Ruud Heat Pump Reviews and Prices 2020

Note: Before you dive into the specific brand review, we highly recommend you to read our elaborate Heat Pump Buying Guide in advance, there are several crucial steps you need to take before you even start to think about the brand.

After an independent beginning, The Ruud Company was acquired by Rheem more than 50 years ago. Ruud and Rheem have been known for quality that is better than average and for innovation in efficiency and climate control. Both are now owned buy Japan-based Paloma Industries, a global leader in HVAC equipment manufacturing.

This Ruud heat pump buying guide lists all models, their efficiency and other features. You’ll find Ruud heat pump prices below.

Features and Pros

We mentioned innovation as a hallmark of Ruud. The Ultra UP17 is a three-stage heat pump with low, high and overdrive capacity. In overdrive, the compressor rapidly cycles refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor coils to maximize heating and air conditioning potential. Overdrive allows the heat pump to capture outside heat fast enough to adequately heat your home in outdoor temperatures well below freezing.

Ruud’s top model, the Ultra UP20 is the brand’s first variable-capacity heat pump. The inverter-driven technology eliminates heating and cooling fluctuations to deliver precise temperature balance and maximum humidity control for optimal indoor comfort.

The Ultra Series models are smart heat pumps. Equipped with WiFi-enabled EcoNet technology, they can be monitored and controlled via the wall control and app on your devices. EcoNet works with Amazon Alexa and Nest devices too.

Ruud has developed its own smart home system called EcoNet. It includes a thermostat control for the wall, a WiFi kit and the EcoNet app for use on smart devices. The system works with Alexa devices and come Nest products.

Another new feature to Ruud heat pumps is the 10-year unit replacement warranty on Ultra Series models. This was done to keep pace with Heil and other ICP brands (Arcoaire, Comfortmaker, Tempstar and others) and with Amana, brands that also offer complete condensing unit replacement on the compressor.

Ruud Ultra Series cabinet design allows fast access to internal components for cleaning, maintenance and repairs. This can help keep costs low for maintaining your Ruud heat pump. If repairs are required, Ruud parts are readily available across the country, so system downtime is minimized.

Most Ruud heat pumps are dual fuel models that can be paired in a split system with a gas furnace. This is done in very cold climates. The gas furnace is used when temperatures are below freezing.

Ruud Heat Pump Cons

This is one of the few brands we have little to criticize. Ruud has made efficiency, performance and warranty changes recently that have improved it as a brand.

Ruud is a respected heat pump brand. Its units should last 15-20 years when properly installed and maintained. Our recommendation is to choose the installer wisely, because faulty installation results in poor efficiency, performance and longevity.

If you’d like to get free, no-obligation estimates from licensed, insured and experienced installers where you live, take a minute to fill out the Free Local Quotes form or call the number on this page.

Model Analisis Guide

Model	SEER	HSPF	Compressor	Communicating	Other
Ultra UP20	20	11	Variable	No	Energy Star/10-year unit replacement
Achiever UP17	18.5	8.5	3-stage	No	Energy Star/10-year unit replacement
Achiever RP16	16	9	2-stage	No	Energy Star
Achiever RP15	16	9	Single-stage	No	Energy Star
Achiever RP14	15	9	Single-stage	No
Achiever RP14-F	14.5	8.5	Single-stage	No

Quick Take-Aways for Models

When you’re looking for the most cost-effective heating, the strategy is to find the balance between furnace cost and energy costs. Let’s use the zone map to identify efficiency levels for each that strike that balance:

Zone	Suggested SEER and HPSF	Cost-effective Models
Zones 1 & 2 (hot)	18-19 SEER/9.5-10 HSPF	UP17
Zone 3 & 4 (moderate)	14-15 SEER/8.5 HSPF	RP15
Zone 5 (cool)	15-17 SEER/8.5-9.5 HSPF	RP16, RP15
Zone 6 (cold)	(18 SEER/9.5 HSPF) or (AC + Furnace)	Ultra UP20 or (AC + Furnace)
Zone 7 (very cold)	(18 SEER/9.5 HSPF) or (AC + Furnace)	AC + Furnace
Plan to move in the next few years	13-14 SEER/8 HSPF	RP14-F

 

Note: In Zones 6 and 7, the coldest zones, a system with an efficient gas furnace and small central air conditioner is also a good option.

Extracted Tags from Customer & Contractor Reviews

Highly Durable

After going the customer reviews, most of them were quite impressed by the Ruud heat pumps. Even customers who had installed the economy class heat pumps were quite by the durability of the units. Some customers, who had tested the efficiency of the heat pumps, claimed it had not changed. Other heat pumps such as Trane or Carrier tend to lose a huge percentage of efficiency after about fifteen years of use.

Refrigerant Leaking

Quite a number of customers complained about the Freon leaking from their heat pumps. This Freon leak appears after about three years of use according to customer feedback. The problem was easily identifiable; replacement of the faulty part would usually work quite efficiently. Consequently, the cause of the Freon leak is most likely normal wear and tear than a particular problem with the heat pumps.

