Last Updated on December 11, 2023 by Kimberly Crawford
When it comes to purchasing an air conditioner, not all air conditioner brands are created equal. Below are the worst air conditioner brands to avoid!
Choosing the best air conditioner brand is crucial for ensuring optimum comfort and energy efficiency in your home or office. With the market flooded with various options, it becomes essential to make an informed decision to avoid any regrets in the future. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the worst air conditioner brands to avoid in 2024, empowering you to make the right choice for your cooling needs.
1. Types of air conditioners you need to know
The most common air conditioning systems include Central air conditioning, Ductless mini-split air conditioning, Window unit air conditioner, and Portable air conditioner:
- Central Air Conditioning: A central unit is installed outdoors and delivers conditioned air throughout the home through a duct system. Most central processing units are used for heating and cooling and are called heat pumps. Retrofitting a central processing unit to an older home without plumbing is expensive.
- Ductless mini-split air conditioning: A mini-split air conditioner has a compressor on the outside and an air handler with an evaporator suspended high on the inside wall. These units require no plumbing, can be used for multiple rooms, and can heat or cool. More efficient than central units and quieter than window units.
- Window unit air conditioner: The window unit fits into the lower half of the window. We need external support. You can also install it yourself. They are perfect for small spaces, relatively inexpensive, and can be purchased just about anywhere.
- Portable air conditioner: Portable air conditioners sit on the floor and exhaust through a window through a 6-inch flexible hose. Available in a variety of sizes, you can set it up yourself and easily move it from room to room.
2. Worst air conditioner brands to avoid
2.1. Central AC Brands
Some AC brands and AC models aren’t known for quality construction, quality materials, low HVAC replacement costs, or great efficiency ratings.
- Coleman
Average selling price: $1,615- $2,810
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Energy inefficient
Customer Review: I’ve spent $15,000 on my Coleman I originally purchased in July of 2013 they’ve done nothing but give me the run around for bad customer service for the last 6 years.
There are many air conditioner brands on the market, but Coleman is among the worst air conditioner brands to avoid. Coleman air conditioners are unreliable and prone to failure. Additionally, they are not very energy efficient, so using them will increase your electricity bill. Many other air conditioner brands are more reliable and energy efficient than Coleman.
- Goodman
Average selling price: $4,000–$7,000
Rating: 1.9/5
Cons: Customer service, Buyer beware, Do not stand by the products they sell.
Customer Review: Goodman would not warranty a condenser tube leak. Claimed it was the installer’s responsibility to check when they installed.
One of the worst air conditioner brands to avoid in 2024 is Goodman. Despite its popularity, this brand has received unfavorable reviews and feedback from customers. Luxaire air conditioner coils are known to have refrigerant leaks, and this can be a big problem. This not only reduces the efficiency of your air conditioner but can also lead to expensive repairs.
- York
Average selling price: $3,200–$15,000
Rating: 1.5/5
Outstanding bad features: A poor reputation for quality
Customer Review: We had to get the company back within the first week as it only blew cold air.
York air conditioners don’t have the best cooling capabilities and aren’t made with high-quality materials. It also lasts for a short period and has poor ventilation. The only positive aspect of this brand of air conditioner is its relatively low cost.
- Luxaire
Average selling price: $3000 – $6000
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Poor cooling energy
Customer Review: Good product, however it doesn’t really “cool” a space. For a toddler, the light feature is ideal and cool. However, this item’s pricing makes it not very worthwhile.
Luxaire can be thought of as Coleman and York’s sister brand because it is produced by the same company. Thus, it stands to reason that Luxaire air conditioners are neither long-lasting nor energy-efficient. In addition, users reported that the AC unit leaked and that they frequently had to fix the units.
- Friedrich
Average selling price: $1000 – $2000
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Poor installation system
Customer Review: For the first year we had it, this air conditioner was rather reliable. Although it’s not perfectly quiet, it worked well in our bedroom. Even if the blue lights are glaring at night, you may use the remote to turn them off. The only issue is that the remote and the device are unable to interact, therefore the unit always defaults to the last setting on the remote. Thus, using the remote is annoying.
Reviews of Friedrich air conditioners’ general performance and quality have been unfavorable. Consumer complaints have focused on poor cooling capabilities, high maintenance costs, and frequent breakdowns. And many customers agree that Friedrich is one of the worst air conditioner brands to avoid.
- Tempstar
Average selling price: $2,655-$5,185.
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Difficult for replacement
Customer Review: It will have regular monthly expenses for parts and servicing after a year. They all seem to have cheap, defective parts.
The air conditioners from this brand are inconsistent in their heating and cooling and are untrustworthy. The worst part is that many of its replacement parts become difficult because they are not widely available. Considering the long-term costs and potential disappointment associated with Tempstar, it is wise to explore other options.
