The Good & Bad American Standard/Trane

Trane, founded in 1885 then finally incorporated in 1913 is truly the perfect example of a classic American dream company that grew into a global one. It all started with James Trane, driven by the cold air of La Crosse, Wisconsin winters, James invented a new low-pressure heating system by the name of the “Trane Vapor Heating System”. It just so happens that upon the creation of this new invention James had a son who was returning home from college by the name of Ruben, receiving his degree in mechanical engineering. The duo started manufacturing operations and Trane was created. But in 1923 things blew up for the company upon Ruben’s invention of “Convector Radiator”. This firmly established the company as an innovator in the HVAC industry. Using that reputation to build the company on ever since. Trane is a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems manufacturer. Building superior management systems and controls keeping your family cool on the hottest of summer days and toasty on those frigid winter mornings. Trane is a subsidiary of Trane Technologies and is the sister company to the American Standard Companies. It makes products under the Trane and American Standard brand names with over 120 years of experience in the industry!

Before going any further into the good and bad you the homeowner need to understand the difference between a “Trane” and “American Standard” system and dealer. When it comes the equipment the difference is pretty much nothing. All air handlers, coils, heat kits and parts are the exact same off the same assembly line and same American factory. However, the condenser’s that are exactly the same internally differ in visual ascetics just a little bit. Other than that they are literally the same thing. Now when it comes to the dealership side of things this is where things are a bit different. Here at Browning Heating and Air we are an American Standard Platinum dealer. Basically being an American Standard dealer just proves to the homeowner that your company is at that next level of customer service and premium installation. Only four companies in our North Florida territory currently deal American Standard equipment. This allows the homeowner to know for sure that they are dealing with a quality company that we not sell you something and vanish. Also, with such a small dealer base we have an exceptionally faster turnaround time on any warranty parts and issues. Simply to become a Trane dealer, as long as you have your HVAC license you can buy 14 SEER equipment and becoming a full dealer is not a very hard task. This means dealers with not necessarily the best ethics can get and sell this product. Therefore, this can also lead to poor installation causing unit issues and potentially premature system failure. Sadly, in some cases making a homeowner think the product is faulty and “junk” when the real issue started with installation. Remember cheaper is NOT better this day in age.

Saving you money from the day you buy, until the day it dies- If you are in the market for long-lasting savings, utilizing electricity to run these heat pumps, Trane and American Standard heat pumps are recognized among the industry’s most efficient HVAC systems. Heat pumps featuring higher HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) ratings create the most heat utilizing the least amount of energy. Think of it like MPG in your car. Would you want to purchase a car that receives low miles per gallon knowing you will be driving it every day? Well HSPF ratings work similarly, the higher the HSPF the more money you save.

Built by Trane Runs like a Train- Each Trane/American Standard product is created to every small detail then continually tutored ensuring durability and reliability. Other manufacturers tend to construct their products with pretty much the same basic material available to the whole industry. Trane/American Standard has made it a point to separate themselves from this and stand out from the pack. To achieve that, Trane technologies designs builds and tests many of its parts in-house. Pushing each material and part well beyond industry standards, making sure they achieve the reliability you expect from a Trane/American Standard Product. Parts like the durable Climatuff® compressor that to this day is the only compressor Trane technologies use in their residential systems. Well known for low noise levels, high efficacy, and superior durability. Or the exclusive Spine Fin™ coil an all-aluminum outdoor gives much greater heat-exchanging capabilities and more resistant to corrosion than a typical copper/aluminum coil.

Extreme Product Testing- Trane products are tested and tested at the SEET (Systems Extreme Environmental Test) lab in Tyler, Texas. These Train products face a 16-week toucher test. Being exposed to extreme heat and bone-chilling cold, repetitiously in two-week sessions. In some cases, units go through 2,600 hours of continuous testing. Followed by a full 7 days of salt spray to monitor corrosion resistance. Putting units through 5 years of wear and tear in just a few months does nothing but solidifies Trane’s company philosophy of creating a product you can rely on for years to come. It is simple if a product cannot withstand testing it just does not get made or sold.

Warranty Opportunity- Each Trane residential system comes with a simple Base Limited Warranty. This warranty applies to parts that break due to manufacturer defect, however, does not include labor costs. A base Limited Warranty could range from 1 year to 20 years that depends on the product purchased. However, if you register your new Trane system within 60 days of your installation date that “base” warranty is lengthened and evolves into a Registered Limited Warranty at no additional cost. This registered warranty can range from 5 years to a lifetime depending on the product purchased. This registration can be done by phone or online. The last warranty option available to the consumer is the Optional Extended Warranty, this is warranty covers the cost of parts and labor.

Unit Prices- When it comes to Trane/American Standard there a couple of downsides in the eyes of the consumer. One of those things that can be argued is the pricing of Trane/American Standard systems. Trane technologies are not known as the cheapest option in the HVAC industry. Units tend to be a little more expensive compared to other units. For example, a Goodman 4 Ton 16 SEER heat pump vs a Trane 4 Ton 16 SEER heat pump, roughly has a $1,500 difference in price for equipment only. Now you can look at this in two aspects. Yes, you are paying significantly more for a system than some others. But you have to remember that you get what you pay for in life. You are paying for better parts and materials, therefore extending the life of your unit. Yes, you may pay more upfront for a better system. But you need to also consider efficiency and what it is going to save you long term. Cheaper systems may cost less at first, but in the long run, the more expensive option may save you money and headaches.

Leaking Coils- If you have done any research on Trane/American Standard units you have probably come across one thing that largely stood out the most in negative reviews about the systems. That being the issue of Freon leaking from the coil, therefore not allowing the system to operate correctly. Some of these issues claimed to be noticed right away but most tend to happen 3-5 years into the life of the unit. Trane does have a limited warranty on systems sold and, in most cases, Trane does replace the coil after this issue. However, they do not pay for the labor to replace that coil. Roughly changing out a coil in labor will set you back about $1000. But the good news is the issue, for the most part, has been found and corrected (it was a soldering machine flaw). It was found that between the years of 2017-2019 a large bad batch of coils was distributed and installed in homes all over the country with this issue. As of 2020, Trane/American Standard has fixed these issues and American Standard specifically still works with homeowners on these issues. You just have to keep in mind, this was an issue from the past. These negative reviews being posted on a unit purchased in 2017 has zero reflection of the product put out today in 2021. A very large amount of innovation has taken place in the HVAC industry in the last few years. Just as people learn from their mistakes so do companies!