Yah, I honestly wasn't too sold on the spin fin coils because of cleaning them. I've watched some YouTube videos where people burn the dirt off.

But the Trane videos make it sound like it's the best invention since bread and butter.

I have an XL16i compressor (single stage) with the spine fin coil. No problem with the spine fin coil, but the compressor is very loud, even with the sound blanket, esp during the heating season, when I can hear the heat pump 200 feet away. Do not assume that a Trane sound blanket will help reduce noise that much.

You're paying a premium with Trane for advertising. Same with Lennox. Other manufacturers are just as good and usually cost a little less. All manufacturers have switched to all-aluminum indoor coils now owing to the poor quality of available copper tubing (the number of lawsuits against just about every manufacturer attests to this!)

Sounds like you've had good luck with Rheem - you could stick with them. Or, if you have a favorite contractor that you trust, just go with whatever they suggest.

I can't recall ever seeing a Trane TV commercial or seeing a printed ad. You may be paying extra for Trane equipment, but I don't see it is due to advertising.

"You can't stop a Trane"?

Is that phrase you hear others say or have you seen it recently in an advertisement? Trane may have had an advertising campaign in the past with catchy phrases. But I don't think the price is higher because they have to cover an advertising budget. I would agree there is a certain amount of brand recognition, but I question if the typical homeowner knows this.

We have seen prices posted on this forum for American Standard at equal or higher than Trane. Yet American Standard does no advertising. Maybe people associate them with the faucet and sinks company?

Earth to Mike: Ads like this cost MILLIONS of dollars. This money doesn't fall from the sky. The equipment is nothing special, they all break.

Thanks for proving my point. The Trane commercials you posted were made in 2012. I never see them broadcast in my viewing areas. Maybe they are still running in other markets.

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen any advertising for any specific AC brand in my area.

All of the AC advertising here is for HVAC companies drumming up business. I just assumed the HVAC company made their own suggestions on AC brands.

You live in New Jersey Mike... not a hot bed for Air Conditioning. Furnaces are 20 plus year appliances. The ads are produced for prominent customers and areas of heavy sales because the ads are expensive.