There are a lot of choices out there for air conditioner systems for your home or business. But which ones are worth the money? Today we will be looking at Trane AC vs. Ruud, to help you identify which one is a better fit for you.
Trane HVAC systems are quiet and considered more of a luxury brand with significantly higher prices than other models in their class. Ruud models are a budget-friendly option, but also built to last. However, if you have the extra cash, Trane is a better air conditioner, plus they will save you money on energy bills in the long run.
In this Trane AC vs. Ruud AC comparison, we will give you an understanding of the features and benefits associated with each brand, the key differences between the two, plus look at their warranties, their energy efficiency, and their different products and pricing—hopefully, this information will help you decide which brand is best for your home.
Understanding Both Brands
The main difference between Trane and Ruud is price. As previously stated, Trane brand air conditioners are more pricey, and Ruud is on the lower end with more affordable options. Most people who have owned or dealt with either one of them say they are worth it, so it’s hard to decipher which brand is really better.
One thing that sets Trane and Ruud apart from one another is their SEER. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio in the heating and cooling industry. The SEER rating is calculated by dividing the cooling output by the total energy used during an average cooling season. In short, SEER measures the amount of money and energy required to operate a given unit over a year.
Here is more information about both brands, so you can get a better idea of what they each offer:
Trane
The average SEER of Trane units is 17.33, which means they have lower running costs than their competitors, regardless of how much they cost upfront. It might seem advantageous to buy cheaper and lower SEER units at first, but in the long run, you’ll be better off with higher SEERs.
It is worth spending more on a high-quality Trane AC unit, even though it is a little more expensive than others available on the market, and that’s simply because they spend more money on building Trane systems. The reason we say it’s worth it to go ahead and spend more is because your ROI depends heavily on SEER-level efficiency, and higher SEERs result in faster returns,so you’ll save more money in the long run with Trane.
Trane offers a wide range of warranties you can add to specific units or purchase separately, including:
- A five-year warranty is offered on units not registered in the first 60 days or not registered after 60 days. This warranty excludes labor for repairing defective parts.
- A 10-year warranty covers registered limited liability products for 60 days after installation. The manufacturer’s warranty does not cover labor.
- An extended warranty may cover labor costs if a part fails due to a manufacturer defect.
Ruud
An American mechanical engineer named Edwin Ruud came to America more than 100 years ago and invented the first automatic water heater. In the 1950s, Ruud introduced heating and air conditioning equipment based on a tradition of innovation and value.
Ruud has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of residential and light commercial heating, cooling, and water heating products in North America. New design techniques and better manufacturing technologies have contributed to the expansion, change, and improvement of the Ruud product lines over the years.
In short, Ruud is known as one of America’s highest quality, longest-lasting, most efficient air conditioning and cooling systems manufacturers. Ruud’s product line includes horizontal flow, up-flow, and downflow air conditioners with R410A coils. Ruud air conditioners maximise efficiency by pairing their air conditioners with Ruud condensers.
The condenser fan motors of Ruud’s condensers offer variable speeds in addition to low prices. Ruud Air Conditioners are known for their high efficiency. Ruud Air Conditioners use scroll-style compressors that use less power than standard compressors, which results in very reliable performance. Ruud air conditioners can last you for up to 30 years when installed correctly.
Ruud air conditioners include the following features:
- The warranty covers the parts on select Ruud air conditioners that come with variable-speed blower motors or multi-speed motors.
- Furthermore, Ruud air conditioners feature durable construction for long-lasting use. Finally, some Ruud air conditioners also feature humidity control.
- Ruud condensing units have a louvered jacket that protects coils from damage and makes service and maintenance easy.
- Use scroll compressors with two stages to increase the efficiency of the condensing unit since they operate on demand.
Key Differences Between Trane and Ruud
One of the key differences between Trane HVAC systems and Ruud HVAC systems is that Trane systems are quiet, and Ruud systems can be quite noisy. Another difference is that Ruud has a pretty good selection of medium-efficiency models, while Trane, on the other hand, offers a broad spectrum of high-performance models.
Trane HVAC systems also have an innovative and advanced-looking design, whereas Ruud models favor functionality over aesthetics. Ruud HVAC systems usually have radiator fins, whereas Trane’s units have spine fins. You will see a price comparison below to compare the prices of both brands.
