This is a thorough review of Carrier air conditioners in 2021.

I’m an air conditioning specialist. I make it my business to keep up with trends and any new features of leading brands.

I also know how hard it is for homeowners to choose central air conditioning units without help. So, I have researched the latest Carrier air conditioner (AC) models to help you make the best choice for your home.

Carrier is a top brand when it comes to HVAC equipment. Their air conditioners are amongst the best in the world. But there will always be a few caveats to watch out for. And I am here to guide you with my Carrier AC reviews.

My Carrier central air conditioner reviews provide an honest opinion of the brand. I’m going to share my knowledge of pros and cons, and offer advice that I know will help you.

Whether you are looking for the best of the brand, or the most affordable model Carrier offers, you’ll find all the information you need right here. 

Carrier Air Conditioner Unique Features and Pros

Carrier AC units always rank as one of the best AC types for homes. They are excellent home units that are more energy-efficient than most residential and commercial machines.

You can control some of them easily and efficiently using an app. 

They have many features and even more pros, including:

• A comprehensive choice in terms of quality – as in basic, better, best.
• Top-quality components, although Carrier doesn’t make them all. 
• Different Carrier thermostats for variable, 2-stage, and 1-stage / single-stage models help to make some models a lot more affordable. It is possible to use other cheaper brands of thermostat too.
• Copeland compressors, including the benchmark scroll compressor.
• Reliability. Their record is amongst the best globally.
• Noise levels are low – as low as 58 decibels (dB).
• The seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) rating is high – up to 21 SEER.

Copeland Compressors

Like most other major brands, Carrier manufactures its products with many third-party components. One notable set of components that they use are Copeland compressors.

Copeland makes single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed compressors. Their scroll compressor models are the most widely used in the HVAC industry.

The best variable-speed compressor steps down in five stages and it runs in lower speeds. It is very quiet, keeps temperatures even, and it removes humidity.

Carrier Air Handlers

Highly efficient air handlers from Carrier provide efficient air delivery. These systems will also save you money year after year.

But not everybody includes them in their HVAC system. While they are an indoor part of an AC (or heat pump) system, this unit works more like a furnace, efficiently moving air through your home.

When paired with a heat pump, an air handler will only circulate heat.

Ask your HVAC contractor for advice.

Carrier Air Conditioner Cons

Carrier products are expensive. That is likely the biggest disadvantage, or con, of the brand.

When we started this review, we explored many other Carrier central air conditioner reviews. The only other con we could identify due to intensely hot conditions.

One review stated that one unit, which they didn’t name, was prone to breaking down in hotter regions. They said that this was because of unreliable parts.

Their advice was to buy the best unit available to avoid this possibility.

About Carrier

The company has been in business for close to 122 years. They are known for their quality heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment. The range of products performs exceptionally well, and they last well.

Formed in 1902, the company was created by Willis Carrier, who invented the first modern AC. His invention launched a new industry, and Carrier remains a leader in the industry.

Since then, the original AC unit has continued to evolve. Today the company excels in heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration solutions.

Willis Carrier set high standards for his innovative products. These standards continue to evolve. For more than two decades, the company has led the industry with its environmentally responsible approach.

If you care about the environment, you’ll know how important it is to have highly-efficient HVAC equipment. You will also know how vital sustainability is in the industry. That’s why the company continues to promote phasing out refrigerants that drain the earth’s ozone layer. 

You will find Willis Carrier, One of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century, in the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

So, it’s no surprise when the manufacturer wins awards. In 2020, the best Carrier air conditioner and heat pump won Gold in the Dealer Design Awards for the HVAC High-Efficiency Residential Equipment.

What it means is that these products offer the best performance and reliability on the market.

United Technologies Corporation bought Carrier in 1979. But in 2020, the company made headlines by becoming an independent HVAC and AC company again.

Carrier AC Models

Carrier, like most other HVAC brands, produces three levels of AC unit: basic, better, and best.

The standard Comfort AC models are the most economical for energy-efficient residential home cooling.

The enhanced Performance series provides a balance between cost and performance.

The premium Infinity series provides the highest degree of comfort management for your home.

Each of these three series has a choice of models. There are seven Carrier Infinity, and five each of the Performance and Comfort series air conditioner.

Be sure when you look at other Carrier AC reviews that the models described are current. I found huge discrepancies. 

For instance, the hugely popular Infinity 19VS, a great middle-of-the-road, well priced AC, is no longer promoted on their website. I must presume it is not available anymore. 

The table below contains current 2021 information from the Carrier website. I have listed model numbers and some basic data from each of them. Below the table is more information about each of the three series.

New Carrier Unit Data

As well as identifying the Carrier air conditioning models, the data in this table provides a quick guide to the SEER of each. It also shows the energy-efficiency ratio (EER), compressor type, and sound level.

SEER and EER are up to a maximum rating (the higher the better), and sound levels are as low as specified dB.

Infinity Series Air Conditioners

The best of the Infinity series incorporate Greenspeed Intelligence. There are two that are top-of-the-line with GI, and both are variable-speed models.

Premium Infinity Models

The 24VNA6 model

If you’re willing to pay a premium cost, these models are for you. The superior technology they offer will provide you with increased cooling, ultra-quiet comfort, and the best possible energy-efficiency.

Energy savings are guaranteed, with ratings of between 21 SEER and 16 SEER for every unit.

Greenspeed Intelligence enables infinite adjustments between a 25% and 100% capacity. This results in exactly the amount of cooling needed in your home.

