HVAC is a critical component of an indoor air quality system. You can find many HVAC companies in the market today. They come from various brands. Some of the most popular are Rheem vs. Trane HVAC . Which one is best?
According to Consumer Report, Trane is the best for reliability, quietness, and comfort due to its quick cooling and comfort.
Budget-conscious shoppers will appreciate Rheem’s offers too. Before moving ahead, it is essential to look at detailed information for each brand, whether you want to install or replace your HVAC, as it is one of the most significant expenses for a homeowner.
That’s why it’s hard to figure out which HVAC system to choose. Therefore, this post will help you decide between Rheem and Trane.
Brief about Rheem
The Rheem brothers, the founders of Rheem manufacturing, started making water heating systems in 1925. Later on, they expanded air conditioning and HVAC systems in 1950.
They are the largest manufacturers of HVAC and water heating products in the US. Rheem Manufacturing is now owned by Paloma, a Japanese water heater manufacturer.
Brief about Trane
Trane Technologies, Inc. began in 1885 as a family plumbing business. In 1931, the company was incorporated as the Trane Company and patented its first air conditioner.
Seven years later, they have launched large building AC systems. Trane is the most highly efficient, lowest-emissions, and most reliable chiller.
Earlier, Trane was the industry leader for commercial air conditioners. In 1982, Trane expanded its residential and energy management offerings.
After its merger with the American Standard companies, it focused on HVAC services and solutions. It has headquarters in Swords, Ireland.
They have 104 manufacturing locations in 28 countries. They assemble central air conditioners and heat pumps in the United States.
Some of the compressors are even manufactured in Sidney, Ohio. Trane is a sister company to American Standard Companies. As per lifestory research, Trane is America’s most trusted brand.
How does the HVAC system work?
Most homeowners understand HVAC as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, but they are not so clear on the entire HVAC system.
So before understanding the difference between Rheem and Trane for purchasing or replacing, it pays to know how HVAC works.
The HVAC system helps move warm air either into or outside the home. Your HVAC system will help with heating, cooling, and moving air in your home.
HVAC includes furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ductwork, thermostats, and other home comfort controls.
An air conditioner, heat pump, and furnace will capture or create heat. However, the blower motor and ductwork help facilitate the movement of air.
Additionally, AC units will only cool your home by absorbing heat from within your house and moving it outdoors.
Your HVAC system will dehumidify your house by reducing moisture and decreasing humidity in your house.
What to consider when buying a Rheem Vs Trane HVAC
This article contains detailed research data for Rheem vs. Trane. Therefore, you don’t have to figure out the best one when you decide.
Rheem and Trane are both leading companies in the air conditioning industry. They offer a lot of options.
Before deciding on the brand, you should have contacted a professional air conditioning contractor to know the size and capacity required to keep your home cool.
Efficiency of HVAC system
The efficiency of an HVAC system can be determined using a rating system. So you may have a look at SEER, which is one of the essential factors in HVAC quality (the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ).
The higher the SEER rating, the better the efficiency of the HVAC. Energy bills will be lower if the rating is higher.
| Model as per SEER | HVAC Unit | Efficiency Rating |
| Basic Model | Trane XR14 Rheem RA 14 | 16 SEER 15 SEER |
| Better Model | Trane XV18 Rheem RA 17 | 18 SEER 17 SEER |
| Best Model | Trane XV20i Rheem RA 20 | 22 SEER 20.5 SEER |
Trane and Rheem both have basic, better and best models as per energy efficiency. Since the Trane is a little higher as compared to the Rheem, So they are winners in energy efficiency.
Performance
Performance is the next factor in deciding the purchase of an HVAC. The best part is that Rheem and Trane both perform well; they don’t have significant differences.
Rheem and Trane HVAC offer single-stage, two-stage, and variable-stage systems, so you can select the model that best fits your needs.
Capacity of HVAC
Houses require different kinds of HVAC systems depending on their sizes. The capacity of an HVAC system is taken into account using BTUs (British Thermal Units).
As the BTU rating increases, the HVAC system becomes larger.
Rheem and Trane both offer HVAC systems that range from 1.5 tons to 5.0 tons (about 18,000 BTUs to 60,000 BTUs).
Price
Make sure the new HVAC provides a comfortable temperature for your home. Cheaper models will often have more repair and inspection costs.
Always check the purchase cost, installation, and what the potential future repairs will be for the same.
Both Rheem and Trane HVAC have a range of products with different prices based on the basic, midlevel, and premium models.
Trane HVAC system prices are higher than those offered by Rheem HVAC.
