Table of Contents
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews - Ducane offers 5 models of air conditioners for residential and light commercial ranging from 1.5 tons to 5-ton air conditioners. Their air conditioner SEER ratings range from 13 to 16 SEER. Ducane air conditioners offer no bells and whistles air conditioner, which to me as a technician, it keeps things simple. It could also mean there is less that can go wrong with the air conditioner system simply because you have the basic air conditioner system without the frilly extras. Ducane air conditioner model choices range from the builder’s grade model up to the high efficient 16 SEER model. Some of the features for Ducane air conditioners are:
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews - Consumer Ratings | Select Features
Top SEER
- Warranties as Compared to Other Brands 85%
- Ducane Quality as Compared to Other Brands 85%
- Consumer Opinion based on Field Experience 92%
- Ducane Efficiency Compared to Other Brands 80%
- Overall Ducane Opinion from a Technical Perspective 90%
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- Select Ducane air conditioner models include a compressor sound blanket for lower noise levels on condensers
- Two-stage operation for compressors on top tier units for efficiency and humidity control
- Easy access to the control panel in Ducane air conditioners
- All Ducane air conditioners are factory run tested
- Louvered coil guards give Ducane air conditioners durability and efficiency by preventing damage to the coils.
- 10-year limited parts warranty
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews - Consumer Ratings | Best Advice
You must select the right contractor to install the new Ducane air conditioner. A bad installation can be disastrous and lead to years of problems with the new air conditioner, and that goes for any brand of air conditioner. Finding the right contractor can as easy as asking a friend who they use to doing a little research to find the best-rated contractors in your area. You can have the best air conditioner in the world, but if it not installed properly, it will not work properly.
A bad installation can be disastrous and lead to years of problems with the new air conditioner, and that goes for any brand of air conditioner. Finding the right contractor can as easy as asking a friend who they use to doing a little research to find the best-rated contractors in your area. You can have the best air conditioner in the world, but if it not installed properly, it will not work properly.
Ducane Air Handlers
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews
Ducane manufactures air handlers for residential applications in the 13 to 18 SEER range. Their air handlers can be fitted to Ducane heat pump condensers and air conditioning condensers or used at a heat-only appliance when used with heat strips as an electric furnace.
Ducane air handlers come in sizes ranging from 2 to 5 tons and can be matched with a Ducane condensing unit for air conditioning or a heat pump. Matching the air handler with a like Ducane condenser will allow you to get the best in efficiency from the system as a whole. Mismatched systems do not perform as well as matched systems. Air handlers can be selected for a single-speed PSC motor or a variable-speed ECM blower motor. The selection of the motor will depend on the efficiency rating of the condenser, whether it be a heat pump or an air conditioner.
Ducane Air Handlers Features
Features of selected Ducane air handlers include:
- Available with multispeed or variable speed motors in Ducane air handlers
- Coated with an antimicrobial coating to prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria in Ducane air handlers
- 10-year limited warranty on select Ducane air handlers
- Can be fitted with heat strips from 5Kw to 20Kw in Ducane air handlers
- Ducane air handlers utilize R-410A
Ducane Condensing Units
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews
They offer condensing units for both air conditioning and heat pump split systems ranging from 13 SEER to 14 SEER models. From reading the Ducane Condenser Sell sheet and technical information provided at the Ducane website, it looks like Ducane is reducing the production of condensing units that use R-22 as many other manufacturers are also slowly reducing production for the R-22 condensers they are producing. Various features of selected Ducane condensing units include:
Permanently lubricated condenser fan motor in Ducane condensers- Factory-installed filter driers in Ducane condensing units
- Ducane condensers are constructed of heavy gauge prepainted steel for durability
- Ducane condensing units available in sizes from 1.5 to 5 tons
- Selected Ducane condensing units equipped with high and low-pressure switches
- Selected Ducane condensers equipped with short cycle protection
Permanently lubricated condenser Ducane Condensing Units
Much of the equipment Ducane produces are no-frills equipment with basic parts you can find off the shelf at most HVAC supply houses. Since Ducane is a part of Lennox some of the Lennox “engineering” does go into the units but by and large they keep it simple. This is good for the end consumer especially when a part is needed.