The Warranty Does Not Cover Freon Replacement or Labor Costs

After going through a number of customer reviews, it came out clearly that labor was not part of the warranty. As a result, it could at times become very costly to repair the unit. This is especially so as the unit ages and requires more parts replaced. Although the company would provide for replacement of damaged parts, Freon is not offered. Customers have to purchase the Freon themselves or have the unit refilled at a cost to them.

Low Price

Compared to Trane, Carrier and Lennox, Ruud has a relatively low price. A decent number of contractors recommend Ruud as the first choice for their customers.

Ruud Heat Pump Prices By Model

In order to offer an objective and equal comparison, we set the baseline below:

Each model includes: 3-ton outdoor condenser, 1300-1400 CFM air handler, programmable heat pump thermostat.

Models	System Only	System Installed
Prestige Series: UP20	$2,220	$6,250
Classic Plus Series: RP17	$1,935	$5,640
Go Classic Series: RP15	$1,870	$5,530
Classic Series: RP14	$1,535	$5,335
Classic Series: RP14-F	$1,220	$4,950

Ruud Heat Pump Prices By Size

Before installing your heat pump, an HVAC contractor needs to size your system by “Manual J” calculation. This will take into accounts factors like where you live, how much insulation you have, windows types and directions, and everything else. Then you will get a right-sized heat pump unit ranging from 1.5-ton to 5-ton.

Each Unit includes: Ruud 3-ton outdoor condenser, 1300-1400 CFM air handler, programmable heat pump thermostat.

Heat Pump Size	Home Size	System Only	System Installed
1.5 ton	600-1000 sf	$1,370	$4,510
2 ton	1001-1300 sf	$1,540	$4,825
2.5 ton	1301-1600 sf	$1,770	$5,090
3 ton	1601-1900 sf	$1,940	$5,650
3.5 ton	1901-2200 sf	$2,220	$5,950
4 ton	2201-2600 sf	$2,630	$6,250
5 ton	2601-3200 sf	$3,150	$6,940

 Customer Shared Prices and Details

Price	Brand & Model & Size	Home Location	Home Size
$4,000	Ruud Ultra 2 Stage	Cumming, GA	2800 sqft
I installed this 3-ton unit after my old Trane system became too inefficient. The contractor conducted and size calculation and did a ductwork replacement. Since the ductwork was replaced, my house has become quieter. I only noticed after turning on the new heat pump, my old Trane was quite loud and I had gotten used to living in a noisy house.
$4,750	Ruud Value 15PJL	Hendersonville, NC	1900 sqft
This is actually the first time I have installed a heat pump. The unit runs efficiently, it has helped me to reduce my electricity bill almost by half. I knew the contractor would be crucial to a quality installation. Therefore, I did my research and found a good quality installation company. It has been three years and the unit is still running smoothly.
$4,550	Ruud Value 13PJL	Kansas City, MO	2200 sqft
Despite this unit having one of the lowest SEER ratings of any Ruud heat pump, it is quite impressive. My electricity bill has dropped drastically, which I attribute solely to the installation of this heat pump. Make sure that a contractor does not install an oversized unit in your home. You will end up paying more than you should. Always do your own calculations to confirm their figures.
$6,800	Ruud Ultra UPQL-JEZ	Harrisburg, PA	3000 sqft
Had this unit installed as a replacement after my Goodman completely broke down. Two years and it is working great. With the amount of savings I have made on the electricity bill, I would definitely purchase another Ruud.
$4,500	Ruud Value 13PJL	Douglass, KS	2000 sqft
This is a well-priced unit. I do not think there is any other heat manufacturer who offers so much value for each purchase. The unit works exceptionally well four years after installation. By the time I replace it, I estimate I will have recovered my entire investment. I would definitely recommend a Ruud over any other brand.
$7,300	Ruud Achiever UPNL-AZ	Landrum, SC	3200 sqft
I had my 4-ton unit installed some time back. Since installation, I can attest that my bill has gone down. The true test of quality lies in a heat pump’s ability to bring costs down. While some brands are super quiet, the kind of savings one makes are hardly worth it. It has been four years now and my Ruud continues to operate smoothly.

How to Get the Best Ruud Heat Pump Prices?

• Firstly, keep in mind that installation quality is always the most important thing for heat pump project. So never sacrifice contractor quality for lower price.
• Secondly, remember to look up the latest tax credit and rebates.
• Thirdly, ask for at least 3 bids before you make the decision. You can click here to get 3 free estimates for your local contractor, and this estimate already takes rebates and tax credit into consideration and filter unqualified contractors automatically.

At last, once you chose the right contractor, remember to use the tactics from this guide: homeowners tactics when negotiating with HVAC dealer to get the final best price.

Feel free to ask any question by leaving a comment, we will answer any question with actionable tips.