Compare all brands available
Many HVAC companies are available, such as Carrier, Bryant, Goodman, Lennox, Trane, Rheem, etc. So in this article, we will discuss the two most popular brands, Trane and Rheem.
Air Quality
HVAC helps homeowners enjoy cleaner and healthier air in their homes. Rheem has advanced filtration that traps and filters the major pollutants passing through your HVAC system.
Rheem Media air cleaner has a one-inch throw-away filter that traps and filters air to reduce pollutants that enter the home through the HVAC system.
Trane units also provide improved air quality and limit exposure to mold, viruses, bacteria, and other particles. Even the corona pandemic made us rethink this issue of the indoor air quality we breathe in.
Trane air cleaners are certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. They use highly efficient electrostatic filters and result in free air flow with exceptional efficiency and comfort.
Trane is the winner in air quality parameters, as Trane Clean Effects Air Cleaners are 100x more effective than traditional filters and even 8x more effective than high-end HEPA filters. Trane air cleaners are certified asthma and allergy-friendly.
Warranty Period
Rheem brands’ warranties depend on the series of the HVAC system. They offer three series: classic, classic plus, and prestige.
| Rheem Classic | More affordable and least efficient |
| Rheem Classic Plus | Midgrade and most popular |
| Rheem Prestige | Top of line |
They have a warranty period of 10 years on limited parts and a limited lifetime on some crucial components.
The warranty on Trane products can shield homeowners from high HVAC repair bills.
The Base Limited Warranty, Registered Limited Warranty, and Optional Extended Warranty are the three types of warranties for Trane HVAC.
Base Limited Warranty covers one to 20 years of the product, excluding labor costs.
A Registered Limited Warranty gets activated when a Trane product is registered within 60 days of installation. This warranty covers a longer duration and protects HVAC components from manufacturing defects. Labor costs are not included in this warranty.
Optional extended warranties provide additional coverage and also include labor costs.It also covers regular HVAC maintenance and servicing.Warranty lengths range from 5 to 12 years.
In the warranty period, Trane comes out on top. Trane offers more years of warranty as compared to Rheem.
Heating system : Furnace
A furnace is an essential part of any HVAC system. A furnace is a heating system that uses different kinds of fuel to heat the air circulated by your home’s HVAC system.
Rheem and Trane have a wide range of electric, gas, and oil furnaces. Rheem’s furnace offers better Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. Furnace having a 90% or above rating is the best rating, and anything below 70% is a low rating.
Rheem’s Classic Plus Series has 80–96% AFUE energy efficiency. The Rheem Prestige series offers the EcoNet® Smart Monitoring System, which will control heating through a mobile app. Rheem’s Plus One Ignition System is the most reliable.
Trane has the most efficient, quietest, and best-value furnace. Trane gas furnace models have an efficiency rating of 80–97% AFUE and better hi-tech technology for communication, providing maximum efficiency.
Trane has a single-stage, two-stage, variable stage, and modulating furnace. Rheem furnace costs will be from $825 to $1,950. And the Trane furnace costs $1900 to $3,000.
When it comes to furnaces, Rheem wins. It is more budget friendly and offers the same kind of AFUE rating .
Cooling Elements
Compressors play an essential role in the cooling element of HVAC. It transfers the hot air inside the house to the outside. Single-stage compressors have a temperature imbalance, and they waste a lot of energy. Even they lack dehumidifiers.
Two-stage compressors have a better temperature balance and humidity reduction than single-stage models. Higher models have variable capacity compressors, which are more comfortable and remove humidity more effectively.
Rheem air conditioners have single-stage, two-stage, and variable operations. Rheem air conditioners have a scroll compressor, also known as the heart of any condensing unit.
They are used for compressing air or refrigerant and make the system more reliable, efficient, and quiet in operation. Rheem AC has up to a 20 SEER rating. Even their refrigerants are also environmentally safe.
Trane air conditioners are highly efficient, with the XV20i having the 22 SEER highest rating. Trane top-tier HVAC air conditioners are designed with variable speed technology to adjust to the cooling needs of your house.
Trane ACs have unique and innovative sound insulators. The Trane XV18 is the quietest, with a sound level of 57dBA.
Rheem AC cost is from $3,150 to $4,000 and Trane AC cost is from $4800 to $10000.
This is a win for Trane for the cooling elements. They have higher rating and its quietest and unique sound insulation as compared to Rheem .
Heating and Cooling Elements
Heat pumps use advanced technology and help with heating and cooling the house. It will move hot air from outside to inside your house during the winter. And during summer, it will move hot air from inside your house to the outdoors.
