Rheem vs Goodman AC in 2026: Prices, SEER2 and Warranty

Rheem and Goodman are real competitors, not sibling brands. Rheem has belonged to Japan's Paloma since 1988 and runs its US air conditioning business from Fort Smith, Arkansas; Goodman has belonged to Daikin since 2012 and is built near Houston. Checked on October 16, 2026, Rheem reaches higher at the top, with the RA19AY at up to 20 SEER2 and 13 EER2 against Goodman's GXV9S at 19 SEER2, while Goodman spreads unit-replacement coverage across more of its line. They also run different refrigerants: R-454B on Rheem's current Endeavor models, R-32 across Goodman's range.

The common claim that Rheem is the more reliable brand has no public failure data behind it, in either direction. Decide on the dealer, the exact tier and the written warranty.

Quick comparison

Decision	Rheem	Goodman
Owner	Paloma, since 1988	Daikin, since 2012
Same-platform sibling	Ruud	Amana
Refrigerant, current line	R-454B, Y-suffix models	R-32, all 7 models
Top model	RA19AY, 20 SEER2, 13 EER2	GXV9S, 19 SEER2
Two-stage model	RA16AY, 17 SEER2, 12 EER2	GLXT7C, 17.2 SEER2
Parts, registered	10 years	10 years
Unit replacement	10 years, RA19AY only, conditional	5 years on GLXT7C, GXV6S, GXV9S
Registration window	90 days	60 days
3-ton price, one publisher	$4,500 to $7,500	$3,800 to $6,500

The price row is HVAC Project Cost's standard 3-ton replacement, updated August 3, 2026, without permits, ducts or panel work. SEER2 and EER2 are family maximums; your rating is the AHRI certificate for your outdoor unit and indoor coil together.

How we compared them

Equipment. Rheem's air conditioner catalog, model pages and spec sheets, and Goodman's range, model pages and spec sheets dated July 2025 to April 2026, all read on October 16, 2026. Our Rheem and Goodman brand profiles carry the wider history.
Warranty. Rheem's residential split-system warranty form 92-26150-66-11 (January 2026) and its Select-series form, against Goodman's certificates dated October 2026 and its warranty-information page.
Prices. Our 3-ton cost model (data version 2026-07-10, reviewed August 16, 2026), HVAC Project Cost (July 15 and August 3, 2026), Fixr (August 29, 2025) and This Old House (August and October 2026).
Sound. The AHRI 270 sound rating in dBA for the 3-ton size from each spec sheet. We did no lab testing and hold no first-party quote data.

Who makes Rheem and Goodman

Item	Rheem	Goodman
Parent	Paloma, Japan, since 1988	Daikin, since November 1, 2012
US cooling base	Fort Smith, Arkansas	Daikin Texas Technology Park, near Houston
Warranty issued by	Rheem Sales Company	Daikin Comfort Technologies Manufacturing
Same-platform brand	Ruud, UA model prefix	Amana, licensed name
Bought online	Not warranted	Not warranted unless a dealer installs it

Cooling Post reported Paloma's 1988 purchase of Rheem when Paloma Rheem Holdings completed its tender for Fujitsu General in May 2025. Arkansas's economic development agency described Fort Smith in November 2022 as the headquarters of Rheem's US air conditioning business, a 50-plus-year-old plant getting over $20 million of new investment. Rheem's warranty form names Rheem Sales Company as the maker of Rheem, Ruud, Sure Comfort, Russell by Rheem, Friedrich and Whirlpool products, and it lists Ruud's UA models in the same rows as Rheem's RA models (for example R/UA19AY).

Daikin completed its $3.7 billion purchase of Goodman Global on November 1, 2012, and in 2017 consolidated Goodman's four US factories into its Texas Technology Park, per Daikin's 2022 release. Goodman's own model pages say its units are "assembled in the U.S.A." Amana is the Goodman twin; our Goodman vs Amana comparison checks that pair line by line.

Refrigerant: R-454B versus R-32

Both refrigerants meet the federal limit of 700 GWP for new residential split systems made since January 1, 2025, and both are mildly flammable A2L gases. EPA lists R-454B at 465 GWP and R-32 at 675. They are not interchangeable, so the servicing contractor has to stock the right one.

Rheem. Y-suffix Endeavor models (RA19AY, RA16AY, RA15AY, RA14AY, RA13NY, WA15AY) list R-454B. The catalog still shows Z-suffix twins (RA18AZ, RA16AZ, RA15AZ, RA14AZ, RA13NZ, WA15AZ) with no refrigerant stated; our brand data records them as the earlier R-410A generation.
Goodman. All seven current models are R-32. The GSXV9 and GSXC7 that the earlier version of this page compared no longer appear on Goodman's site.

