Table of Contents
Trane Package Unit Reviews - Trane package units can be purchased in configurations of hybrid dual fuel heat pumps with gas backup heat, air conditioners with optional electric heat, air conditioning with gas heat also known as gas packs, and heat pump package units. Their package units are manufactured for residential, light commercial, and heavy commercial applications. Heavy commercial air handlers will be covered in a future planned section named Commercial HVAC.
Trane Package Unit Reviews | Consumer Ratings
Most of the Trane lineup for package units are 13 SEER to 16 SEER plus for air conditioner efficiency and 80 or 81 AFUE for the gas furnace efficiency rating. Package units are a little more difficult to achieve the same efficiency as the conventional split system air conditioner or heat pump system.
Trane Package Unit Reviews | Consumer Ratings - Features
Various features of selected package units include:
- Two-stage compressor in select package units
- Variable speed blower motors in select package units
- Two-stage gas heat in select gas packs
- Humidity control with select package units. Allows for proper humidity levels in the home or business.
- Stainless steel heat exchanger and burners in select package units
- All-aluminum Spine Fin™ coil. See our article Copper Versus Aluminum Coils and decide for yourself whether this is good or bad
- 20-year Registered Limited Warranty on heat exchanger for gas packs
- 10-year limited warranty on select package units
Air Source Heat Pump Tips | Dual Fuel Heating
A dual fuel heat pump is a heat pump with a gas furnace for backup heating rather than electric heat strips.
Air source heat pumps have a backup heating source. In most installations, the backup heating source is electric heat strips. Electric heat strips are very cheap to install in most cases. However, while electricity is generally regarded as 100% efficient, producing it is more costly than other heating methods. For a more efficient heat pump, consider a dual fuel heat pump, or a heat pump with a gas furnace for the backup heat source. It will be more costly to install, but your monthly bills will be reduced.
- Trane Warranties as Compared to Other Brands 93%
- Trane Quality as Compared to Other Brands 95%
- Consumer Opinion based on Field Experience 77%
- Trane Efficiency Compared to Other Brands 93%
- Overall Trane Opinion from a Technical Perspective 89%
Trane Package Unit Top SEER Ratings
Trane Package Unit Model Comparison Matrix
Trane Package Units Model Comparison Matrix | |||
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Trane Gas Packs | Trane Heat Pump Package Units | Trane Hybrid Dual Fuel Package Units | Trane AC Packs |
Efficiency Up to 16.6 SEER and 81% AFUE for premium models | Efficiency Up to 16 SEER and 8.5 HSPF for premium model | Efficiency Up to 16 SEER and 81% AFUE for premium model | Efficiency Up to 15 SEER |
Two-stage Climatuff® compressor in select models | Two-stage Climatuff® compressor in select models | Two-stage Climatuff® compressor in select models | Climatuff® compressor - single-stage |
Gas Heat | Heat Pump heating | Four stages of heating | Cooling only with optional electric heat |
Variable-speed Vortica™ blower motor in select models | Variable-speed Vortica™ blower motor in select models | Variable-speed Vortica™ blower motor in select models | Variable-speed Vortica™ blower motor in select models |
Stainless steel heat exchanger and burners | N/A | Stainless steel heat exchanger and burners | N/A |
Heavy gauge cabinet | Heavy gauge cabinet | Heavy gauge cabinet | Heavy gauge cabinet |
Aluminum Spine Fin™ coil | Aluminum Spine Fin™ coil | Aluminum Spine Fin™ coil | Aluminum Spine Fin™ coil |
Trane warranties vary - see dealer for details | Trane warranties vary - see dealer for details | Trane warranties vary - see dealer for details | Trane warranties vary - see dealer for details |
Energy Star qualified - Select models depending on efficiency | Energy Star qualified - Select models depending on efficiency | Energy Star qualified - Select models depending on efficiency | Energy Star qualified |
Warranties
*Always check with the manufacturer or authorized dealer for more details about the warranty. Terms and conditions can change anytime by the manufacturer. Additionally, make sure to register the warranty as soon as possible after installation. Some manufacturers give you 60 days and some give you 90 days after installation to register the new system. After that, the manufacturer may not honor any warranty.
Looking at everything, Trane seems to make a good package unit that looks sleek and can be reliable, provided it is installed properly and receives the proper periodic maintenance. I always recommend choosing the best contractor over the brand as the installation is super important. If you need help with the buying process see our HVAC Equipment Buyers Guide for more information.
Trane Package Units and Return on Investment
Since Trane offers package units for all varieties of heating and cooling systems the ROI charts will help you determine the efficiency of the system and payback or return on investment.
Gas Furnace Pricing, Efficiency, and Return On Investment (ROI) Factors
Pricing Versus Efficiency Return On Investment | ||
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Efficiency | Pricing Range for Initial Purchase and Subsequent Repairs outside of Warranty | ROI (Return On Investment) |
95% AFUE Plus | $$$$$ | 5 to 7 years depending on efficiency %* |
90% to 95% AFUE | $$$ | 7 to 10 years depending on efficiency %* |
80% to 90% | $ | Over 10 years* |
*Many factors depend on ROI such as house insulation, personal usage preferences, ductwork integrity, and other essential efficiency factors. The furnace AFUE rating is a high factor in the return. |
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. |
About Trane
In 1910 James Trane and his son Reuben began manufacturing a low-pressure heating system to heat homes. They have a long history of innovation dating back to its founder and his son including changing the concept of air conditioning for large buildings when in 1938 they introduced the Turbovac which was the HVAC industry’s first hermetic centrifugal refrigeration machine.
See our other Trane HVAC Reviews - Trane Air Conditioner Reviews | Trane Heat Pump Reviews | Trane Gas Furnace Reviews | and don’t forget to see our Trane Versus others articles in our Buyers Advice Category
For more information on Trane and its latest models and efficiency ratings please see the Trane website.
Trane Package Unit Reviews | Consumer Ratings
Don’t know how others have had so many problems. We had a Trane gas pack and replaced it with another Trane gas pack to get better efficiency as the old system was over 15 years old. The new system (installed 8 months ago) has not given us an ounce of problems and our bills are cheaper for both gas and electric. We do have a maintenance contract with a great contractor who installed the system. Maybe regular maintenance is the trick to staying trouble-free? Maybe, I just know our Trane (both old and new) has done a good job for being both reliable and efficient. Can’t ask for more than that.
I agree absolutely horribly engineered and constructed units I’m on my fourth condenser coil in 5 years. I have spent $1,500 for repairs and paid $6,000 for the 16 seer 3 ton unit. Their state representative Randy Reno refused to work with their retail installer and we had to go straight to the company to get hopefully a satisfactory resolution to the ongoing problems. Train refused to pay for the coil and installation after all the trouble we’ve had with their unit. I will never buy another Train and and will do my best to spread the word to all those that are looking for a unit. As I am retired I have still plenty of time to accomplish my goals.
Trane Package Unit Reviews | Consumer Ratings
Reviewed by Admin Transfer September 05, 2011
Poor engineering
Reviewed by Paul March 27, 2010
Poor engineering
Horrible systems. Serious engineering flaw with the materials used for baffles in the heating coils. I owned a 4 ton and a 3 ton Trane packaged units. The baffles deteriorated within five years of service. As the baffles began to break down paritcles were pulled into the exhaust fan causing high amperage and eventual fan failure. The service technicians spent two years replacing blow back limit switches, low vacuum limit switches, and eventually the fans in both units. I finally had enough and broke the systems down myself and found the root cause of the problem. I have replaced one of the units already and the other is not working. I have contacted the company through letter and phone on five occasions and still have not seen or spoken to a representative.