Oehrlein

On the other hand, there were some rather scathing reviews as well:

Air compressor seized after two summers of full use. This unit is 3 years old. I have a 10-year warranty on the part but not on labor. I am being told my cost will be 1500.00 for 8 hours labor and the Freon. Blairco in Vancouver, Washington put this unit in. I am trying to negotiate this cost down. It’s doubled since last week. Do not buy a Goodman AC unit! – Kimra Holmes

Do not purchase Goodman products. Had a brand new 14 seer unit (inside and outside) installed in January 2018. This past weekend it stopped cooling and the outside unit froze up. The technician found a leak in the coils in the indoor unit. Parts are covered under warranty so that’s something. But the almost $1000 in freon we’ve had to shell out in the last few days because of the leak in the coil is not covered. – Melissa M.

  GOODMAN AIR CONDITIONER

 What We Think

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From what we have seen, the Goodman air conditioner product line is a solid one.

I mean, they’re not exactly the most popular brand out there and they don’t make the most powerful ACs in the market. However, I have to say that they do provide quality and reliable units. If you are in the market for the most advanced units with the highest SEER ratings, you will probably be disappointed with what the brand has to offer.

However, if you need a solid and reliable AC system that won’t break the bank, it’s highly recommended that you check out what Goodman has to offer.

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