Price
Product Comparison *Prices include installation.
| Trane HVAC Models | Price Range | Ruud HVAC Models | |
| Trane XV18 TruComfort™ Variable Speed Air Conditioner | $6,500+ | Ruud Classic Plus Series: Two-Stage (RA17) | $4,600+ |
| Trane XL16i Air Conditioner | $6,900+ | Ruud Classic Series: Two-Stage (RA17 non communicating) | $3,550+ |
| Trane XL14i Air Conditioner | $6,100+ | Ruud 16 Seer Gas/electric Split System A/C | $7700+ |
| Trane XB13 Air Conditioner | $1,279+ | Ruud 14 Seer Gas/electric Split System A/C | $6700+ |
Durability
Trane and Ruud both have very durable. If we compare Rheem’s Variable Speed (RA20)
Two Air Conditioners with a similar model to Trane’s, such as the XV20i TruComfort™ Variable Speed Air Conditioner, are surprisingly not much different.
- Trane had a 3.9/5 out of a total of 865 ratings
- Ruud reviews
Product Comparison
| Brand Name | Ruud HVACs | Trane HVACs |
| Model Name | Variable Speed (RA20)Air Conditioners | XV20i TruComfort™ Variable Speed Air Conditioner |
| Efficiency | 20.5 SEER / 14.5 EER | Up to 22 SEER |
| Noise | Quiet (Optimized fan orifice and variable speed motor) | Quiet (Compressor Sound Insulator) (57-75 Db) |
| Type of Refrigerant | R-410A refrigerant | R-410A refrigerant |
| Indoor Mounting Options | Wall, low-wall, ceiling | Wall, low-wall, ceiling |
| Warranty Period | 10 year warranty on parts & compressor | 10 year registered limited warranty on outdoor coil and internal functional partsAND12 year registered limited warranty on the compressor. |
| Latest Price | Find a Dealer | Find a Dealer |
Warranty
The warranties with Ruud and Trane are both decent ones, with both brands allowing you to extend the warranty out past the regular warranty period for ten years. Both warranties give you a limited parts and compressor warranty for ten years; there are some slight variations. (as you will see below.)
Product Comparison
| Brand | Ruud | Trane |
| Model | Econet Series Warranty Coverage | TruComfort Air Conditioner |
| Parts | 10 years | 10 years (limited – applies to products registered within 60 days of installation) |
| Conditional Unit Replacement | 10 years | 12 years |
| Limited Parts | 10 years | 10 years |
| Compressor | 10 years | 10 years |
| Extended Warranty Available | Ruud’s Protection Plus® extended service agent program available to extend warranty for 10 years | Available to purchase, this warranty covers parts that fail due to a manufacturer defect and might also cover the cost of labor to fix them. |
Efficiency
Ruud appliances are the best for energy efficiency since they have high-efficiency ratings. Many domestic air conditioners emit hazardous carbon, an essential factor to consider when buying an air conditioner. A high-efficiency air conditioner ensures less energy consumption and safeguards against this.
Trane air conditioners have an Efficiency Rating of Up to 14.8 SEER and are ENERGY STAR® qualified to balance energy efficiency and cooling strength to help lower energy costs.
Product Comparison
| Brand | Ruud | Trane |
| Model | Achiever Series: Single Stage (RA14) | XV20i TruComfort™ Variable Speed Air Conditioner |
| Efficiency | Efficiencies up to 15 SEER/12.5 EER (Optimized for Southwest Region Efficiency Standards) | Efficiency Rating Up to 22 SEERENERGY STAR® qualified |
| ENERGY STAR® qualified | No | Yes |
Energy Draw
The energy draw on Ruud and Trane units runs about side by side, partly because it takes a lot of energy to cool an allotted space. Ruud HVAC systems require more electricity to run in the summer and winter months because most people will use them more often than in the spring or fall. You will find that it’s rare that the Ruud systems use more than 15kW per day, at around 3kW per hour.
You can see the figures below:
- The same model we compared above, the Ruud Variable Speed (RA20) Air Conditioners for the unit, will only run you $1,835. Installed, you’re looking at $3,375, with a running cost of $518
- The Trane XR17 Air Conditioner will run you around $2880 without installation and can be installed for more like $8,100 and $10,900, and the running cost is roughly $484. Still, because they are ENERGY STAR® qualified, you can get a rebate of up to $300 on Trane’s, making them a little bit better at saving you money in the long run.
Product Comparison
| Brand | Ruud | Trane |
| Model | Ruud Ultra UA20 Air Conditioner | Trane XR17 Air Conditioner |
| BTU | 42,000 BTUs To 60,000 | 24,000 BTU To 60,000 BTU |
Conclusion
Whether you get a Trane or a Ruud air conditioner, you will end up with an excellent product that’s worth the money, although it does matter quite a bit if your air conditioners are installed correctly. It’s always better to find a reputable contractor to install and maintain your air conditioners to get the most out of the life of your product.
Ruben has a diverse background in the home services industry, with experience running a construction company, a kitchen and bath showroom, and a moving and relocation company. This breadth of experience has provided him with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various areas of home improvement in general and specifically in the heating and plumbing niche.