Ducane Air Conditioner Model Comparison Guide
| Ducane Air Conditioner Model Comparison Guide | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Operation | Energy Star Rated | Efficiency |
| 4AC16LT | Two-Stage Cooling | X | Up to 16 SEER rating |
| 4AC16L | Two-Stage Cooling | √ | Up to 16 SEER rating |
| 4AC14B | Single-Stage Cooling | √ | Up to 16 SEER rating |
| 4AC13L | Single-Stage Cooling | X | 13 SEER |
| 4AC13B | Single-Stage Cooling | X | 13 SEER |
| 4AC16L | Single-Stage Cooling | √ | Up to 16 SEER rating |
| 4AC14B | Single-Stage Cooling | √ | Up to 16 SEER rating |
Warranties for Ducane
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews
They offer average warranties for their HVAC equipment. Most HVAC warranties, including the warranty that comes with your Ducane air conditioner, are limited parts warranties. That means you will have to pay for labor while Ducane covers any parts. There is a reason for this type of warranty. It is because Ducane must rely on a contractor to install the new air conditioning system correctly. That part of buying a new air conditioner, partially, is up to you. A bad air conditioner installation can affect performance and longevity.
Ducane does their quality checks at the factory. The equipment gets shipped to a dealer. You make a decision and the contractor purchases the air conditioner from the dealer. Sometimes, the contractor is the dealer. However, it is up to the contractor to give you an installation according to industry best practices. So how do you know they installed it correctly? Most people know nothing about air conditioners or the installation of one. The key is to select the most reliable contractor who will install the new air conditioner correctly.
Ducane Air Conditioner Buyer’s Guide
It’s time to replace the old air conditioner. So where do you start? It is not a process that many people do very often. To help you we have written an HVAC Consumer Buyer’s Guide. This guide is designed to help you get the best out of the process of buying a new air conditioner. It helps you deal with the contractor(s) and make sure they do not cut any corners that will cost you. Here are a few tips from our buyer’s guide:
- Always get at least bids from three separate contractors. This is the time to evaluate the contractor’s professionalism.
- With any contract, the contractor should present you with a load calculation. The load calculation will give them a calculated size for your new air conditioner. If this is not done they are only guessing. Guessing is not good and you likely do not want that contractor.
- A good contractor will always evaluate the ductwork in addition to other work they need to do to ensure a good installation. Other work can include evaluating the electrical system to make sure it is sized properly for the new system.
For more tips to help you navigate the process successfully see our HVAC Consumer Buyer’s Guide.
Saving Utilities = Saving Energy
The higher the SEER, the quicker the payback for the extra cost. Of course, the higher SEER air conditioners cost more for installation. That is because more technology and features go into higher SEER systems. Either way, if you want to save more on monthly utility bills, go for the higher SEER air conditioners. Additionally, make sure to get a matching air handler.
Air Conditioner Pricing, Efficiency, and Return On Investment Factors
| Pricing Versus Efficiency Return On Investment | ||
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | Pricing Range for Initial Purchase and Subsequent Repairs outside of Warranty | ROI (Return On Investment) |
| 19 SEER Plus | $$$$$ | 5 to 7 years depending on efficiency* |
| 15 to 18 SEER | $$$ | 7 to 10 years depending on efficiency* |
| 13 to 14 SEER | $ | Over 10 years* |
| *Many factors depend on ROI such as house insulation, personal usage preferences, duct work integrity, and other basic efficiency factors. SEER level efficiency is very important to ROI. The higher the SEER, the quicker the return. | ||
Ducane was founded in 1947 in Union City, New Jersey. Eventually, Ducane was purchased by Lennox. Ducane produces HVAC products for residential and light commercial applications, including gas furnaces, oil furnaces, unit heaters, heat pumps, and air conditioners.
For more information on Ducane and its latest models and efficiency ratings, please visit the www.ducanehvac.com website.
Ducane Air Conditioner Reviews - Consumer Ratings
My compressor went out. After 2.5 years
I purchased my house in 2016 , the AC unit was a Lennox Elite, which was installed in 2009. The house was built in 1999. Starting in 2017 I started to experience trouble with heating and cooling. The home warranty company continued to diagnose the problem as low refrigerant. They searched for leaks, but could to find any. After much complaining they dismantle the air handler took it to their service shop to have it inspected. They realize that there was a leak and it could not be repaired so they replaced it. At the end of summer the heat would not work.Technician from the home warranty came out and told me my refrigerant was low. I needed 12 more pounds of refrigerant. I called an independent contractor to come out to diagnose my problem. He stated that I could continue to keep buying freon or just get another unit. His suggestion was to invest in a Ducane. I never heard of it. After much research , I am having the old unit replace with a Ducane unit, by a reputable Ducane installer. I will let you know how it works out.
