Goodman Furnace Review
As an overall brand, Goodman furnaces have been criticized by consumers and experts for needing repairs more often than other brands. However, some sources say the company has responded to the negative feedback and revamped all its Goodman furnace lines. If you do choose this brand, ask the installer when it was manufactured (stay away from models built before 2005) and inquire about extended warranties.
Goodman furnaces came under fire several years ago when a comparative ranking of repair histories by Consumer Reports (based on a reader responses to a survey) indicated that Goodman units were less reliable than 10 other major brands. However, Goodman seems to have corrected many of the problems, according to new customers posting Goodman furnace reviews on iVillage's GardenWeb forums and this site.
Still, more time may be needed to effectively judge the reliability of the new models.
Goodman offers a wide range of gas furnaces ranging from units with 80% annual fuel utilization efficiency to 96% AFUE models with Energy Star labels. Many of the lower-priced, lower efficiency models offer two-stage heating and variable speed. The warranty varies depending on the model you choose, so be sure to read the fine print. Many carry a 10-year limited warranty on parts and a lifetime limited warranty on the heat exchanger.
Goodman furnaces seem to have a history of needing more repairs than other brands, and although many of the problems appear to have been corrected, according to Goodman furnace reviews, not enough time has passed to truly assess the brand's longevity. If you decide to take a chance on one of these models, take a close look at the warranty to make sure you'll be covered if anything goes wrong. You may be better off choosing a different cheap furnace with a better reputation.
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