Rheem Vs Carrier: Which HVAC Brand Is Best For You?

Rheem At A Glance

With around 100 years of experience in HVAC manufacturing and being one of the largest manufacturers in North America, Rheem has become a familiar name in many households. Rheem strives to deliver great-quality services and products at affordable prices. Additionally, the company strives to achieve the 2025 Sustainability Goals.

Rheem offers a wide range of products such as air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, mini-splits, air handlers, and cooling coils.

Carrier at a Glance

Carrier is known for manufacturing refrigerant, HVAC, and security equipment and is always in the lead when it comes to heating and cooling products. The company also produces reliable, innovative, and high-performing products in the HVAC category. They prioritize providing a premium experience and safety features for the customers.

Carrier offers a wide range of products, such as air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, ductless systems, fans, coils, boilers, and VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow).

Rheem Vs Carrier: Detailed Comparison

Though both are top brands when it comes to HVAC products and services, some differences affect the customer’s preference. For example, the difference in SEER rating is a big deal for customers with limited budgets because they can’t spend more money on energy bills. The same goes for the price of the product and the noise level when they operate.

Following are some of the key points that show the difference between the two brands and will help you choose one as per your preference:

Design

Carrier and Rheem are two of the best HVAC manufacturers on the market, and they offer products with unique, modern, and functional designs. Both brands make many air conditioners that fit into all types of modern homes.

Rheem makes the smallest-sized air handlers and designs cooling and condensing coils with aluminum. The best deal for customers is a modern design with an affordable price range and a variety of sizes available.

Carrier shines when it comes to performance and efficiency, and the design provides more than satisfactory performance. All the systems at Carrier are quiet, long-lasting, and efficient. Carrier’s AC units can only function properly if they are installed correctly by a professional.

Build Quality and Durability

Rheem is a mid-range central AC system that offers comfort and affordability. The products are less efficient compared to the Carrier and they are fragile and wear out faster.

Carrier is one of the best HVAC brands to offer better build quality and durability. It produced the first contemporary AC unit with a high-quality design and higher efficiency.

Performance

The new generation of air conditioning units is way better than the old ones. Both brands manufacture AC units to meet modern-day demands.

Rheem offers satisfactory performance across all products. Because of their affordability and variety of options, the products are more popular than those of Carrier. 

Carrier products are known for good performance. And a properly installed unit with regular maintenance will perform efficiently and last longer.

Noise Levels

Both manufacture quiet systems when it comes to the noise levels of operating AC units. Rheem manufactures HVAC products that make noise as low as 72 to 78 decibels (approx). Carrier is also known for producing quiet systems, and the noise level ranges from 44 to 89 decibels (approx).

Energy Efficiency

A SEER rating is necessary for keeping energy consumption to a minimum. People always look for products with a better SEER rating. Carrier has a SEER rating between 13 and 26, and the brand has received awards such as the Innovative Manufacturer or Supplier of the Year award from the Climate Control Award. Carrier is also known for making products with non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.

Rheem has a slightly lower SEER rating compared to Carrier. A rating between 11 and 20.5 is a good range, and Rheem recently received multiple awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Star Partner of the Year) and CES 2023 (Innovation Award in Sustainability, Eco-Design, & Smart Energy Category).

Installation

Proper installation is necessary for the air conditioners to function properly and save energy. Both Rheem and Carrier have a network of contractors across the nation and you can call them for the installation.

Maintenance and Repairs

When you compare the pricing of both brands, Rheem is always the preferred one. Whether it’s an air conditioner or a heat pump, Carrier’s products are a bit expensive in comparison. The same goes for the availability of parts. When you want to replace any parts of your air conditioner, it is difficult to get parts for Carrier products as they are mostly custom-made. Whereas Rheem air conditioners use off-the-shelf components.

Maintenance is easy for both brands, as you can find a local or company-authorized professional nearby. If the components are properly installed, the maintenance is easy, and products of both brands require the same cleaning process.

Features & Capacities

Both brands offer various air conditioning products with different capacities and features.

Pricing

Carrier and Rheem are the two top brands in the HVAC industry, and both are priced differently and focus on different audiences. Carrier offers premium products with a high SEER rating and low installation charges. Whereas Rheem offers budget-friendly products with an average SEER rating and cheap/easy-to-get components.

The price range of HVAC products from both brands is as follows:

• Rheem: $3,390 to $6,690
• Carrier: $3,000 to $15,000

Which one should you go for? Rheem or Carrier?

Carrier and Rheem are at the top when it comes to the most popular and widely accepted brands. However, people choose these brands for different reasons, and if you want a premium product with higher energy efficiency and a low noise level, Carrier is the one. And, if you want an affordable, eco-friendly product that provides better warranty service, you can go for Rheem.

Each brand attracts different sections of people, and with the detailed comparison available in this blog, you can choose a brand according to your requirements and budget. 

If you’re still unsure about which brand to choose, you can refer to our detailed review on best hvac brands for further clarity.