When it comes to buying a new air conditioner for your home or business, there are many choices that you can make in deciding the right brand to install. Trane & Daikin are both well known brands, especially in Northwest Arkansas & the Fort Smith River Valley. Among other products, both companies manufacture residential & commercial HVAC equipment like air conditioners, heat pumps & furnaces, but how does the quality of the system compare between brands? We’re going to break down the two brands, and compare the residential products they produce.
Trane:
Trane Technologies Inc. is a manufacturer of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems and building management systems and controls. The company was a subsidiary of Ingersoll Rand Inc. which was the successor company to the American Standard Companies. In 1913, James and Reuben Trane decided to stand out from the crowd by creating a comfort system that far outpaced the offerings of their competitors. That commitment to being the best still holds true for the Trane brand over a century later. Trane operates with the slogan “It’s hard to stop a Trane,” and the brand works to live up to that identity through rigorous testing and constant innovation.
“Its Hard to Stop a Trane”
A global company, Trane’s international headquarters are in Swords, Ireland. Trane employs more than 29,000 people at 104 manufacturing locations in 28 countries, and has annual sales of more than $8 billion. In addition to its activity in HVAC systems, Trane is involved in energy conservation and renewable energy projects.
Brands Owned & Manufactured by Trane:
Daikin:
Daikin Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational air conditioning manufacturing company headquartered in Osaka. It has operations in Japan, China, Australia, United States, India, Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Daikin is the inventor of variable refrigerant flow air conditioners.
Daikin is the inventor of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioners. Having failed to trademark “VRF”, Daikin later remarketed the systems as “VRV” (variable refrigerant volume). Daikin is an innovator in the split system air conditioning market, having made the first split and multi-split air conditioners. Daikin co-developed the R-410A refrigerant with Carrier.
Brands Owned & Manufactured by Daikin:
14 SEER vs. 14 SEER – Which Basic Air Conditioner is Better?
Trane XR14
Trane has a reputation among professional reviewers for producing high-quality, reliable HVAC equipment. Trane’s quality comes at a price, though, as its air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces are some of the most expensive on the market.
- SEER: Up to 16
- Nominal Sound: 72
- Cooling Stages: One
- Energy Savings: 50%
- Refrigerant: R-410a
- Tonnage: 1.5-5
- Warranty: Included
From the Trane website:
Built to withstand the toughest conditions
Every Trane unit is tested, retested, and tested again.
We put our products through 16 weeks of bone-chilling cold and blistering heat, in repeating two-week sessions. Some units endure more than 2,600 hours of continuous testing. We’ve even encased units in solid ice to make sure they keep running.
The result of our rigorous testing? Reliable units guaranteed to keep you comfortable in even the most extreme climates.
Daikin DX14SA
Daikin focuses most of their energy on building lasting and high-quality cooling products, but as a result they don’t pay much attention to new technologies, additional features, and innovative systems the way some HVAC manufacturers do.
- SEER: Up to 15.5
- Cooling Stages: One
- Refrigerant: R-410a
- Tonnage: 1.5-5
- Warranty: Included
Which Company Offers Better Product Warranties?
Trane:
Base Limited Warranty
Base Limited Warranty goes into effect for units that aren’t registered or were registered more than 60 days after installation. It covers parts that might fail due to manufacturer defect, but not the labor to repair them. In most cases, this warranty lasts five years, but length of coverage may change depending on the product.
Registered Limited Warranty
Registered Limited Warranty lengthens the term of your warranty if your product is registered within 60 days of installation. It covers the cost of parts that might fail due to manufacturer defect, but not the labor to repair them. In most cases, this warranty lasts for 10 years, but length of coverage may change depending on the product.
If you’re preparing to sell your home, you may be able to transfer your Registered Limited Warranty to a new homeowner, which could make your home a lot more attractive to potential buyers.
Daikin:
*No warranty is offered on Daikin brand equipment purchased by consumers over the Internet, including web-based auctions, telephone or other electronic means, unless the unit is installed by a dealer adhering to all applicable federal, state, and local codes, policies, and licensing requirements.*
From the daikincomfort.com website:
“With an Asure Extended Service Plan**, you’ll have your choice of 6-years or 12-years, of worry-free comfort without the unexpected cost of replacement parts or labor expenses should your Daikin brand equipment require covered service. If a covered repair is needed, an Authorized Asure Dealer will respond promptly and make repairs with quality Daikin brand parts.”
How Much Does Each System Cost to Install?
The cost to install the HVAC systems themselves can vastly cary depending on where you live, what else needs to go into the installation, & the company you choose to provide the installation. We recommend using this calculator developed by Homewyse, a Google partner. Homewyse is the fact-based, independent reference for home product, installation and service estimates.
Where are the Air Conditioners Manufactured?
Trane:
Trane is laser focused on the North American market & manufacturing equipment that works well with homes built where all of us live & work. Trane manufactures its air conditioners and products in the United states, and have factory locations in Texas, South Carolina, Florida & Georgia. Because the components and units are manufactured in the United States, it means that there are less delays when it comes to receiving equipment, and manufacturing standards are typically held in a higher regard.
Daikin:
Being a company based in Japan, and targeting the Asian HVAC market, Daikin heavily relies on manufacturing its products in Asian Countries, including India & China. The company does operate a small facility in Houston, TX that manufactures some of it’s VRV (variable refrigerant volume) system components, however the majority of parts and equipment are manufactured overseas or outside of the United States.
What Use or Application does Each Company Specialize In?
Trane:
Trane specializes in manufacturing the highest quality residential HVAC systems in the United States. While other companies may manufacture goods & products outside of the HVAC industry, Trane has built a legacy of producing the best residential systems in the country for more than 100 years. This has earned them the reputation of America’s Most Trusted® HVAC System.
Daikin:
Since Daikin is based in Japan, and the majority of their market is in heavily populated Asian Countries & areas, Daikin specializes in creating HVAC systems for apartment buildings, high-rises, commercial buildings, and mini-splits that are gaining popularity in Asia. In addition to HVAC systems, Daikin also produces a number of other products, including:
- Chemicals
- HVAC systems for marine vessels
- Oil Hydraulics
- Defense systems, including ammunition, warheads, grenades, fuses, aircraft parts, and fire extinguishers.
- Medical equipment
- Software
Since Daikin’s focus is not only on the HVAC market, or specifically the residential HVAC market, the systems may be subpar compared to a company that does focus on that area.
What Refrigerant Does Each System Use?
Trane:
Trane is currently utilizing the universally recognized R-410a as a standard for their current HVAC systems. Trane is efficient at adopting new standards in refrigerant, and at phasing out older variations within older HVAC systems. This means that it is easier for many HVAC service companies to source the correct refrigerant in Trane systems.
Daikin:
Being a manufacturer of refrigerants, Daikin is pushing out its own variant of freon, which may not become the “standard” and therefore may become more difficult to source for repairs in the future. They are usually the first to adopt new refrigerants in their systems, which could make it harder to manage refrigerant on pre installed HVAC systems.
In conclusion, there are benefits and negatives to either brand or product that you choose to go with for your home. At the end of the day, however, the quality of the brand/product comes down to purely the installation. That’s why it’s more important to choose a reputable, locally owned company that has decades of experience in quality HVAC installations. Here at Paschal Air, Plumbing & Electric, we are a top Trane dealer & installer, and trust the Trane brand to provide comfort to our customer’s homes in Northwest Arkansas, Missouri, and the Fort Smith River Valley.
479.900.0784
