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Central air conditioners: Most and least reliable brands
Last reviewed: July 2009 This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in July 2009 Consumer Reports magazine.
The graph shows the percentage of units for each of the 11 brands that were ever repaired,
based on the experiences of 32,550 readers who bought systems between 2002 and 2008.
Differences of less than 5 points aren't meaningful. Units installed by builders broke down
more often than owner-installed ones. Data was adjusted to eliminate differences linked solely to age and usage.
Models within a brand can vary, and design or manufacture changes might
affect future reliability. Still, choosing a brand with a good repair history can improve your odds
of getting a reliable model.
Source: Annual Product Reliability Survey, Consumer Reports National Research Center.
