Compare Carrier & York: The Ultimate AC Showdown!
While repairs can often be made to an old air conditioning unit, eventually it’s beyond repair and needs to be replaced. The cost of repairs, along with higher energy usage no longer makes any sense to keep that old unit limping along. When choosing a central air conditioning system for your home, there are many factors to consider — from energy efficiency and cost of installation to noise level and warranty coverage. To help you make the best decision for your particular needs, we’ve compared two popular brands: Carrier and York. We’ve evaluated both in terms of cooling capacity, energy savings, installation complexity, reliability, noise level, and more. Read on to learn which one is the ideal choice for your home.
Company History and Product Lineups
Carrier, a leading HVAC manufacturer, was founded by Willis Carrier in 1915. He invented the first modern air conditioner to solve an industrial problem and revolutionized the way people heated and cooled their homes. Since then, Carrier has been one of the most trusted names in air conditioning industry for over 100 years.
In 1938, Carrier introduced the first residential air conditioning system with low-pressure refrigerant--a major milestone for home comfort. In 1953, they unveiled their first central air conditioning system that allowed homeowners to control temperatures from room-to-room. In 1967, they released their WeatherMaker line of products which featured variable speed compressors that allowed precise temperature control and superior energy efficiency.
In 1994, they began using environmentally friendly Puron refrigerant in all new products and continue to be on the forefront of innovation today, offering some of the most advanced HVAC systems available on the market.
York, a division of Johnson Controls, is one of the oldest and most respected HVAC manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 1874 by A. B. Seelye as the York Air Conditioning Company, their first major milestone came in 1911 when they developed and patented a centrifugal air compressor--the first of its kind--and introduced it to the market.
In 1931, York was acquired by Borg-Warner Corporation and later became part of its Climate Control Division. During this time period, they created several breakthrough technologies such as evaporative cooling systems and absorption refrigeration systems that revolutionized commercial and industrial cooling applications.
In 1975, York merged with Unisys to form York International Corporation; their headquarters were moved from York Pennsylvania to Norman Oklahoma where it still resides today. In 2005, York joined forces with Johnson Controls International plc to become the world's largest provider of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products for residential and commercial buildings. Since then they have continued innovating new HVAC technologies that are designed to reduce energy consumption while providing superior comfort control for customers around the world.
Side by Side Models From Each Brand
| Model Name | SEER Rating | Price Point | Noise Level (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinity 26 | 26 | $$$ | 53-62 |
| Infinity 19VS | 19 | $$$ | 56-71 |
| Performance 17 2-Stage | 17 | $$ | 71-74 |
| Performance 16 | 17 | $$ | 72 |
| Comfort 15 | 17 | $ | 73 |
| Comfort 14 | 14 | $ | 72 |
| Comfort 15 Coastal | 14 | $ | 73 |
| Comfort 15 Compact | 16 | $$ | 65 |
| Model Name | SEER Rating | Price Point | Noise Level (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YXT 18 Affinity | 19.75 | $$$ | 69-73 |
| YXV 20 Affinity | 20 | $$$ | 60-73 |
| YC2D 13.4 LX Series | 15 | $ | 74 |
| YC2F 15.2 | 17.5 | $$ | 72 |
| YC2E 14.3 | 17 | $ | 73 |
| YCG17 LX Series | 18.5 | $$ | 72 |
| YCE14 LX Series | 16 | $$ | 73 |
| YFK17 LX Series | 17.5 | $$$ | 70-73 |
| YCS14 LX Series | 16.75 | $$ | 70 |
Comparing Prices
Carrier and York both offer air conditioning systems that come at a range of prices—depending, of course, on size, efficiency, and complexity of installation—with Carrier tending to cost more than York, ranging from roughly $10,000–$20,000 compared to the latter's $8,000–$12,000. Though these numbers should only be considered ballpark figures until getting a professional HVAC company in to provide an exact quote, they do reflect the fact that Carrier is generally more expensive than York.
Price Summary
| Brand | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Carrier | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| York | $8,000 - $12,000 |
Performance and Noise
Performance and Noise Are Key Factors in Air Conditioner Buying Decisions
When choosing an air conditioning system, performance and noise are key factors in the buyer's decision. Models with a higher SEER rating will be more expensive initially, but over the life of the unit they will result in lower operating costs.
Overview of Carrier Models
Carrier offers seven models ranging from 14 to 26 SEER ratings. The Comfort 15 Coastal and Compact models have a two-stage or variable speed compressor for quieter operation, indicated by dashes in their noise level readings. The Infinity 19VS has a variable speed motor for enhanced cooling comfort.
Overview of York Models
York also provides seven models ranging from 13.4 to 20 SEER ratings as well as three LX Series models with 18.5, 17.5 and 16 SEER ratings respectively, all featuring two stage or variable speed compressors for quieter operation indicated by dashes on their noise level readings.
Which is Best?
For homeowners looking for maximum efficiency at an affordable price range, one of the York LX Series units may be best suited due to their high energy efficiency rating combined with relatively low cost and quiet operation compared to others in its class. For those looking for even more efficient options at a higher price point, one of Carrier's Infinity series may be worth considering due to their advanced features such as variable speed motors that provide enhanced comfort while still offering great energy savings potentials over time.
Performance Summary
| Brand | SEER Rating | Noise (in dB) |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | 14 - 26 | 53 - 74 |
| York | 15 - 20 | 60 - 74 |
Call Now – Our Phones Are Answered 24 x 7 For All Of Your AC Needs
With decades of experience serving the DFW area, your local air conditioning company has always believed in taking excellent care of our customers. From our friendly phone operators to our certified technicians, we care deeply about your heating and air conditioning comfort.