Rheem offers eight models of heat pumps, and they are single stage, two stage, three stage, and variable speed. Rheem has a scroll compressor that uses advanced orbiting technology and increases home comfort.
Trane heat pumps are the most efficient in the HVAC industry and have ratings of up to 20 SEER and 10 HSPF. Trane has a Climatuff® compressor that is very durable, has low noise levels, and is also highly efficient.
Rheem heat pump costs from $1,200 to $3,750 and Trane heat pump costs from $4,600 to $12,000 in total installation.
Trane has a variety, and Rheem is less expensive. So there is a draw between the two brands.
Average Lifespan and Maintenance
If you assume they are correctly maintained every year, then the Rheem HVAC is supposed to last for 15 years or even more than that. However, the Trane HVAC life expectancy is 15 to 20 years.
But the average lifespan of an HVAC depends on factors like the size of your house, installation, maintenance of the HVAC, and usage of it.
The maintenance of Rheem and Trane HVAC systems is almost identical. It would be best if you had their specialist come and examine the HVAC system once a year, preferably before the heating and cooling seasons. Both have an almost similar average life span.
Packaged HVAC System
A packaged system offers high-quality heating and cooling combined into one unit, usually used in homes without basements, and is generally installed outdoors.
Rheem offers residential packaged HVAC systems with a quiet, long-lasting, efficient scroll compressor and R-410A refrigerant. They are designed for ground or rooftop installation.
Rheem packaged systems have a powder-painted finish and a durable cabinet to protect them from harsh weather conditions. They have one-and three-phase units to give you the level of control that fits your needs. Even they have HumiDry Technology, which helps enhance humidity control.
Trane packaged systems are quiet and ideal for homes with limited space. Packaged systems also match up with Trane Clean Effects Whole-Home Air Cleaners. They have four types of packaged systems.
- Gas electric package system
- Heat Pump Packaged System
- Earthwise Hybrid Dual Fuel Packaged System
- Air conditioner packaged system
Rheem packaged system cost lies between $2,500 to $3,500. Trane packaged system cost lies between $3,300 to $6,000.
There is a draw between Rheem and Trane. Both have packaged HVAC systems with their own unique features.
Rheem HVAC
Pros:
- They have 7 models in range
- Top SEER Rating is 20.
- Price starting from $990
- They have low price and running costs
- Improved quality and higher efficiency .
- 10 year parts and Labor warranty
- Flat aluminum fin with copper coil
- Scroll™ Compressor
- HumiDry Technology
Cons
- Noisy
- No lifetime Warranty
- Expensive Labor cost
Trane HVAC
Pros
- They have 11 models in range
- Excellent Support
- Top SEER Rating is 22..
- Price starting from $3380
- All models have min 10 year on all parts.
- Spine Fin coil-Aluminum Condenser coil
- Advanced Clean Effect Air filters
- Smart Home options-Nexia
- Climatuff® Compressors
- Certified Asthma and allergy friendly product
- Weather Resistant WeatherGuard™ Fasteners
- Allow only certified installers to sell and install.
Cons
- Certain models are noisy
- Maintaining a warranty requires adhering to manufacturer guidelines.
- Bit expensive
Wrap Up : Rheem vs Trane HVAC
In the end, the best HVAC between Rheem and Trane will depend on the needs of your house. Rheem and Trane both have the same kinds of products.
You can pick any one of the brands and you will have all the essential parts of an HVAC.
Rheem and Trane both offer a lot of products depending on the efficiency and price. There are a lot of products to choose from in their series.
Rheem is known for its low purchase and running costs compared to Trane. But that does not mean you can go with Trane. They both have different reasons for being bought and avoided, even though they have other specifications and efficiency ratings.
Finally, it totally depends upon you and your family’s requirements. If you want to go with higher efficiency, rating, and certification, Trane is the best. If you want to go with a budget-friendly product along with all the essential components, you can consider Rheem.
FAQ: Rheem vs Trane HVAC
You can find below some of the most commonly asked questions about Rheem vs. Trane HVAC that we have found while researching this topic.
How long do Trane air conditioners last?
Trane HVAC systems will last for 15 to 20 years. This estimate can vary depending on the HVAC installation, HVAC maintenance, and regular repairs. Usually, homeowners replace the system sooner as they become less efficient and need more repairs, increasing their utility bills.
How long does it take to install HVAC?
HVAC installation may take 1 to 3 days. It may vary and depend on the size of the building’s HVAC to be installed, type of HVAC installation, kind of brand unit needed, and last but not least, the installation location. The proper functioning of the HVAC depends on the correct installation of the system.
