Know Your HVAC Equipment Manufacturers—Who Owns Whom?

Know Your HVAC Equipment Manufacturers—Who Owns Whom?

When it comes to heating and cooling systems, homeowners and contractors alike often have their favorite brands. However, what many people don’t realize is that many of these popular HVAC brands are actually owned by a handful of larger companies. In that sense, the industry is pretty similar to other fields. Think of the automotive world, where Ford and Lincoln share the same parent company, or the Coca-Cola brand is also responsible for Powerade and Vitaminwater, and the list goes on.

Understanding which company manufactures each type of HVAC equipment is helpful for all types of reasons. The more you know about a company’s history, the more insights you’ll have into product reliability, component sourcing, and even how easy it will be to repair or replace certain equipment.

Top Brands in Heating and Air Conditioning  

In the HVAC industry, brand names are important, but it’s important to realize that many of these names are part of larger corporate families. So, when you boil it down, there are actually fewer players in the game than you might first think. Here’s just a quick overview of some of the most well-known HVAC brands and the companies that own them:

  • Carrier Corporation: Carrier, Bryant, Arcoaire, Comfortmaker, Day & Night, Heil, Payne, Tempstar
  • Trane Technologies: American Standard, Trane, Oxbox, RunTru
  • York: York, Coleman, Luxaire
  • Rheem Manufacturing: Rheem, Ruud
  • Daikin: Daikin, Goodman, Amana
  • Nortek Global: Maytag
  • Lennox: Lennox
  • Electrolux: Frigidaire

These companies control a significant portion of the market, meaning many of the brands you might be familiar with—like Trane or American Standard—actually come from the same manufacturer. In terms of repair work, this knowledge can be huge. This kind of overlap means that some brands, despite being labeled differently, might share identical components. The key difference might just be the logo on the front.

Does It Really Matter Which HVAC System Brand You Buy?

For many professionals, brand preference is tied to familiarity. If you’ve been working with a particular brand for years, you know its quirks, how to handle repairs, and where to source parts. Basically, you get into a rhythm. But when you know the deeper story and the connections between different brands, then you can really level up and get more creative with your solutions. This means you might be able to consider other equipment options more easily, knowing that they share the same parent company or even the same production line.

Why does this matter? Well, in many cases, similar or even identical systems are being marketed under different names with different price tags. So, if you’re looking to save money, then it can help to think outside of the “big brand name.” Maybe you’re a fan of Carrier equipment, but you find a Comfortmaker repair part available instead. Knowing that it’s by the same brand can give you peace of mind when making the repair with the other part.

At the end of the day, the performance of your HVAC system relies less on the brand and more on the quality of the installation and the reliability of your supplier. That’s where Surplus City can make a difference. With access to top brands from a range of manufacturers, we help you find quality HVAC systems at reasonable prices across all types of brand names—from the most popular big hitters to the smaller names that put out great products, too!

Explore All of the HVAC Systems Right Here at Surplus City

At Surplus City, we pride ourselves on being agnostic to brands, meaning we carry all of the major HVAC manufacturers without favoring one over another. This gives our customers more freedom to choose the equipment that fits their specific needs and budget. Whether you're searching for a high-efficiency unit from Lennox or Carrier or an affordable system from Goodman, we’ve got you covered with an extensive inventory and expert advice to guide you through the decision-making process.

No matter which brand you choose, our goal at Surplus City is to help you find the right solution—whether it's heating, cooling, or something in between. Explore all of your options with us today and get the best deal on top-quality HVAC equipment. We’re here to get you the best quality at the best prices! Browse our huge air conditioner selection!