Basic Maintenance and Repairs
Repairs and basic maintenance on Carrier and York air conditioning systems are both relatively easy for homeowners to perform—Carrier scoring a 4, and York scoring a 3, on a scale of 1-5. With Carrier, the majority of repairs can be completed using common tools found in most households. There is also an abundance of online resources available to help guide homeowners through simple repairs. York is also straightforward when it comes to repairs, albeit slightly more difficult than with Carrier due to its lower score. Both brands will require professional service for complex repairs or replacements that may involve specialized tools or knowledge.
Comparing the Two Brands for Homeowner Maintenance
Both Carrier and York offer easy-to-follow instructions for general maintenance needs such as filter changes, condenser coil cleaning, thermostat calibration, etc., which can all be done by the homeowner without needing any special tools or skills. However, when it comes to actual repair work required beyond general maintenance tasks, Carrier offers a slight advantage since it scored higher on our scale (4 vs 3). This means that more complex repair work can still likely be accomplished by a homeowner who has some experience with home projects involving electrical components or plumbing fixtures.
Our Opinion
Based on our review of both brands of air conditioning systems – Carrier and York – we believe that either one would make an excellent choice for homeowners looking for reliable cooling performance while also providing the optionality of completing their own basic maintenance routines and certain types of repair work if desired. With respect to ease-of-use, Carrier may be better suited to those who are comfortable with DIY projects around their homes thanks to its higher score on our scale (4 vs 3).
Basic Maintenance Summary
| Brand | Basic Repairs |
|---|---|
| Carrier | (4/5) |
| York | (3/5) |
Comparing the two brands for reliability
Carrier scored a 4 on our scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means homeowners believe this brand is very unreliable and 5 is very reliable. York, on the other hand, scored a 2—less than half of the rating that Carrier received. This suggests that Carrier is more reliable than York in terms of customer satisfaction.
Other Factors at Play
While reliability may be one important factor when it comes to air conditioning systems, there are other factors to consider. For instance, energy efficiency and cost may also play a role in which system you choose. As such, it's important to compare both systems across multiple criteria before making your decision.
Our Opinion
At Consumer Reports we always strive to provide objective reviews based on factual information and real-world testing. In this case, while York may have scored lower on our scale for reliability compared to Carrier, there are other factors that should be taken into account when choosing an air conditioning system such as cost and energy efficiency. Therefore we recommend doing research on both brands in order to make an informed decision about which system will best suit your needs.
Reliability Summary
| Brand | Reliability |
|---|---|
| Carrier | (4/5) |
| York | (2/5) |
Expected Lifespan of Each Brand
When it comes to expected lifespan, Carrier offers a longer-lasting system—10-12 years—than York which should last 5-10 years; however, this is not a guarantee as the actual length of time may vary greatly depending on usage and other factors.
Lifespan Summary
| Brand | Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Carrier | 10-12 years |
| York | 5-10 years |
Wrapping it All Up
Based on our industry experience, feedback from customers and other HVAC technicians, here is the summary of how these two brands stack up.
| Brand | Price Range | SEER Rating | Noise (in dB) | Basic Repairs | Reliability | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier | $10,000 - $20,000 | 14 - 26 | 53 - 74 | (4/5) | (4/5) | 10-12 years |
| York | $8,000 - $12,000 | 15 - 20 | 60 - 74 | (3/5) | (2/5) | 5-10 years |
Call Now – Our Phones Are Answered 24 x 7 For All Of Your AC Needs
With decades of experience serving the DFW area, your local air conditioning company has always believed in taking excellent care of our customers. From our friendly phone operators to our certified technicians, we care deeply about your heating and air conditioning comfort.
What Your Neighbors Say About Us
Dallas Heating and AC are excellent. They always have someone answer the phones, they are quick to come out and repair, and reasonable rates. We use them on all our properties.
Luis came out and was very professional and knowledgeable. They offered me financing and I also signed up for their no contract service maintenance program! Definitely refer this company
Dallas Heating and Air Conditioning did what 3 other companies couldn’t, didn’t give up and went the extra mile, at the same time didn’t over charge me. It was more than necessary to share my experience with the rest of the world,
Josh and Skyler were amazing, they communicated everything they were doing, very thorough and respectful. Will definitely be using Dallas Heating and AC again!!!
These guys did a fantastic job all around! They were quick to respond, provided a competitive estimate, and got the work done efficiently. They replaced my over the tub ac unit and the outside condenser and fixed many issues with the previous setup.
Luis came out and did a fabulous job! We notice our AC wasn’t blowing cold like it should be and he came out, add Freon to our system and it was back running great again! I will be using DHAC for all my needs from now on!
Call Now – Our Phones Are Answered 24 x 7 For All Of Your AC Needs
With decades of experience serving the DFW area, your local air conditioning company has always believed in taking excellent care of our customers. From our friendly phone operators to our certified technicians, we care deeply about your heating and air conditioning comfort.
Important Notes About The Content on This Page.
The information provided on this website page is for educational and informational purposes only. It represents the personal opinions of the owners and employees of Dallas Heating and Air Conditioning, and should not be taken as professional advice. We do not make any representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the content or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk
The information about the models offered by each manufacturer on this website page was created based on the information available on the respective manufacturers' websites in 2023. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information contained on this website. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. The information is subject to change without notice and we do not guarantee that the information provided will be up-to-date or error-free. It is important to conduct your own research and verify the information with the manufacturer before making any purchasing decisions.
Noise ratings were obtained from the manufacturers technical specifications at the time of writing, and is based on a 3 ton unit running at full speed. Variable speed compressors will run quieter at lower speeds.
The opinions expressed on this website page are based on decades of professional experience as well as feedback from homeowner and business customers. These opinions are intended to provide general information and are not intended as professional advice. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information contained on this website. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. It is important to conduct your own research and verify the information with a qualified professional before making any decisions.