A final EPA rule published May 26, 2026 (91 FR 31284) removed the federal install deadline for systems built entirely from components made or imported before 2025, so leftover R-410A equipment can still be installed under federal law; New York keeps its own January 1, 2026 cutoff. Our R-454B vs R-410A guide covers what each means for service, and every refrigerant connection needs an EPA Section 608 certified technician.

Model for model at each tier

Rheem publishes SEER2 and EER2 for every model. Goodman publishes neither EER2 nor per-pair ratings on its pages and spec sheets, which point to a dealer configuration tool. Sound is the 3-ton AHRI 270 rating from each spec sheet.

Entry tier: single-stage, our standard band of $6,000 to $9,800

Model	SEER2 / EER2	3-ton dBA	Unit replacement
Rheem RA14AY	15.2 / 12	71	None
Rheem WA15AY, Select	15.2 / 12.0	72	None
Rheem RA15AY	16 / 13	69, as low as	None
Goodman GLXS4B	15.2 / not given	67	None
Goodman GLXS5B	16.5 / not given	71	None

Two entry models are northern-region units: Rheem's RA13NY (13.4 SEER2, 9 EER2), which Rheem says "meets energy standards for Northern regions only," and Goodman's GLXS3B (up to 15 SEER2), whose model numbers carry an N region code. DOE requires 14.3 SEER2 for split air conditioners in the Southeast and Southwest. The RA15AY figure comes from Rheem's consumer brochure, based on internal testing in 2025, not a per-size table.

Mid tier: two-stage, our better band of $7,200 to $12,800

Model	SEER2 / EER2	3-ton dBA	Unit replacement
Rheem RA16AY	17 / 12.0	72	None
Goodman GLXT7C	17.2 / not given	70	5 years

"Up to" matters here. The RA16AY spec sheet labels its 3-ton model a 16 SEER2 unit and lists its designated tested combination, with an RCFY3617STAN coil, at 14.3 SEER2 and 11.7 EER2. Both run a two-stage scroll compressor; the GLXT7C's is a Copeland Ultra-Tech.

Top tier: variable-speed inverter, our premium band of $9,500 to $16,800

Model	SEER2 / EER2	3-ton dBA	Unit replacement
Rheem RA19AY	20 / 13	57 to 72	10 years, conditional
Goodman GXV9S	19 / not given	71, 57 in quiet mode	5 years
Goodman GXV6S	17.2 / not given	68	5 years

The RA19AY runs from 40 to 100 percent of capacity, with overdrive to 115 percent, and its spec sheet lists the 3-ton tested combination with a Rheem RHMVY air handler at 34,200 Btu/h, 19.0 SEER2 and 12.0 EER2. Rheem lists two sound ratings per size without naming the operating points; at 3 tons they are 57 and 72 dBA. The GXV9S is a side-discharge cabinet rated at 35,000 Btu/h maximum at 3 tons; its 57 dBA comes from the quietest of three quiet-mode settings, which trims capacity by about 35 percent.

The flagship efficiency gap is small money. At 1,000 full-load hours a year, a 3-ton system uses 1,895 kWh at 19 SEER2 and 1,800 at 20, a 95 kWh difference worth about $17 at EIA's July 2026 US residential average of 18.31 cents per kWh. Our SEER2 guide runs the math with your own rate.

Warranty, tier by tier

Term	Rheem	Goodman
Parts, not registered	10 years on RA19AY; 5 on Classic and Select	5 years
Parts and compressor, registered	10 years	10 years
Unit replacement	10 years, RA19AY only	5 years: GLXT7C, GXV6S, GXV9S
Conditions for it	Rheem air handler, or coil plus gas furnace; EcoNet thermostat; district pre-approval	Registration only
Registration window	90 days	60 days
Who keeps it	Original purchaser, owner-occupied single-family home	Original registered owner or spouse

Two corrections to the earlier version of this page. It credited the discontinued GSXC7 and GSXV9 with lifetime compressor coverage and 10-year unit replacement; the October 2026 certificate for the GLXT7C, GXV6S and GXV9S gives 5 years of unit replacement and no lifetime term, even though Goodman's 2025 spec sheets still print 10 years. On the Rheem side, the warranty form does state the window, 90 days from installation or closing, and Rheem's two-stage RA16AY Classic Plus gets no unit replacement ("N/A" on the form).

The fine print differs in a way that matters. Rheem's flagship keeps 10 years of parts even if nobody registers, but its unit replacement needs a new Rheem air handler, or a Rheem coil with a Rheem gas furnace, matched per AHRI, plus a Rheem EcoNet thermostat and pre-approval by a district technical representative. Goodman's 5-year unit replacement has no indoor-equipment condition on the certificate. One oddity: Rheem's form gives the R-410A RA16AZ 10 years of parts unregistered and conditional unit replacement, terms its R-454B successor lacks.

