Trane Heat Pump Reviews and Prices 2021 – The Good & Bad

November 8, 2020 | My HVAC Price

Table of Contents

Trane Heat Pump Reviews and Prices 2021 – The Good & Bad

Trane Heat Pump Reviews

In the following Heat Pump Review we’ll dig into the good qualities and also the bad qualities of Trane Heat Pumps. We’ll even give you a breakdown of what the costs are for a Trane Heat Pump System. Let’s dive right in!

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Who is Trane?

Trane, founded in 1885 then finally incorporated in 1913 is truly the perfect example of a classic American dream company that grew into a global empire. It all started with James Trane, driven by the cold air of La Crosse, Wisconsin winters, James invented a new low-pressure heating system by the name of the “Trane Vapor Heating System”. It just so happens that upon the creation of this new invention James had a son who was returning home from college by the name of Ruben, who had just received his degree in mechanical engineering.

The duo started manufacturing operations and Trane was created. But in 1923 things really blew up for the company upon Ruben’s invention of “Convector Radiator”. This firmly established the company as an innovator in the HVAC industry. Using that reputation to build the company on ever since. Trane is a heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems manufacturer. Building superior management systems and controls, keeping family’s cool on the hottest of summer days and toasty on those frigid winter mornings.

Trane is a subsidiary of Ingersoll Rand and is the successor company to the American Standard Companies. It makes products under the Trane and American Standard brand names with over 120 years of experience in the industry!

Why are Trane Heat Pumps Good?

Trane has always been the “flagship” brand of heating and cooling products in the United States. The tagline of It’s hard to stop a Trane has been used for over 20 years and from personal experience I can tell you the statement is very true. Below is a breakdown of what makes Trane a superior choice for a new heat pump system.

Energy Efficiency: Saving you Money From the Day you Buy- until the day it dies- In the market for long-lasting savings? Utilizing electricity to run these heat pumps, Trane heat pumps are recognized among the industry’s most efficient HVAC systems. Heat pumps featuring higher HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) ratings create the most heat, while utilizing the least amount of energy. Think of it like MPG in your car. Would you want to purchase a car that receives low miles per gallon knowing you will be driving it every day? Well HSPF ratings work similar, the higher the HSPF the more money you save.
Durability: Each Trane heat pump is created to every small detail then continually tutored ensuring durability and reliability. Other manufacturers tend to construct their products with pretty much the same basic material’s available to the whole industry. Trane has made it a point to separate themselves from this and stand out from the pack. To achieve that, Trane designs, builds and tests most of their own parts in-house. Pushing each material and part well beyond industry standards, making sure they achieve the reliability you expect from a Trane. Parts like the durable Climatuff® compressor that to this day is the only compressor Trane uses in their residential systems. Well known for low noise levels, high efficiency, and superior durability. Or the exclusive Spine Fin™ coil an all-aluminum outdoor gives much greater heat-exchanging capabilities and more resistant to corrosion than a typical copper/aluminum coil.
Quality Control Testing: Trane products are tested and tested at the SEET (Systems Extreme Environmental Test) lab in Tyler, Texas. These Train products face a 16-week toucher test. Being exposed to extreme heat and bone-chilling cold, repetitiously in two-week sessions. In some cases, units go through 2,600 hours of continuous testing. Followed by a full 7 days of salt spray to monitor corrosion resistance. Putting units through 5 years of wear and tear in just a few months does nothing but solidifies Trane’s company philosophy of creating a product you can rely on for years to come. It is simple if a product cannot with-stand testing it just does not get made or sold.
Warranty: Each Trane residential system comes with a simple Base Limited Warranty. This warranty applies to parts that break due to manufacturer defect, however, does not include labor costs. A base Limited Warranty could range from 1 year to 20 years that depends on the product purchased. However, if you register your new Trane system within 60 days of your installation date that “base” warranty is lengthened and evolves into a Registered Limited Warranty at no additional cost. This registered warranty can range from 5 years to lifetime depending on the product purchased. This registration can be done by the phone or online. The last warranty option available to the consumer is the Optional Extended Warranty, this is warranty covers the cost of parts and labor. To purchase this warranty, you can contact your local Trane dealer.

Why are Trane Heat Pumps Bad?

No matter what brand of heat pump you are shopping for there are negative features or comments about them online. Some of the comments are due to product failure (about 5-9%), but most are due to poor installation practices. Trane is not immune from this negative feedback. The most important factor of a installing a new heat pump is who actually performs the work. Here is a list of negative feedback on Trane heat pump systems.