2.2 Window AC Brands
Some window air conditioner brands you may want to avoid as
- Arctic King
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 1/5
Cons: Cooling system
Customer Review: This machine had a five-year limited warranty when I purchased it in 2020. It was too noisy for my bedroom and had only moderate cooling, but it functioned flawlessly for three seasons.
Consumer Reports survey participants are not satisfied with Arctic King air conditioners. In our latest research, customers rated Arctic King Owner Satisfaction at 1 out of 5. Arctic King appliances are mainly sold at Walmart and Amazon. These websites seem to have better customer satisfaction. Of all customer reviews, 98 percent of Walmart customers give Arctic King products a 4-star rating, and 71 percent of Amazon customers give them a 5-star rating.
Arctic King products – Quite noisy and moderate cooling
- Amana
Average selling price: $3,000 to $6,000
Rating: 2/5
Cons: Cooling system
Customer Review: This air conditioner functions properly. It doesn’t blow very cold, but it’s also not very noisy. The room will cool if I leave it on high all night, but not to the proper temperature.
The highest-rated Amana window unit on the Consumer Reports website is the Amana AMAP061CW, which he scores an excellent rating of 54 with a 4 out of 5 for Ease of Use and Indoor Noise Low. The lowest-rated Amana window unit is the Amana AMAP121CW with a fairness rating of 32. It received a 4 out of 5 score for ease of use and comfort, but a 2 out of 5 score for noise and owner satisfaction. This is one of the worst air conditioner brands to avoid.
- TCL
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 1.5/5
Cons: Cooling system, Poor customer service
Customer Review: I purchased a TCL wall air conditioner in 2021. It only worked for a year before it stopped producing cool air. Since I was covered by their guarantee, they sent me a replacement, which also lasted a year before the problem reappeared and the company refused to replace it. I would advise against using TCL because of its poor quality and extremely cheap prices.
TLC air conditioners are only good if you install them in areas that are not constantly used and the space is not very large. TCL air conditioners are known for being the most affordable, but they don’t compromise on quality. Additionally, TCL air conditioners can be very noisy.
- GE
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Cooling system, Poor customer service
Customer Review: I want everyone to be aware of the poor quality of GE appliances. They don’t honor their guarantee. At Lowe’s, I purchased a brand-new GE air conditioner. It functioned well for about two weeks before stopping. The GE Company won’t take any action.
The main reason to avoid GE air conditioners is that they are too heavy compared to many powerful and popular brands. This particular brand has been associated with subpar cooling performance, noisy operation, and limited durability.
- Frigidaire
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 2.2/5
Cons: Poor customer service.
Customer Review: Worst customer service ever, without a doubt. An air conditioner I bought never worked. I gave them all the information they needed and authorized for substitution. I’ve been waiting for this replacement air conditioner for more than 4 months. I’ve made numerous calls. squandering of my valuable time!
Reviews of Frigidaire window air conditioners have been conflicting; some users have complained about noise levels, build quality, and efficiency of the cooling system. Even though some models might function well, this is usually a brand to proceed cautiously with.
- Keystone
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Inconvenience of remote
Customer Review: It’s not the best remote I’ve ever seen, and it lacks an integrated magnet. It simply shuts off in the energy-saving mode. A current temperature display is absent. The target temperature is the only one that is visible.
Performance problems and a lack of longevity have been pointed out concerning Keystone window air conditioners. Consumers have complained about frequent malfunctions and trouble keeping the temperature steady and most of them agree Keystone is among the worst air conditioner brands to avoid.
- Hisense
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Fairly loud, which isn’t ideal in a small space
Customer Review: This air conditioner is too noisy to use while on the phone or in a meeting, even with the fan turned down. At a distance of about 4 feet, it was 58 DB on low and 70 DB on high. Given that it is intended for a small room, that is a significant drawback.
Hisense is a very old air conditioner manufacturer, but the company has never completely satisfied its customers. A few of its versions lack an integrated timer, fan, or remote control. Everything has to be adjusted manually, which is not what one would anticipate in the modern world. It also makes a lot of uncomfortable, loud noise.
- Lloyd
Average selling price: $150 to $800
Rating: 2.2/5
Cons: Poor customer service, unprofessional technicians.
Customer Review: You should expect to be extremely dissatisfied with the service if you ever purchase anything from Lloyd. Your complaints and service requests are consistently canceled by them, and they even inform you that you have withdrawn the request.
Lloyd is not a well-known brand anywhere. However, if you ever come upon it, stay away from it at all costs. These brands’ air conditioners not only operate poorly but also have shorter lifespans. Additionally, the air conditioners need expensive, regular maintenance.
2.3 Portable AC Brands
Although they can be more convenient, split-system air conditioners are typically more cost-effective and efficient to operate.
- Honeywell
Average selling price: $300-$1500
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Cooling problem
Customer Review: The window attachments and hose are ill-designed. Because the window kit’s locks are made of cheap plastic and have little tension, the hose keeps falling out and falling out of it when the air conditioner vibrates. The window kit itself has a lot of air openings and is ill-designed.