State law moves the deadlines. Rheem's form says Florida installs from April 1, 2024 receive the longest coverage without registering. Goodman lists California, Florida (from July 1, 2024), Georgia (from January 1, 2026) and Quebec as places where registration cannot be required, and requires transfer with the house in Florida, Georgia and Texas. Neither covers labor unless state law says otherwise, and both refuse consumer internet purchases. Our AC warranty guide covers what parts coverage leaves out.

What a 3-ton Rheem or Goodman system costs

Our planning bands come from the cost model behind the 3-ton installed cost page: outdoor unit, matched coil, removal, labor, commissioning and a permit on usable ducts. Brand is not an input; the compressor sets the tier.

3-ton tier	Our installed band	Rheem	Goodman
Standard, single-stage	$6,000 to $9,800	RA14AY, RA15AY, WA15AY	GLXS4B, GLXS5B
Better, two-stage	$7,200 to $12,800	RA16AY	GLXT7C
Premium, variable speed	$9,500 to $16,800	RA19AY	GXV6S, GXV9S

Source and date	Rheem	Goodman	What it covers
HVAC Project Cost, Aug 3, 2026	$4,500 to $7,500	$3,800 to $6,500	Standard 3-ton swap
HVAC Project Cost, Jul 15 and Aug 3, 2026	$7,000 to $13,000	$5,500 to $7,500	Top series, Prestige vs GXV9S
Fixr, Aug 29, 2025	$3,650 to $6,450	$3,800 to $6,650	3-ton unit cost
This Old House, Oct 2, 2026	$9,571	$7,246	Survey average, all sizes

The publishers do not agree on the gap. HVAC Project Cost puts Goodman $700 to $1,000 below Rheem at 3 tons, Fixr has Rheem $150 to $200 cheaper, and This Old House's survey averages, which blend sizes and tiers, show a $2,325 gap. Its brands page (August 26, 2026) puts Rheem's sibling Ruud at $9,700 against Goodman's $6,964. Publisher ranges sit below our bands because they price a bare swap; HVAC Project Cost also notes that labor runs 40 to 60 percent of a standard installed price, which is why the dealer moves the number more than the badge. Rheem's own step from Classic to Prestige adds $3,500 to $6,500 on that publisher's July 2026 page.

Worked example: two quotes for the same 3-ton job

This is an illustration built from our cost model, not real bids. Manual J confirms 3 tons, the gas furnace stays, the ducts test fine, and both dealers quote two-stage equipment with a new matched coil.

Line	Rheem dealer	Goodman dealer
Quoted total	$10,400	$9,300
Equipment	RA16AY, matched coil	GLXT7C, matched coil
Line set	Replaced	"Reuse," no test
Permit	Included	Not mentioned
Who registers	Dealer, 90-day window	"Homeowner," 60-day window
Labor warranty	2 years	1 year
Unit replacement	None	5 years
Missing scope, our model	$0	$200 to $2,700
Normalized total	$10,400	$9,500 to $12,000

The Goodman quote is $1,100 cheaper on paper but leaves two lines open: undocumented line-set reuse ($0 to $1,500 allowance in our model) and an unconfirmed permit ($200 to $1,200). Its normalized midpoint, $10,750, lands $350 above the Rheem quote, which already includes a new line set worth $800 to $2,500 in our model. Our line-set reuse test explains what "reuse" should prove.

Goodman's quote still carries something Rheem's does not: 5 years of unit replacement on the GLXT7C. Efficiency is a wash, 17 against 17.2 SEER2 family maximums. Ask the Goodman dealer to price the line-set test and permit in writing. If they total under $1,100, Goodman is cheaper and carries the longer unit term; if not, the Rheem quote is the fair, complete job inside our $7,200 to $12,800 better band. Our quote comparison worksheet runs the full 16-line version.

Who should pick which

The budget straight swap. Rheem's RA14AY and Goodman's GLXS4B are both 15.2 SEER2 single-stage units with 5 years of parts unregistered and 10 registered. Goodman's 3-ton lists 67 dBA against Rheem's 71, and Rheem publishes a 12 EER2. Take the cheaper complete quote.

The two-stage comfort buyer. The GLXT7C gets 5 years of unit replacement that the RA16AY lacks, at a similar efficiency ceiling. Rheem wins this tier only on dealer and scope.

