So if you look at the structure (cabinet) of one unit to another it will look different but accomplish the same thing.  All the energy ratings are determined by the same testing institute (ARI). So one unit that is rated for a certain capacity will work the same as another brand of the same capacity. One unit of a 13 seer efficiency will use the same amount of energy as another unit of a 13 seer efficiency (when new). Although some brands are quieter because they may house the compressor in a box rather than in the middle of the coil (Lennox is very good for sound).

     The similarity is of all the brand names of air conditioner or heat pump they will have one of three brands of compressor Copeland, Bristol, Tecumseh. When you go to replace the compressor you may end up with one of the three brands (except for Trane and American Standard which is another story, They use the American Standard Climatruff series and if you have a GE it will have the same compressor).

 The same holds true for the fan motors gas controls, defrost timers, contactors all the electrical controls are made my the same pool of manufactures. So if you buy a Goodman The chances are it will last ("last" needs to be defined) as long or the same as any of the major brands because they all have  the same moving parts. On the same token it will not work any better or worse that a competitors equipment of the same ratting and efficiency.

    The one thing that is of great importance is when you buy an Air conditioner or heat pump be sure you buy one that is "louvered".  Some models of the same brand have a protected coil and others do not and are exposed to potential damage. Especially if you have kids around.

    The major difference from one brand to another is the price you will pay to buy it and have it installed. I honestly don't know what the prices are of other brands because I don't buy them because they are too expensive and they want you to buy so many a year to become a dealer.

 So my final answer is go ahead and buy Goodman AKA Janitrol and expect the same service that you would from any other brand with the same compressor. But if you have a Trane/ American Standard or GE, try to keep it.

This is the good news...

    The other thing that sets brands apart besides overall quality is features (commonly referred to as bells and whistles) that some brands will have and others won't that all should be present are as follows:
 

• Thermostatic expansion valves (inside for cooling and outside for heating on a heat pump) if you don't have these then I don't want to hear any questions about efficiency.
• High and low pressure cutouts. If some units have them and some don't and the ones that do are better than the ones that don't then yours should have them too, Add them!!!
• Delay on break timer (no excuse not to have this).
• Sight glass (give me a good reason why you shouldn't add this).
• Service valves (if your system has quick connects and you have the refrigerant removed then you should add these at the time).
• Start components (if you have a reciprocating compressor and any start problems they you need to add a potential relay and a start capacitor).
• Management of your electric heat (known as Aux. heat or Supplemental heat)
• More to come...

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We Also service and repair the following brands:
American Standard, Amana, Arco, Arco-Aire, Bryant-Day-Night-Payne, Coleman Evcon, Comfortmaker, Day/Night/Payne, Dunham-Bush, Fedders, Fredrich,  General Electric, Hotpoint, Heil, Intertherm, Kenmore, Lennox (Armstrong, Johnson Air-Ease), Miller, Modine, Nordyne, Rheem/Ruud, Sears, Stewart Warner, Trane, Williams, White-Westinghouse, Whirlpool, Weil Mclain, York, (Frasier Johnson/Borg Warner)
and others.

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