Goodman air conditioner prices: what is published and what to compare

That figure comes from a survey of 1,000 homeowners who repaired or replaced their HVAC system within the last five years. It is an average of what people reported paying. This Old House says to treat a brand average as a starting point, not a guaranteed price.

Goodman's own website does not list prices for its air conditioners, furnaces or heat pumps. No reliable published range for Goodman furnaces or heat pumps was found for this guide, so those figures are left out. A written quote from a local contractor is the only number you can act on.

Goodman equipment reaches homeowners through HVAC contractors. The contractor buys the equipment, installs it and sets the installed price. Three things decide that price.

• The model line. Like other manufacturers, Goodman offers single-stage, two-stage and variable-speed equipment at rising price levels, and a range of SEER2 ratings.
• The size. More tons of cooling or more BTU of heating costs more.
• The installation. Labor, refrigerant lines, the pad, electrical work, duct changes, permits and removal of the old system are all in the installed price. This part varies the most from one contractor to the next.

Because the installer has so much influence on both price and results, spend as much time checking the contractor as the equipment. Confirm the state license, ask how the system will be sized, and ask what startup checks they perform. The AC replacement cost guide explains how size, SEER2 and region move the price for any brand.

Goodman's air conditioner warranty page says online registration should be completed within 60 days of the installation date. With registration, the limited warranty on parts runs for a period of up to 10 years for the original registered owner. Without registration, Goodman says the air conditioner's applicable warranty period is 5 years.

Goodman lists California, Florida, Georgia and Quebec as places that do not allow limited warranty coverage to be conditioned on registration, each with its own effective date. The pages describe parts coverage. Labor coverage comes from your installer or from a separately purchased plan.

Either you or the installing contractor can register. Ask who will do it, and keep the confirmation with your invoice. Read the warranty certificate for your exact model, because terms differ by product.

• Exact model numbers for the outdoor unit, the indoor coil or air handler, and the furnace. A brand name alone tells you very little.
• Size and efficiency. Tons or BTU, SEER2 for cooling, and whether the compressor is single-stage, two-stage or variable-speed.
• How the size was chosen. A load calculation for your house beats copying the old unit's size.
• Scope of installation. Refrigerant lines, pad, electrical, drain, duct changes, thermostat, permit and removal of the old equipment.
• Warranties. The manufacturer's parts term, who registers the equipment, and the installer's own labor warranty in writing.

When two contractors quote Goodman equipment at very different prices, check the model numbers first. Then compare the scope line by line and the labor warranty each one offers. A low price with a short labor warranty and no permit is a different deal from a higher price that includes both. More replacement prices are in the HVAC cost guides.