Hello. I am following up on your review. It is now 2023. How is your Ducane AC working?
i have a ducane 4ac14L30 p-9a…serial #1917F11682….compressor..inatalled on 7/26/1917..this season it started to make a sound like a rod in a car engine…it does not do it all the time only in the early morning hours when it calls for cooling….contacted the service tech..said he would get back to me …that was june 8 2020….should i get back to him or wait till it does it all the time or what….please advise
call them back. If no response then call some else.
I live in Hatteras Village which recently got hammered in Hurricane Darien. My Duncan AC Unit is 15 years old, very rusty, and blew off the stand in Hurricane Dorian. The unit is laying on its side on the ground and still works… AMAZING! I had to video tape it. Did not think anyone would believe me.
I wouldn’t recommend running it while it is laying on its side. Get an HVAC company to turn it up right and check everything out.
Had a Ducane AC 3yrs it stopped cooling had repair service look at it I have insurance thru NJ service they came and said its unrepairable hole in condenser coil . Will Ducane REPLACE UNIT
Not sure. You have to ask the contractor. If it is a factory defect then I would say yes. They can replace the coil or the condensing unit in that case.
New 3 ton unit in summer of 2017 but had no heat in fall. Dealer service came out several times thru Jan 2018 to change thermostats, charge and balance the system, and work on the sequencer. Finally said the heat pump would get replaced under warranty and to use emergency heat until then. We were on emergency all winter. In spring the AC worked until hottest week in Aug. Dealer was busy so we got an independent serviceman to replace fan relay. He also checked out the heat mode and found the heat pump reversing valve and the TRX valve were bad, and in the extremely noisy air handler two pieces of the sequencer were bad. We called the dealer for our replacement system and he told us it was out of warranty. That didn’t make sense but we told him we would buy all the components at his price if he would just fix it it before winter. Its now Oct and he has closed his business and moved away. We are out over $6000 and looking for a new quiet system before winter.
I have owned a 3 ton Ducane AC package unit for at least twenty years and it’s still going strong keeping 1350 sq. ft. well-cooled in Florida weather. Had it serviced about eight years ago. That was all it has ever needed.
My husband purchased Ducane R-410A 2ton A/C on June 20th, 2017.
After one winter a pile of snow with a gutter fell on top of the unit evenly leaving the dent with the shape of the gutter in the middle then the unit stopped working due to the smashed coils of a few layers from the top. The outer metal cover was supposed to withstand up to 300 lb according to the distributor of Ducane. The certified technician who installed it wants $ 1500 for repair or a new unit. Is it possible that weight of ice/snow and gutter would be over 300 lb and cause such extensive damage?
I would say if it did that much damage it is possible but really no way of knowing without weighing it and since it already happened that would be impossible.
The weight of the ice, snow and gutter might not be 300 lbs, but the speed at which the gutter was falling may have added to the force at which the unit was hit. Effectively making it >= 300 lbs. Also the fact that the force wasn’t spread evenly across the top of the unit but rather in the gutter shape.
Purchased divans central air less than 5 years ago. Compressor failed. allied who is handeling Ducane stated 10 warranty on compressor was not covered. No wonder they’re out of business won’t stand by their product
I put a Ducane 2 ton split heat pump in my rental property 12 years ago. I have not had any trouble with the unit.
I just purchase Ducane AC.will see the performance how long it last.
Richard
I have a Ducane system since 2010 and so far I do not has any problem. I do my maintenace every year and I change filter regulary. Also, the technician was a good tech.
I bought a new Ducane four month ago,blower motor blew last week , I dont recommend it
Just a suggestion, but did the installer come back and fill the unit up with more 410a coolant? The reason I ask is because the new systems only come with about enough coolant and oil for about 15′ of line set so if your over that you need more coolant, usually a couple of pounds more for the simple fact if your not the tech will read about 10.6 amps or so on his volt meter when they need to run about 16 amps because your not putting a full load on the pump and compressor which will cause it to spin at a higher rpm and scorch the bearings without being under a load.
My Ducane has done good the last 4 1/2 years. No complaints. Recommend Ducane.