Three out of five Honeywell-branded portable air conditioners reviewed by Consumer Reports received a rating of “Satisfactory” or “Poor.” A “poor” rating is given to the Honeywell model HM4CESAWK0, with an overall rating of 18. When it comes to the comfort customers look for most in an air conditioner, they gave it a 1 out of 5 rating. Additional reviews for all three Honeywell products give owner satisfaction ratings of 3 out of 5.
- Friedrich
Average selling price: $300-$1500
Rating: 2.7/5
Cons: Cooling, sound problem.
Customer Review: In early August 2021, I bought a Friedrich through-the-wall air conditioner (Model UCT14A30B). After a week of purchase, it ceased to provide room cooling. After calling the warranty and scheduling a technician to check it, the technician discovered that the refrigerant system had an unfixable leak.
Another brand that falls short in terms of quality and reliability is Friedrich. His two models from the company (ZHP14DB and ZCP12DB) received overall scores of 32 and 33, respectively, but interestingly, neither model included customer satisfaction or predicted reliability ratings.
- Whynter
Average selling price: $300-$1500
Rating: 3/5
Cons: Limited coverage, Noisy operation.
Customer Review: It’s much louder than I thought the air conditioner would be. Regretfully, I firmly think that it is far louder than this; the website claims that it is only 53 dB. For comparison, it is far louder than a ceiling fan or a tower fan. I did not have a meter to confirm this.
The Whynter air conditioner cannot be turned on or off at will, in contrast to all other automated and remote-controlled air conditioners. This occurs as a result of the absence of the automated fan function on certain ACs. You have to inspect everything by hand because they don’t even have a dirty fan indicator. Because of the above inconveniences, Whynter is one of the worst air conditioner brands to avoid.
- Black+Decker
Average selling price: $300-$1500
Rating: 3.5/5
Cons: Limited airflow adjustment
Customer Review: It is better to spend a little bit more and get the unit for a larger room if you are going to spend the money on something like this.
The units are simple to move around, and assembling them wasn’t too tough. However, since I continued to use my windows in the summer, I did not fully seal them. Although I wouldn’t mind buying this brand again, I’ll be searching for something with a higher air output and the ability to change the direction of the air.
Black+Decker portable air conditioners have garnered a negative reputation due to their inconsistent performance and unreliable components. Customers have expressed dissatisfaction with Black+Decker’s cooling efficiency, which often falls short of expectations.
Its inadequate vent adjustment is the Black+Decker BPACT08WT model’s most unexpected omission. Although it only allows for a small vertical adjustment, it appears to be rather effective. This is one of the worst air conditioner brands to avoid if you reside in a really hot region.
3. Tips for choosing the right air conditioner for your home
When choosing the right air conditioner for your home, there are several factors to consider. According to our test, here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:
- Cooling capacity: Determine the cooling capacity required for your space.
- Features and controls: Decide on additional features that suit your needs, such as programmable thermostats, remote controls, sleep modes, fan speeds, and air purifiers.
- Brand reputation and warranty: Research different brands’ reputations for reliability and customer service before making a purchase decision. Also, check warranty terms offered by manufacturers.
- Cost considerations: Set a budget range based on your requirements but remember that cheaper units may have lower energy efficiency ratings or fewer features.
Advice from Kimberly Crawford
When choosing an air conditioner for your home, there are several key factors to consider. First and foremost is the efficiency rating, also known as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).
A higher SEER rating means greater energy efficiency, which can save you money on utility bills in the long run. Noise level is another important factor. Some units can be quite noisy, which may disrupt your peace and quiet at home. The size and type of the unit are also crucial. For example, a central air conditioner might be a good fit for larger homes, while a window or portable unit could be more suitable for smaller spaces.
Brand reputation should not be overlooked. Brands like Carrier, Trane, and Lennox have been in the market for a long time and are known for their reliability and quality. A warranty is another key factor. A longer warranty period typically indicates the manufacturer’s confidence in the product’s durability.
In my opinion, brands like Carrier, Trane, and Daikin are among the most reliable and long-lasting. They offer a wide range of models with various features to cater to different needs and budgets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to selecting the best air conditioner for your needs, it is crucial to know the worst air conditioner brands to avoid those that have shown a lack of quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. By making an informed decision, you can ensure a comfortable and enjoyable indoor environment while avoiding the pitfalls associated with subpar air conditioner brands.
Trusted Sources:
- Fixr.com | Air conditioner brands to avoid. (n.d.). https://www.fixr.com/articles/air-conditioner-brands-to-avoid
- Atlas AC. (2022, November 28). Stop buying the wrong air conditioner brands (2023) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_uP9itJ0HQ
- Richard, A., & Kennedy, L. (2023, December 1). Reverse-cycle air conditioners to avoid buying | CHOICE. CHOICE. https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/cooling/air-conditioners/articles/the-worst-air-conditioners-for-heating
