American Standard HVAC

American Srandard HVAC Main

When people talk about HVAC reliability in the U.S., American Standard often comes up alongside Trane – and that’s not a coincidence. The two share a parent company and a reputation for building rugged, efficient equipment. But American Standard carves out its own identity with a slightly more accessible price point and a product line that’s heavily focused on balancing everyday comfort with long-term dependability. Over the years, I’ve seen these systems perform well in both suburban homes and older properties where consistent climate control is a must. Let’s take a closer look at how American Standard stacks up across the key performance aspects.

In this review, I am evaluating American Standard using three current residential ducted flagships that I install and service most often: the AccuComfort Platinum 20 Air Conditioner for cooling, the Gold S9V2 Gas Furnace for heating, and the AccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump for all-season operation. These models represent the brand’s core strengths - precise modulation, quiet delivery, and durable construction - and they are the ones I see performing reliably i real homes across different U.S. climates.

Goodman HVAC

Goodman HVAC main picture

For decades, Goodman has been known as the HVAC brand that delivers straightforward, affordable comfort systems without the luxury pricing of top-tier competitors like Carrier or Lennox. Founded in 1975 and now part of Daikin Industries, Goodman benefits from global R&D while still focusing on value-oriented systems built for the American residential market.

In this review, I’ll focus on three key models that showcase Goodman’s capabilities: the GSXC7 Air Conditioner, the GSZC7 Heat Pump, and the GMVM97 Gas Furnace. These units represent the upper end of Goodman’s residential offerings, combining competitive efficiency, reliable performance, and some smart technology integration through ComfortBridge™.

While Goodman has historically been seen as a “budget” brand, its recent lineup demonstrates significant improvements in quality, efficiency, and warranty coverage. Still, it’s worth noting that Goodman’s reputation remains closely tied to installation quality—when properly installed, these systems can perform exceptionally well, but poor installs are more common at this price tier, which can skew homeowner experiences.