Best-of buying guides for HVAC brands, heat pumps, mini splits, smart thermostats, and furnaces.
Lennox SL25KCV leads SEER2 at 26.0. Carrier wins reliability + 90-day warranty. Goodman cheapest installed. 8 brands ranked by category for 2026.
Carrier 59MN7 98.5% AFUE + lifetime heat exchanger leads. York TL9E + 90-day warranty registration. Goodman value + lifetime HX. 8 brands ranked.
Carrier 27VNA1 leads cold-climate at 21.2 SEER2 / 10.5 HSPF2. Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat to -13°F. Daikin 12yr warranty. State HEAR rebates up to $8,000.
Mitsubishi MSZ-FS06NA at 32.2 SEER2 leads residential mini-splits. 8 systems compared: cold-climate, multi-zone, value. HEAR rebates 15 states.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium $249 wins Best Overall 2026 per Wirecutter. Nest Learning 4th gen co-leader. Budget Wyze $69, Amazon $80.