The top-tier buyer replacing the indoor unit too. The RA19AY pairs the highest rating here, 20 SEER2 and 13 EER2, with 10 years of parts even unregistered and conditional unit replacement, if you accept a Rheem air handler or furnace and an EcoNet thermostat. Keeping a non-Rheem furnace? The GXV9S's 5-year unit replacement has no indoor-brand condition.

Pricing the sibling. A Ruud dealer can quote the same Rheem platform, and an Amana dealer the same Goodman hardware with 10 years of unit replacement on four models. Check the size with the AC sizing and cost calculator, widen the list with the best central AC brands, and take a heat pump decision to heat-pumps.guide.

Red flags on a Rheem or Goodman quote

"Rheem is more reliable" as the reason to pay more. No public, independent failure-rate data supports it for either brand.
An undisclosed Z-suffix Rheem. Our brand data records these as the earlier R-410A generation: legal under federal law, not in New York, and worth a price concession.
"10-year unit replacement" on a Rheem below the RA19AY. The warranty form marks it "N/A" for the RA16AY, RA15AY, RA14AY and RA13NY.
RA19AY unit replacement with a non-Rheem furnace or thermostat. The form requires Rheem indoor equipment, EcoNet and district pre-approval.
"Lifetime compressor" on a Goodman. No current Goodman air conditioner certificate lists it; they give 10 years of parts and up to 5 of unit replacement.
Registration left to you. Goodman allows 60 days and Rheem 90; miss it and Classic or Goodman parts drop to 5 years.
A northern-only unit in the South. The RA13NY and GLXS3B are sold for the North, below the 14.3 SEER2 Southeast and Southwest minimum.
"ENERGY STAR certified" or a federal tax credit. EPA ended the central AC specification on February 1, 2026, and the 25C credit does not apply to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.

Holding both proposals? Send them for an independent quote review.

FAQ

Is Rheem better than Goodman?

Not categorically. Rheem reaches higher at the top, 20 SEER2 and 13 EER2 on the RA19AY against 19 SEER2 on the GXV9S, and its flagship keeps 10 years of parts unregistered. Goodman is usually cheaper and gives 5 years of unit replacement on its two-stage and inverter models, where Rheem's RA16AY has none. The dealer and scope decide most jobs.

Is Rheem more reliable than Goodman?

We found no public, independent failure-rate data for either brand, and neither manufacturer publishes service rates. Reliability on a given house depends on sizing, refrigerant charge, airflow and drainage, which is the installer's work. Treat the claim as opinion.

Is Ruud the same as Rheem?

Ruud is Rheem's second brand. Rheem's warranty form names one maker, Rheem Sales Company, for both and lists Ruud's UA models in the same rows as Rheem's RA models, including the flagship (R/UA19AY). Price a Ruud dealer the way you would price Amana against Goodman.

Which refrigerant will a 2026 Rheem or Goodman quote use?

Rheem's Y-suffix Endeavor models use R-454B; the Z-suffix twins still in the catalog state no refrigerant, and our brand data records them as R-410A. Every current Goodman model uses R-32. Confirm the refrigerant on the dataplate of the exact unit quoted.

Which has the better warranty, Rheem or Goodman?

It depends on the tier. At the top, Rheem's RA19AY: 10 years of parts registered or not, plus 10 years of conditional unit replacement. In the two-stage and inverter tiers below it, Goodman: 5 years of unit replacement with no indoor-brand condition. Entry models tie at 5 years of parts unregistered and 10 registered. Neither covers labor.

How much more does Rheem cost than Goodman?

HVAC Project Cost puts a standard 3-ton Rheem at $4,500 to $7,500 and Goodman at $3,800 to $6,500 (August 3, 2026), a $700 to $1,000 gap. Fixr found Rheem slightly cheaper, and This Old House's survey shows $2,325 more. Scope lines in our model, such as a $400 to $1,800 circuit or an $800 to $2,500 line set, can outweigh any of those gaps.

What we could not verify

Reliability by brand. We found no independent public failure-rate data for either badge.
Goodman EER2 and per-pair SEER2. Goodman's pages and spec sheets publish neither; only the AHRI Directory certificate for your pair settles it.
RA15AY 3-ton sound. Rheem's brochure gives "as low as 69 dB" from internal 2025 testing, not a per-size AHRI 270 table.
Z-suffix refrigerant. Rheem's catalog does not state it; R-410A comes from our July 2026 brand data.
Where each model is built. Arkansas names Fort Smith as Rheem's US air conditioning base, and Daikin names its Texas plant for Goodman, but neither maker assigns individual models to plants.
Rheem's district pre-approval. The form requires it for RA19AY unit replacement without describing the process or timing.
HomeGuide and Angi figures. Both block automated access, so we did not re-check them.

Sources

Manufacturer pages and documents checked October 16, 2026.