trane vs. carrier

[nancerk]

If you're looking at their best units, is there any real qualitative differences between Trane and Carrier? The former is certainly more expensive, but does its superior quality justify the higher price?

[kevinmac]

You need to compare like sytems. Are you comparing the Trane XLI to the Carrier Infinity and not the XLI to the Carrier Performance series etc. Otherwords apples to apples. So I don't think anyone can answer your question. Because both are pretty close in the price range, comparing their flagship models with the same SEER etc. Unless of course your contractor is discounting one more then the other.

[tpa-fl]

The wholesale prices between the two are very similar. Personally, I find Carrier's AC/HPs to be more advanced. Trane hasn't made any changes to their variable speed air handlers in over 10 years, similar for their heat pumps & air conditioners. Not sure if this is an issue for your climate or not, but Trane doesn't currently offer a system capable of acting as a dehumidifier, Carrier does. You can modify a Trane system to do so with 3rd party controls, but it still won't have the same performance. Overall, both make good equipment.

[refrige-nate]

i like trane better but they have yet to send me a t-shirt so for the moment i am partial to carrier:p but then again im a service guy so maybe thats why i like carrier they keep me busy:p but as they say, "hard to stop a trane" its even harder to start one:D

[emcoasthvacr]

other than making more of its parts in Mexico, I would hope Trane has made advances in it's system over the last 10 years.

Bringing humidity control to the residential arena is certaintly high end.


i like trane better but they have yet to send me a t-shirt so for the moment i am partial to carrier:p but then again im a service guy so maybe thats why i like carrier they keep me busy:p but as they say, "hard to stop a trane" its even harder to start one:D

[tpa-fl]

Bringing humidity control to the residential arena is certaintly high end.

Since when has humidity control been "high end"? Millions of homeowners have dehumidifiers sitting in their basements to do what their HVAC system should be doing. Latent load has been part of the Manual J for quite a few years. The only thing that's changed is residential are contractors actually paying attention to it and more controls made for the resi market for controlling it.

As the old saying goes, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."

[kevinmac]

Parts in Mexico, everyone in my XL19i says made in USA. Think that is either a mis-conception or spoken in generalities.

[skippedover]

Just like adult diapers, it all Depends!

You can take the lease expenseive (cheapest) product you can find, have it properlly installed and it will last in all probability, if properly maintained for just as long as any high end unit. Comfort should be what your seeking and I presume you are. But comfort is different to different people. Maybe your comfort zone is paying the least amount of money possible to cool your home on the hottest days. Then again, maybe you're willing to spend more to be comfortable on the cooler days as well. Or maybe you only feel comfortable with a big Brand Name. Consumer's Reports did an evaluation a bunch of years ago and a funny thing happened. American Standard came out #1 and Trane was #3 on the list. Now how does that figure when Trane makes all the American Standard HVAC products. Even more interesting was Rheem at #2 and Ruud at #6. Identical equipment sold and installed by different dealers. The bottom line is, it's the installation that determines the success of the equipment, not the equipment itself. HVAC equipment is NOT a commodity. It's just the engine in your car. So if you had to hire a mechanic to build you a car, would you select by the cheapest priced mechanic or the one with the reputation of building the most reliable vehicles? If you'd choose the latter, then why would you specify the engine to put in? If you'd trust him to build your car, why not trust him to select the proper engine, based on your specifications, for the car? Some companies, like ours, offers multiple manufacturer's so the clients can see the difference. Some equipment has more features. Some has a lower price. Some has a big Brand Name and it's all priced using the same margin formulas. No matter what they get, they always get the same high quality installation.

[allstar08]

This question is asked every day. The answer is always the same. Everyone has there own opinion of what they think is the best. The thing we always agree on is that installation is the most important item in choosing a system.

That being said, Trane is the way to go! easy to work on and a Dream to install. Carrier is poop!

LOL :)

[kevinmac]

If a mechanic is building an engine for my car I may opt to ask for a 5.4 instead of a 4.8 litre. So yes there are choices. Some have been shown to say they did things of which they did not.
The reason you can't always trust your tech or mechanic without knowng reputation, is margins, and manufacturer limitations which play a big role. So they will sell products based on these influences. There is a legitimate reason.

Don't take this wrong, because this is where good reputable organizations can shine.

Unfortunatley like many other products the market has forced products under the commodity column just based on price competition amongst brands, retailers and contractors.