Is Ruud AC a good brand?

Yes, Ruud AC is a good brand and is considered good value mid-range brand offering decent reliability, good efficiency, and lower upfront cost than premium brands like Trane and Carrier, identical to Rheem quality since same factory. Ruud AC units including RA14 14 SEER single stage, RA16 17 SEER two-stage, and RA20 20 SEER variable speed are made in Fort Smith, Arkansas by Rheem Manufacturing Company owned by Paloma Industries Japan, with service call rates around 9 to 12 percent according to HVAC dealer surveys, which is slightly higher than premium Trane and Carrier at 8 to 10 percent but better than some budget online brands at 14 to 18 percent, indicating good reliability. Key strengths that make Ruud AC good brand include 10 to 20 percent cheaper upfront than Trane and Carrier, for example RA14 3-ton costs 3,800 to 5,000 dollars installed versus Trane XR14 at 4,500 to 6,000 dollars, standard Copeland scroll compressors that are reliable, 10-year parts warranty and lifetime compressor warranty on some models when registered within 60 days, and wide parts availability with inexpensive parts like capacitor at 15 dollars and contactor at 20 dollars that any technician can source. Weaknesses include louder operation at 68 to 74 decibels versus Trane variable at 55 decibels, and some evaporator coil leak issues after 5 to 8 years due to formicary corrosion costing 600 to 1,200 dollars. For homeowners wanting good reliability at moderate price, Ruud AC is good brand lasting 15 to 18 years.