The other Infinity models are good, but not as good, and for many of us, a lower price justifies the comprise of premium quality.

Other Infinity Models

The 24VNA0 model

All seven of the current (2021) Infinity models are Energy Star qualified. And they all incorporate the Carrier Silencer System II design. Most, but not all, have a compressor sound blanket. But they are all quiet enough, as you can see from the table.

The 24VNA6 and 24VNA0 Carrier air conditioning units are both named by Energy Star as Most Efficient Central Air Conditioners for 2021. As you can see from the table above, their SEER efficient ratings are much higher than the other AC units included.

The “Most Efficient” systems are leading high-efficiency heating and cooling solutions. Two Carrier Infinity heat pumps are also on the 2021 list.

While the Infinity models are top of the Carrier air conditioner range, they aren’t all variable-speed air conditioning units. One is five-speed, three are two-stage, and one is a single-stage air conditioner. The single-stage AC has up to a 16 SEER.

Carrier variable-speed air conditioner units offer more comfort and efficiency than other unit types. But you will see from my Carrier HVAC reviews that the efficiency rating of other Infinity models is also excellent.

Every model AC unit is built to strict quality standards and temperature shifts are so small you hardly notice them. You will never feel too hot or too cold, even if it’s an Infinity 17 SEER or 16 SEER unit.

They also use hardly any electricity – which is why they are so energy efficient.

Performance Series ACs

The 24ACB7 model

Three of the Carrier Performance series air conditioners have SEER ratings up to 17. Two of these are single-stage air conditioners.

Energy savings are good and comfort features are standard, even for the 13 SEER and 14 SEER models.

There is a wide range to choose from, including a 17 SEER model that offers up to $1,100 in rebates.

The compact 24AHA4 model

Comfort Series ACs

The 24ABC6 model

Basic, but still featuring two models with up to a 17 SEER rating, one with up to $1,100 in rebates. Carrier Comfort series reviews show that these single-stage air-cons offer great value.

There are five in the series, two 14 SEER, one 13 SEER, and the two with a 17 SEER rating. Sound levels are higher than most other unit types, from 72 to 76 dB. 

Carrier Air Conditioners Price List

Carrier ACs are expensive. Like other brands including Trane and Lennox, the quality is excellent. But it’s difficult to compile an accurate price list.

Carrier doesn’t provide prices. This mainly because cost is always affected by location and the specialists who operate in different areas. For example, labor fees, taxes, and the profit margins charged by contractors vary.

Also, there are so many variables including house size and climate to take into account. When Carrier air conditioner reviews do list prices, there will often be enormous differences in a single cost range – as much as $4,000.

We have based our very basic price guide on price brackets given by Carrier, as well as prices quoted by suppliers and installers. All prices include installation. It doesn’t include all current models.

But, it’s best not to rely on any sort of review for price. Rather contact local contractors and ask for an accurate quotation for the series AC you are looking at buying.

Also, please be aware that installation costs don’t usually include new ductwork.  There may also be extras that you want to include, such as the:

• ComfortZone II
• Air purifier
• Germicidal UV lamp
• Ventilator

Ask your HVAC contractor to specify exactly what the quote includes.

We also looked at the average cost of 16 SEER AC units with a variable air handler. The larger the unit size, the more expensive the unit. They ranged from $3,750 ($5,940 installed) for a 1.5 ton machine to $5,210 ($8,220) for a 5 ton machine.

Carrier AC Warranty

The standard Carrier warranty on air conditioners is 10 years for the compressor and a 10-year parts for the rest.

It’s a limited warranty, and you have to register it within 90 days of installation in most U.S. states. If it isn’t, it becomes a five-year warranty. Later owners also only get a five-year warranty.

The guarantee that comes with it is because they only allow authorized people to do installations (see below).

Who Can Install My Carrier AC?

Only authorized dealers can installer Carrier central air conditioner. You need to be sure that they have a North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification.

Despite what some Carrier air conditioner reviews say, many HVAC professionals don’t have this certification!

Carrier recommends authorized dealers on its website.

FAQ

Is Carrier a good air conditioner?

Definitely. But the unit you choose will determine just how good your AC is. Comfort is the basic unit Carrier offers. The Performance range is better. The Infinity series offers the very best products available. 

Is Carrier a good brand?

Yes, it is, and the brand ranks among the very best in the world.

Which is better – Trane or Carrier air conditioners?

Both are top brands, and each offers a choice that includes varied performance and levels of efficiency. Both Trane and Carrier currently offer two high-performance models that feature a variable speed compressor. Other models also have similarities.

An experienced HVAC contractor that doesn’t limited services to Trane or Carrier will be able to tell you which brand is the best for your home.

How long do Carrier air conditioners last?

The lifespan of any home air conditioner varies, based on many factors. Carrier says that if you maintain your central air conditioning unit it should last for 10 to 15 years. If you maintain it properly, it will last even longer.

We found an independent review that said the “basic” series should last 17 to 20 years. The “better” series, 18 to 22 years, and the Infinity range, between 20 and 25 years!

Conclusion

Carrier is a leading brand for all HVAC systems, including air conditioners.

Like other leading brands, they have different performance levels for different series. This directly affects cost and enables those on a budget to buy into what is a high-priced, exceptionally good brand.

We have provided you with comprehensive guidelines to help you make the right decision for your family and your home.

There is a wide variety of choice. Only you can evaluate your needs. But a reliable, authorized HVAC contractor will be able to help you make the right decision.

Once you have made up your mind, you can buy your Carrier air conditioner here. Cool!