Next are problems with condenser coils (outdoors), followed by blowers, compressors, and controls (excluding the thermostat). The three brands affiliated with Johnson Controls (Coleman, Luxaire, and York) stand out for having evaporator coils that are comparatively more problematic, with a problem rate of 10 percent. So what breaks most often? According to our survey, the evaporator coil, which resides in the indoor unit, is the part most likely to break, affecting 5 percent of owners, on average. The other 12 brands earned a rating of Good (average) for owner satisfaction. Armstrong and Ducane earned Very Good satisfaction ratings, as did Rheem and Ruud. Five brands got a top rating of Excellent for satisfaction, including Trane, American Standard, Bryant, Lennox, and Carrier.
Our owner satisfaction rating is based on the percentage of members who say they’re extremely likely to recommend their central air brand. People should take this into account if they’re considering buying a central AC system from one of these brands. In this survey, no brand earned a Poor reliability rating, but Coleman, Goodman, Luxaire, and York received a subpar Fair rating.
Seven other brands earned a favorable rating of Very Good and seven brands earned a rating of Good, which is just average. In addition to Trane, Armstrong and Ducane earned an Excellent reliability rating. To calculate predicted reliability, we used our survey data to estimate how likely a system is to break or cease to sufficiently cool a home by the end of the eighth year. Of the 21 brands captured in our survey only one, Trane, earned an Excellent mark on both measures. Using the information provided by our members, we calculated ratings for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.