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HVAC

Rheem Air Conditioners Review

Modernize Rating: 4.5/5

Average Cost: $3,150 - $4,000

Rheem air conditioner prices can range between $3,150 to $4,000 to install. The prices for different Rheem AC units vary from classic to prestige series based on size of unit you need and energy efficiency requirements for your home.

The Modernize Mission

Modernize maintains homeowner-first editorial integrity, meaning we accept no commissions and no partner links for this review. Our reviews are thoroughly fact-checked by our home improvement experts. Ratings are determined by a sophisticated algorithm to rate brands, including analyses of products, materials, quality, costs, sizes, durability, energy efficiency, and warranties.

Rheem HVAC Brand Review

Rheem HVAC has been in the heating and cooling business since the late 1930’s and came out with the first Rheem central air conditioner and heater in 1954 known as Rheemaire. It’s been in the business of air conditioners and heaters ever since, offering some of the most modern and capable units. The company is known for their replacement central ac units, heat pump units, replacement gas furnaces, water heaters, and package units for both the residential and commercial industry.

rheem best air conditioners

rheem hvac


Rheem Air Conditioner Prices

Rheem air conditioner prices can range between $3,150 to $4,000 to install. Your total AC unit installation costs will largely depend on the size needed for your home. For a 1,600 square foot home you would need a 2.5 ton air conditioner. To get exact local costs, connect with one of our contractors today.

Rheem HVAC offers three different levels of air conditioners, the entry-level Classic Series, the upscale Classic Plus series and the top-of-the-line Prestige Series.

Rheem Cost by Model.csv
AC Unit ModelSEER RatingAvg. Installation CostHVAC Unit Cost 
Rheem Classic RA1313 SEER$3,150$948
Rheem Classic RA1414 SEER $3,450 $1,095
Rheem Classic RA1616 SEER$3,600$1,285
Rheem Classic Plus RA1717 SEER$3,725$1,463
Rheem Prestige RA2020 SEER$3,952$1,925

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What is a Good HVAC SEER Rating?

Efficiency is expressed as the seasonal energy-efficiency rating, also known as an HVAC SEER rating. The minimum SEER for a central air conditioner will be 13 to 14. You’ll want to choose an air conditioner with a SEER rating of 15 or higher. The better the SEER rating for your AC unit, the lower your overall energy bills will be. See our list below of average costs for AC units with different SEER ratings: The higher your HVAC system’s energy efficiency level, the higher your average HVAC unit installation cost will be.

What Size AC Unit Do I Need? 

If you want to know what size Rheem air conditioner you should install for your home, you can calculate by using your home’s square footage. A Rheem air conditioner can cool up to 400 square feet per 1 ton of air conditioning capacity. For a 1,600 square foot home you would most likely need a 2.5 ton air conditioner. See the chart below for average costs of HVAC units by TONS.

Rheem Cost by Size.csv
Rheem AC Unit SizeHome Sq. Ft.Installation CostHVAC Unit Cost
1.5 ton600-1000$3,150$1,085
2 ton1001-1300$3,310$1,120
2.5 ton1300-1600$3,570$1,235
3 ton1600-1900$3,850$1,500
3.5 ton1900-2200$4,145$1,675
4 ton2200-2600$4,420$1,800
5 ton2600-3200$4,875$2,420


Rheem Classic Series Air Conditioner

The classic series has units starting at 13 SEER and going up to 16 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). They’re all fitted with a single stage compressor and come with a composite base for noise dampening. All of these highly rated ac units rely on a scroll compressor for efficient and quiet performance.

rheem central air systems

Rheem Classic Plus Series Air Conditioner

The Classic Plus line of Rheem AC Units add in a few improvements compared to the standard Classic Series. While SEER Ratings remain the same with up to a 16 SEER efficiency, the compressors used are two-stage units for enhanced control, and they are EcoNet enabled for improved scheduling and remote operation allowing you to adjust your systems controls from anywhere in the world.

Rheem Prestige Series Air Conditioner

When you step up to the top level Prestige series the air conditioning units are efficient up to 19.5 SEER and they are fitted with a compressor sound blanket for operation as quiet as 71 dB (equivalent to average street noise). The unit is variable speed and can help adjust humidity levels to keep them comfortable.


Rheem Heat Pump Prices

Rheem sells two replacement heat pump types called the Classic Series and the Classic Plus Series.The average cost of a Rheem heat pump can range from $1,200 to $3,750 depending on the seer rating and size of the unit. Rheem HVAC offers two different levels of heat pumps designed to offer top-level heating and cooling.

Rheem Classic Series Heat Pumps

Classic Series heat pumps operate at between 14 and 15 SEER efficiency levels and they run on a scroll compressor (a scroll shaped device for compressing air or refrigerant) just like the air conditioners. The units are fitted with a composite base pan to dampen noise during operation.

Rheem Classic Plus Series Heat Pumps

The Classic Plus Series offers cooling efficiency levels up to 18.5 SEER and heating levels up to 13 SEER. The units in the series can be connected to the EcoNet remote control system and they come with a highly versatile three-stage compressor for more control and improved efficiency levels.


Rheem Packaged AC Units

Rheem offers a variety of packaged HVAC units that take all the heating and cooling components needed for comfort and they stuff them all into one neat and compact unit. There are air conditioning units, gas and electric heating and cooling units and both horizontal and standard heat pumps.

Units between two and five tons are available and they offer all the heating and cooling needed for a variety of residential and commercial locations. The packaged units come with an internal trap on the condensate line and a solid core liquid line for effective liquid removal to keep humidity levels managed. One and three phase units are available giving you the level of control that fits your needs.

Read Modernize’s guide on installing a Rheem gas furnace.


Rheem Thermostats and Controllers

Rheem offers a line of controllers and thermostats for enhanced scheduling. All the thermostats are digital and offer scheduling features for improved efficiency and more control over temperatures throughout the day. The EcoNet Control Center product from Rheem connects all your heating and cooling units to one central system, and offers an impressive level of remote control over supported products.


Rheem Energy Star Support

Rheem offers a variety of Energy Star approved equipment guaranteed to offer highly efficient performance. Rheem has condensing units, gas and electric heating and cooling units, gas furnaces and heat pumps that are all rated as Energy Star efficient.

There may be government and local tax credits available for Energy Star rated equipment, so check around to see what incentives are available for heating and cooling products in your area before buying, you could save a bit of money just by doing a simple search.

Rheem AC Installers

Rheem makes it simple to locate qualified installers. The company maintains a database of verified installers and connects customers with installers that can be relied on. The Rheem Contractor search allows customers to look for technicians and certified installers in their area. It’s simple to use and shows nearby service providers.

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