Ruud Air Conditioner: Buyers Guide Reviews And Comparison

Published by 
AllThingsHVAC
Last updated: 
May 1, 2024

Choosing the Best Ruud Air Conditioner for Your Home

Introduction

Deciding on the best brand for your new home air conditioner can be challenging. First, you must narrow down the brands that excel from the ones that are only good or mediocre. After that, you have to find details on different models and figure out which one fits your needs.

When it comes to popularity and reliability, few manufacturers can beat the appeal of a Ruud air conditioner. The company is known for offering high-efficiency air conditioners at an appealing price. Their units include an "Ultra Series," "Value Series," and an "Achiever Series," each with high SEER ratings and known for their durability.

Unique Features of Ruud Air Conditioners

Air Conditioner Compressors

Ruud is well-known for the astounding quality of their compressors. This is one of the most expensive parts of an air conditioner, and some companies are known to skimp a bit. Ruud uses scroll compressors, which are known for being highly reliable and durable. What makes a scroll compressor unique is that it engages a smaller amount of friction than a conventional compressor, making them quieter and more consistent than other brands.

Home Air Conditioner Pricing

Another area where Ruud excels is the pricing of their air conditioners. You might think that an air conditioner with an exceptional compressor would cost a bundle, but Ruud makes its products more affordable than the competition. While this isn't going to be the least expensive air conditioner on the market, it offers value in terms of features and price. For example, an 18 SEER Ruud Ultra Series costs only about $2,000, while a competitor with largely the same product prices its unit at nearly $2,700. That's a significant difference, no matter what your budget is.

Air Conditioner Efficiency

When you pay for an air conditioner, you want to purchase the most efficient one. An efficient unit keeps your utility bills low and can offset the actual purchase price of an air conditioner. Efficiency is indicated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER). The larger the number, the more efficient it is going to be. With SEER ratings of up to 18, Ruud is doing well on this front.

The Top 5 Ruud Air Conditioners

ModelSeriesStagesSEERTonnageWarranty
RA17ClassicTwo-StageUp to 172-5 tons10 years
UA17Achiever PlusTwo-StageUp to 172-5 tons10 years
RA14AchieverSingle StageUp to 161.5-5 tons10 years
RA13AchieverSingle StageUp to 15.51.5-5 tons10 years
RA14**WAchieverSingle StageUp to 161.5-3.5 tons10 years

From our research, these are the top 5 Ruud air conditioners that offer a range of efficiency, stages, and tonnage to suit various home cooling needs. All come with an impressive 10-year warranty on parts.

Buyer's Guide

When buying a new or upgraded air conditioner, consider the following factors:

Price Considerations

While finding the best air conditioner at the lowest price is important, also consider the value of quality. The least or most expensive Ruud air conditioner may not be the best for your needs. Factor in what matters to you, your house size, and potential tax credits for high-efficiency units.

Size Matters

Air conditioner size is measured in BTU (British thermal units per hour), with 12,000 BTU equaling one ton of cooling. Choose the appropriate BTU based on your home's square footage:

  • 500 Square Foot Home – 12,000 BTU
  • 1,000 Square Foot Home – 18,000 BTU
  • 1,500 Square Foot Home – 24,000 BTU
  • 2,000 Square Foot Home – 34,000 BTU

Also consider factors like sun exposure, unit installation location, and occupancy.

Maintenance and Installation

Negotiate a service plan with discounted labor and repairs when hiring a technician for installation. For upgrades, have a load calculation done to determine cooling needs, as changes in energy efficiency or home size can impact requirements. Hire an experienced, certified contractor for proper installation to avoid future issues.

Conclusion

This review provides information on what to expect from Ruud air conditioners and the best models on the market. We believe any of the listed units will meet most people's needs, depending on home size and number of inhabitants. It's up to you to determine which one offers the performance you require.

Sources:

  1. Ruud Air Conditioners. (n.d.). Ruud Heating, Cooling & Water Heating. Retrieved from https://www.ruud.com/residential/cooling/air-conditioners/
  2. Scroll Compressors vs. Reciprocating Compressors. (2020, July 14). Compressors Unlimited. Retrieved from https://compressorsunlimited.com/scroll-compressors-vs-reciprocating-compressors/
  3. Ruud Ultra Series Air Conditioner Prices, Reviews and Buying Guide 2021. (2021, January 4). Pick HVAC. Retrieved from https://www.pickhvac.com/central-air-conditioner/ruud/ultra-series/
  4. What is SEER Rating? EER? HSPF? AFUE? COP? (2020, June 25). Pick HVAC. Retrieved from https://www.pickhvac.com/faq/definitions/seer-eer-hspf-afue-cop/
  5. Ruud Air Conditioner Reviews and Prices 2021. (2021, January 4). Pick HVAC. Retrieved from https://www.pickhvac.com/central-air-conditioner/ruud/
  6. Central Air Conditioner Buying Guide. (n.d.). Consumer Reports. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/central-air-conditioners/buying-guide/index.htm
  7. What Size Central Air Conditioner Do I Need? A Short AC Sizing Guide. (2020, June 25). Pick HVAC. Retrieved from https://www.pickhvac.com/faq/air-conditioner-size/
  8. Central Air Conditioning Buying Guide. (n.d.). HomeTips. Retrieved from https://www.hometips.com/buying-guides/central-air-conditioners.html

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