Spotlight: Goodman Air Conditioner Condenser

You might be wondering if a new Goodman air conditioner condenser is the best choice for your home. Are they going to last? Will it be worth the money? Is my local HVAC guy going to rack up a lot of overtime hours repairing my unit?

All reasonable questions. So, here is what we think you need to know about a Goodman air conditioner.

Goodman Manufacturing is a Market Leader

Who is Goodman anyway?

Goodman is one of the leading HVAC manufacturers in the United States. However, the Goodman air conditioner brand isn't as old as you might think. The company was founded in the 1970's, but they didn't get into the HVAC manufacturing business until 1982. Perhaps making up for lost time, Goodman spent the next 40 years growing rapidly with an ever expanding product line. They became such a market force a few years ago Daikin acquired Goodman for the paltry sum of $3.7 billion.

Okay, Goodman is a big deal, but that doesn't necessarily mean a Goodman air conditioner is worthwhile.

So, let's dig into the details!

What's Inside a Typical Goodman Air Conditioner Condenser?

Any one thing is merely a sum of its parts. Ergo, is the sum of the parts of a Goodman air conditioner condenser equal to high quality or a miserable dud?

Compressor

First, we look at the compressor. The compressor is the heart of any heat pump or air conditioner condenser. A terrible compressor will result in terrible performance. In this regard, a Goodman air conditioner scores pretty well. They almost exclusively come with Copeland scroll compressors. Really, there is no other quality compressor manufacturer worth mentioning. If something doesn't have a Copeland inside, be very careful.

Condenser Coil

Second, let's talk about the coil. The outside condenser coil is just as important as the interior evaporator coil. In some ways, condenser coil quality is more important, since the condenser coil will be subject to wind and rain and other environmental factors an evaporator coil won't be.

Most Goodman air conditioner coils feature copper tubes and aluminum fins. This mixture provides a balance between corrosion resistance, heat transfer potential, and cost. It's also a mix that many manufacturers are using these days. It's not exemplary, but it's also not bad or unusual.

Sound Control Top

Third, the Goodman brand louvered sound control top. To make a long story short, this is a special top that Goodman puts on all Goodman air conditioner condensers. The unique design reduces condenser operating noise. Which is not a bad thing. The loudest part of any air conditioner is the compressor inside the condenser. Knocking even a few decibels off its operating range provides a little more home comfort.

Filter Drier, Steel Cabinet, & More...

A typical Goodman air conditioner condenser will also include a factory-installed filter drier, galvanized steel cabinet, a steel louver coil guard, top and side maintenance access panels, and a powder-paint finish. Plus, all Goodman units are AHRI certified and ETL listed.

Which is nice if you like abiding by local building codes and qualifying for rebates.

Basically, a Goodman air conditioner or heat pump condenser features quality parts and components. Nothing particularly knocks it out of the park, but it has everything it needs to do the job.

Goodman Air Conditioner Condenser SEER Rating

So you know the components are decent, but what about energy efficiency?

When it comes to that, you have some options. You can get a Goodman air conditioner to deliver 14 SEER, 16 SEER, or 18 SEER performance. All that matters is how much you are willing to pay. 14 SEER, the government minimum, is the lowest priced while 18 SEER is, obviously, the most expensive.

Is an 18 SEER Goodman air conditioner worth the higher price tag?

It can be.

Rebates are the key. Lots of states and utility companies offer rebates for folks who install high efficiency systems. Check out our Rebate Center to see if you qualify for any incentives. A good energy efficiency rebate makes high efficiency technology, Goodman or otherwise, way more attractive.

Goodman Air Conditioner Warranty Coverage

When you spend hundreds or thousands on a new Goodman air conditioner, you want to know that your investment is protected for years to come. So, what kind of warranty protection does Goodman provide?

A typical Goodman air conditioner or heat pump condenser will come with a minimum of 5 years of warranty protection. This is not a particularly long warranty. However, it is very easy to extend those terms.

Warranty Registration

Goodman requests that all homeowners register their new Goodman HVAC product within 90 days of installation. This is easy to do. Just go to their website and click on "Product Registration". Fill out the short form there, and your warranty is instantly extended to 10 years.

Which is nice.

Depending on the product, you might even be able to qualify for lifetime protection on the compressor. This requires that you both register the warranty and match your Goodman air conditioner with a qualified Goodman air handler (or other AHRI approved Goodman brand product).

Is that worth it? Usually, yeah. A lifetime compressor warranty is nice. And remember those incentives we talked about? Most of those will want you to give them an AHRI number to verify the efficiency standards. You might not be able to get one of those if you install a Goodman air conditioner condenser with something old and weird.

How Much Does a Goodman Air Conditioner Usually Cost?

Now we get to the meat of the matter: price.

Because, let's face it, energy efficiency and quality components are all fine and good until the price tag gives you a heart attack. Fortunately, Goodman knows this. We're happy to inform you that Goodman air conditioner condensers are very competitively priced. They might not always be the lowest priced condensers on the market, but they definitely won't be the most expensive.

Example Prices

This is an economy 13 SEER 1.5 ton Goodman air conditioner condenser. It is a low price, but don't get too excited. Only folks in the North Region can use it.

However, anyone can install a standard 14 SEER 3.5 ton Goodman air conditioner condenser. This isn't going to blow your socks off in terms of efficiency savings, but sometimes you just don't want to spend a lot of money. And, hey, we get that.

For those to whom price is no object, here's a top of the line 18 SEER 5 ton Goodman air conditioner condenser. This is Goodman's version of the Cadillac. It has all the bells and whistles.

Thank Goodness for Goodman Air Conditioner Condensers!

Do you want to know more about Goodman air conditioner or heat pump condensers? Let us know in the comments!