Goodman and Trane are two brands that have dominated the HVAC industry for years. Alongside Lennox and Carrier, they’re the most popular options for American homeowners. But as you may have noticed in your research, Goodman and Trane units command different price points, with the latter being more expensive.
Why is this? What makes Trane and Goodman systems different? To help you decide which brand is best for your home, we take a deep dive into Trane and Goodman HVAC units below and illustrate whether Trane systems are worth the higher price.
table of contents
Energy Efficiency
Key Features
Quality of Compressors
The Verdict: Is Trane Worth the Higher Price?
Overview of Goodman & Trane HVAC Systems
We should start by saying that both Goodman and Trane manufacture high-quality, industry-leading HVAC systems. As such, opting for either means you will be getting a good HVAC unit to heat and cool your home. We’ve conducted our comparison of the two brands by looking at the following aspects:
- Energy efficiency
- Key features
- Quality of compressors
- Warranties and price
By the end of this piece, you will have a good idea of which brand is best for your home and we will provide a definitive answer as to whether Trane models are worth the additional cost! (Related: )
Comparing Goodman & Trane HVAC Systems
Energy Efficiency
One of the first and most important metrics you need to think about before choosing an HVAC system is the unit’s energy efficiency. Thankfully, there’s an easy way for you to determine this.
Seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) is the industry standard measure of how energy efficient an HVAC system is. In 2005, the government stipulated that all HVAC units must have a minimum SEER of thirteen in an effort to improve energy efficiency across the sector. Today, the industry uses a simple tier system to describe the energy efficiency of HVAC units:
Basic performance – 13-15
Better performance – 16-19
Best performance – 20-24
Goodman and Trane have various units within each tier as you can see from the table below:
Goodman GSX 16
Trane XV20i
Tier | Make & Model | SEER |
|---|---|---|
Basic performance | Goodman GSX 16 Trane XR14 | 16 SEER 16 SEER |
Better performance | Goodman GSXC 18 Trane XV18 | 19 SEER 18 SEER |
Best performance | Goodman GSXC 20 Trane XV20i | 24.5 SEER 22 SEER |
Goodman outperforms Trane in terms of energy-efficiency in the better and best performance tiers. As such, if you opt for a Goodman model, you’re likely to save money in the long run, while doing your bit for the environment.
The Winner: Goodman
Key Features
Another important consideration when you’re choosing an HVAC system is the various features that each unit boasts. Let’s look at how Trane and Goodman compare in this regard:
Smart operation: Goodman systems in the better and best tiers are designed to communicate with ComfortBridge Control Systems. This means that you can monitor and manage your HVAC system remotely, providing you’re connected to the internet. On the other hand, Trane incorporates ComfortLink II technology into their top-of-the-range models, which means they are compatible with Nexia. The fact that you can control both Goodman and Train systems remotely will help you save on energy bills in the long term.
Variable fan: Within your AC unit, a variable fan is the component that is responsible for speeding up and slowing down to match your required output. Widely seen as integral, a variable fan allows your system to operate more quietly at lower capacities. Trane and Goodman include variable-speed condenser fans in their systems, meaning you can effortlessly adjust the speed at which the system operates.
Energy star certification: In addition to SEER, choosing an Energy Star-Certified unit is another excellent way to save money, at least from an energy-efficiency standpoint. Energy Star models can save you anywhere between 10% and 50% of the energy, depending on the appliance. Several units within the Goodman and Trane ranges are Energy Star rated, so it’s worth looking for the certification if energy efficiency is important to you. While you might end up paying more at the point of installation, you will definitely see savings in the future.
As far as key features are concerned, it’s difficult to split Trane and Goodman. As you have probably guessed, HVAC units are richer in features in the better and best tiers, so you can’t expect as much from a basic model.
The Winner: Tie
Quality of Compressors
One of the most important components of an HVAC system is its compressor. There are three types of compressors that you will find:
Single-stage
Two-stage
- Variable-stage
Typically, cheaper and smaller models operate with a single-stage compressor, while mid-range units tend to have two-stage. Variable-stage compressors are usually reserved for top-of-the-range AC units, as they offer the highest level of control.
Trane really comes to the fore in terms of its compressor. The lowest capacity model is the XV20i at 30%, which modulates in 1% increments and has a total of 700 speeds. In other words, you can control your system effortlessly and adjust its capacity, depending on your heating and cooling requirements.
Goodman’s GVXC20 is also equipped with a variable scroll compressor that they say runs from 0% to 100%, depending on your heating and cooling needs. They don’t disclose the increments at which the system modulates, however.
Overall, Trane has built its reputation on the quality of its compressors, and the option to modulate the system in 1% increments is extremely attractive. As such, we think Trane just about pips Goodman in this regard.
The Winner: Trane
Warranties & Price
Last but not least, it’s essential to consider the price and associated warranties that come with any HVAC purchase. You need to read the terms and conditions of any warranty carefully, as it’s important to know what is and what isn’t covered if something goes wrong with your unit.
But first, how much can you expect to pay for an HVAC system? Home Advisor tells us that the average cost of HVAC units in the United States is $7,000 installed. However, there are lots of variables to consider, including:
The removal of your current HVAC system
The cost of labor in your region
The type of HVAC unit you opt for
Transportation of the system to your home
Trane HVAC systems are typically available between $5,800 and $10,800, depending on the model. However, if you want an XL or XV model, you will need to pay around the $14,000 mark to install it.
Conversely, most Goodman models are available between $3,100 and $4,275 installed. Again, you will need to pay more for their top-of-the-range HVAC systems - somewhere in the region of $7,500. As you can see, there’s a significant difference in the price of Trane and Goodman systems. But what about the warranties?
Goodman offers all customers a ten-year unit replacement warranty and a ten-year parts warranty. You need to register your warranty within sixty days and the rest is taken care of. Trane offers exactly the same warranty as Goodman. However, if you install an XL or XV model, the warranty is extended by two years.
Overall, given the huge difference in price between the two brands and the fact that they both provide similar features, energy efficiency, and compressors, we have to give Goodman the win!
The Winner: Goodman
The Verdict: Is Trane Worth the Higher Price?
There are so many things to consider when you’re choosing an HVAC system, but price is very often the most important factor for many homeowners. Given our detailed comparison between the two brands, we would have to say that Goodman provides an excellent alternative to Trane, and many of their units are half the price.
Ultimately, this leads us to conclude that Trane probably isn’t worth the higher price, as you can opt for a Goodman unit that boasts a range of similar features for a fraction of the cost. But the decision is yours! If you have had a Trane system in the past and experienced no issues, then there’s nothing stopping you from sticking to what you know.