There are many reasons for which Goodman furnaces make such a popular choice for customers. The best warranties within the home heating industry (replacement of the whole furnace when the heat exchanger fails), balance quality-price, safety features are some of the many qualities convincing the customers. Even if the company is relatively new compared with other reputed manufacturers, it caught the customer’s attention much for the excellent value products.
Ever since 2012, when Goodman was bought by Daikin Global (it’s one of the most representative HVAC manufacturing companies), Goodman began a new era without shifting from the fundamental principle of making low-cost products with impressive warranties.
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What’s to say about Goodman furnaces in a nutshell?
Goodman furnaces make a very reliable choice for the customers on fix budget. Even if they don’t come with all the bells and whistles of high-end furnaces, Goodman models compensate with the great warranty, improved dehumidification modes, and overall value for the price.
Some may miss a better variety for the top-quality choices, but that’s the minor downside to consider when your Goodman furnace ticks most boxes within the category.
How are Goodman furnaces different from other brands?
Many things give value to a furnace, and the Goodman furnaces sure come with plenty of qualities. However, some aspects make them stand out from the opponents:
Price and value
Most Goodman furnaces start at $2,000 (installation included) and go up to $3,300 for the best models. Similar models from the opponent manufacturers will cost you a couple of hundreds more, so even if the Goodman furnaces won’t come with all the impressive features, they still make a perfect choice for most homeowners out there.
Energy-efficiency
The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating of Goodman furnace ranges from 80% to 90%, which makes them energy-efficient. Should you live in warmer regions, where 80%-90% efficiency is ideal, the Goodman furnaces make the best choice for the money.
Warranty
A manufacturer offering an impressive warranty for its products says a lot about how much he trusts the products. When you’re registering in the first 60 days, you can benefit from 10-year energy efficiency for the parts, 10-year unit replacement warranties on some models, and even a lifetime warranty for the heat exchanger (if you’re the homeowner).
What makes Goodman furnaces reliable?
Several aspects give value to a furnace, and it’s the whole package for the Goodman furnaces, making them reliable for commercial and residential use.
Features
There’s a perfect number of features that make the Goodman furnaces dependable, with the models of 90% AFUE rating presenting several high-end features.
Many models come with a single-stage or two-stage gas valve, whereas the high-end options come with modulating gas valves. The gas valves affect the way the gas furnace achieves the desired thermostat temperatures.
The single-stage valves come with one flame level and an automatic switch when achieving the desired temperature. They’re less energy-efficient than other models and generate more temperature fluctuation.
Two-stage gas valves are similar to single-stage models but come with two various flame levels for obtaining the desired temperature.
Modulating gas valves presents more variation in flame levels and can adjust to maintain the temperature inside the house within one or two degrees of the desired temperature. They’re able to do it while saving energy, which makes them even more valuable and dependable for home use.
It’s common for Goodman furnace to come with auto-comfort mode, which lets the gas furnace efficiently and quickly dehumidify the house. Models in the GME range typically feature a multi-speed ECM blower motor, so the fan motor can ramp up and down, which improves the air conditioning.
Variety of models
Goodman furnaces aren’t categorized by series, but by the AFUE rating. Goodman’s best options have 90% and above ratings, whereas most models are rated within the 80% range. There are 15 models in the 90%+ category and 13 models in the lower rating class.
GMVM97 is probably the most performant gas furnace from Goodman and impresses with the 98% AFUE rating. The price may throw off some customers, but the furnace is loaded with the extra-features within the high-top class. ComfortBridge technology, self-calibrating modulating gas valve, and variable-speed blower are some of the features that provide accurate heating options and dependable use. It’s energy star certified and comes in both five and 10-ton options.
Should your budget be tight, the GMVC 80 is a perfect choice. It comes with a high-efficiency variable-speed motor and runs quietly. It presents an 80% AFUE rating, so it’s reliable for warmer regions.
Is maintenance difficult with Goodman furnaces?
Regardless of what you may think, heating and cooling systems work very hard for performing their jobs for the house. They start, stop, and run continuously, which wears them down relatively fast. Unless you maintain your furnace properly, the risk of unexpected incidents and malfunctioning is high.
When you take care of the furnace always, service it regularly, expand the furnace’s life span, and reduce the risk of failures. Preventive maintenance inspections developed from time to time will help you identify any rusts, leaks, soot, rot, corroded electrical contacts, or frayed wires. Addressing these issues from the moment they occur will help your furnace work better for a longer time.
Do you need special equipment for maintenance?
Once a year (at least), you should hire professionals for maintenance of your Goodman furnace. You should also check ducts, dampers, pipes, radiators, oil tanks, gas meter, and all the other elements of your furnace at least once a year.
Air conditioning unit and heat pump require inspections, with maintenance for the fan, indoor coils, outdoor coils, compressor, and refrigerant lines.
Why perform pre-season maintenance?
Keeping the indoor temperature the way you desire the whole year is a very challenging job for your furnace. Generating a pleasant temperature in the house is a tricky balancing operation between airflow, equipment, and mechanics. Correct maintenance will help your furnace maintain the balance, despite the continuous starting, stopping, and on-demand process.
Seasonal maintenance will reduce the risk against unplanned failures, expanding the lifespan of the furnace. The pre-season inspection helps you discover the small issues (corroded electrical contact, frayed wires, soot, rust, rot, leaks), which may affect the furnace when left unaddressed.
Also, efficient maintenance will lower the energy costs by 5 to 40%, depending on the furnace.
Which kind of filter should you utilize?
Typical furnace filters are fine for running the system and keeping the duct clean, but they will not improve your household’s quality of air. You will need to also install a media filter between the primary return ducts and the blower cabinet. A media filter can improve the particle and dust removal by seven times than conventional furnace filters. A pleated media filter will also eliminate insecticide dust and even airborne viruses, making a reliable choice for allergy patients.
Should you also install a media filter, keep in mind that it will make the furnace work harder (they come with tight fiber weave) to blow air throughout the home. suffice it to say it, servicing and providing maintenance for your furnace more than once a year is necessary.
One last thought
Goodman furnaces are reliable and make an excellent choice for a tight budget. If you’re willing to pay the extra buck, you can also take the leap of faith with more expensive models, as Goodman also provides high-end choices. No matter which way you want to go, it’s also a wise decision to install a Goodman furnace in your home.