Higher Cost: When it comes to Trane there a couple downsides in the eyes of the consumer. one of those things that can be argued is the cost of Trane systems. Trane is not known as the cheapest option in the HVAC industry. Units tend to be a little more expensive compared to other units. For example, a Goodman 4 Ton 16 SEER heat pump vs a Trane 4 Ton 16 SEER heat pump, roughly has a $1,200 difference in price for just the equipment. Now you can look at this in two aspects. Yes, you are paying significantly more for a Trane system than some others, but you have to remember that you get what you pay for in life. You are paying for better parts and materials, therefore extending the life of your unit. Yes, you may pay more up front for a better system, but you need to also consider efficiency and what it is going to save you long term. Cheaper systems may cost less at first, but in the long run, the more expensive option may actually save you more!
Unit Dimensions: Trane units have a little issue with dimensional sizes in the eyes of the consumer and for some installation spaces. Trane outdoor units and air handlers tend to be a little larger than competitors equipment. When someone replaces a full system, you want to replace old equipment with new equipment that is very similar in size. This saves the homeowner money when it comes to installation. This is because it allows less work on the installer, therefore saving you on labor costs. Also, unit sizing does not seem to follow suit as the units go up in quality. This causes confusion to customers and most competitors do not do this for this reason. For example, the Trane 1.5 Ton XR14 heat pump system has outdoor dimensions of 29″x29″x26″ and indoor dimensions of 45″x18.5″x21″. Now if you compare that to one step up the Trane 1.5 Ton XR16 heat pump has outdoor dimensions of 33″x33″x30″ and indoor air handler dimensions of 46.75″x18.5″x21.13. Now a couple inches may not seem like much. But when you’re talking about installing a unit inside of a small utility closet that already features a water heater plus a washer and dryer inside of it, half of an inch can make the difference. With every system featuring different dimensions, it seems it just makes it a little tougher to find the perfect fit. However, with a quick search thru the selection of Trane combinations, one will surely find the perfect system to please your needs. Just be careful to be very observant of each unit’s specifications when shopping!
Leaking Coils: If you have done any research on Trane units you have probably come across one thing that largely stood out the most in negative reviews about Trane systems. That being the issue of Freon leaking from the coil, therefore not allowing the system to operate correctly. Some of these issues claimed to be noticed right away but most tend to happen 3-5 years into the life of the unit. Trane does have registered limited warranty on systems sold and, in most cases, Trane does replace the coil after this issue. However, they do not pay for the labor to replace that coil. Roughly to change out a coil in labor will set you back about $600. But the good news is the issue, for the most part, has been found and corrected. It was found that between 2011-2012 a large bad batch of XR coils was distributed and installed in homes all over the country. Now 6 years down the road these coils are really starting to have issues so this has led to a recent spike in negative reviews of Trane in 2017. You just have to keep in mind, this was an issue from years ago. These negative reviews being posted on a unit purchased in 2012 has zero reflection of the product Trane puts out today in 2020. A very large amount of innovation has taken place in the HVAC industry in the last few years. Just as people learn from their mistakes so do companies!

How Long Do Trane Heat Pumps Last?

Trane heat pumps have the longest life expectancy of any in the HVAC industry, on average you can expect your Trane heat pump to last 15-19 years. Many factors can boost or hinder how long the system will last. Below are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you get a full life out of your heat pump.

Proper Installation: We can not preach proper installation enough when it comes to how long a heat pump will last. Following the manufactures guidelines such as proper refrigerant lines sizing, precise refrigerant levels adequate duct sizing and installing a properly sized unit for the home have a huge impact on life expectancy.
Routine Maintenance: The last thing you want to hear after spending thousands of dollars on a new heat pump system is that routine maintenance is required. You see heat pumps have many parts inside that will wear out over time such as a capacitor and contactor. This is normal around year 7-9. If neglected a failure of these two parts can cause damage to the compressor, and end up causing a catastrophic failure. Routine maintenance can also look out for pesky rodent damage to any of the wires inside of the heat pump.

Trane Heat Pump Models

Trane makes a wide range of heat pumps and also ultra high efficient units. Here is a breakdown of the models and what features each model has to offer.

Trane XR14: Single-Stage Compressor: The standard entry level heat pump from Trane. Energy efficiencies up to 15 SEER and 9 HSPF. Powder coated outdoor cabinet and composite base pan which dampens sound and eliminates corrosion.
Trane XR15: Single-Stage Compressor: Energy efficiencies up to 16 SEER and 9 HSPF. Powder coated outdoor cabinet and composite base pan which dampens sound and eliminates corrosion. Qualifies for energy rebates in some states.
Trane XR16: Single Stage Compressor: Energy efficiencies up to 16 SEER and 9.2 HSPF.
Trane XL16i: Single Stage Compressor: Energy efficiencies up to 18.5 SEER and 9.5 HSPF. Features a covered top, which is called a weather guard top. The XL series units from Trane come with a 12 year Compressor warranty standard.
Trane XR17: Two-Stage Compressor: Energy efficiencies up to 17.5 SEER. Energy star qualified unit.
Trane XL18i: Two-Stage Compressor: Energy efficiencies up to 18 SEER. Energy star qualified unit. Features a covered top, which is called a weather guard top. The XL series units from Trane come with a 12 year Compressor warranty standard.
Trane XV18: Variable Speed Compressor with 750 stages of comfort. Energy efficiencies up to 18 SEER. Energy star qualified unit.
Trane XV20i: Variable Speed Compressor with 750 stages of comfort. Energy efficiencies up to 20 SEER. Energy star qualified unit. Features a covered top, which is called a weather guard top. The XL series units from Trane come with a 12 year Compressor warranty standard.

Trane Heat Pump Prices

Trane heat pump prices are in the middle to higher range of brands currently in the market. We rank them a very good buy and the most reliable choice. Below are the costs of what an average contractor will pay for a new Trane heat pump. The prices listed below do not include the installation/labor price.

What a contractor pays for a Trane Heat Pump

Model	Compressor Style	Efficiency	Equipment Price
RP14	Single-Stage	14 SEER	$890-$1950
RP15	Single-Stage	15 SEER	$930-$2150
RP16	Two-Stage	16 SEER	$1750-$2990
RP17	Variable Speed	17 SEER	$2150-$3890
RP20	Variable Speed	20 SEER	$2680-$4890