Goodman vs. Maytag Furnace: An Honest 2026 Comparison

Maytag is a name most people associate with washing machines and refrigerators — but they also make furnaces. If you've received a quote for a Maytag furnace and you're comparing it to Goodman, here's the honest breakdown of how these two brands stack up for Minnesota homeowners.

At Furnace Direct, we sell Goodman furnaces at factory-direct pricing. Here's what you need to know about both brands before making your decision.

Company Background

Goodman

Goodman is owned by Daikin Industries, the world's largest HVAC manufacturer. Goodman is the #1 selling residential HVAC brand in North America, manufacturing furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps in facilities in Houston, TX and Fayetteville, TN. Their focus: reliable equipment at the most competitive price point in the industry.

Maytag

Maytag HVAC products are manufactured by Nortek Global HVAC (now part of Melrose Industries). The Maytag brand name is licensed — Nortek pays for the right to use the Maytag name on their HVAC equipment. Nortek also manufactures Frigidaire HVAC products, Broan furnaces, and several other brands under the same corporate umbrella. Maytag HVAC has no manufacturing connection to Maytag appliances (which are made by Whirlpool).

This is an important distinction: when you buy a Maytag furnace, you're buying a Nortek furnace with a Maytag sticker. The brand recognition comes from washing machines, not from decades of HVAC expertise.

Warranty Comparison

Maytag HVAC products are known for their warranty marketing — they promote a "12-year limited parts warranty" on many models, which is slightly longer than the industry-standard 10-year coverage. Goodman offers a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and 10-year parts warranty with registration. The difference between 10 and 12 years of parts coverage is only meaningful if a component fails in years 11-12 — a narrow window. The cost premium you pay for Maytag could buy an extended warranty from your installer that covers far more.

Parts Availability: Goodman's Major Advantage

This is where the comparison becomes one-sided, especially in Minnesota. Goodman, as the #1 selling brand in North America, has parts stocked at every HVAC supply house. In the Twin Cities, you can get any Goodman part same-day from multiple distributors. Every technician knows Goodman equipment. Maytag HVAC has a much smaller market share. Parts must often be ordered through Nortek-specific channels. Fewer technicians have hands-on experience with Maytag/Nortek equipment. In a mid-winter breakdown, waiting for a specialty part could mean days without heat.

The Brand Name Factor

Let's address the elephant in the room: Maytag is a familiar, trusted name from the appliance world. That brand recognition is exactly why Nortek licenses it. The "dependability" reputation from Maytag's washer and dryer history creates a halo effect on their HVAC products. But Maytag doesn't make these furnaces — Nortek does. The Maytag name is a marketing asset, not a manufacturing quality indicator. You're paying extra for the name, not for better engineering.

Goodman is a dedicated HVAC manufacturer backed by Daikin, the world's largest HVAC company. That's a more meaningful indicator of quality than a licensed brand name from the appliance industry.

Pricing

Maytag furnaces installed typically run $5,000-$9,000 through contractors. Goodman at Furnace Direct factory-direct pricing: GMSS96 $900-$1,400, GMVC96 $1,400-$2,200, GMVM97 $2,000-$2,800. Add $1,500-$2,500 for your own installer and save $2,000-$4,000+ versus a Maytag contractor quote.

The Bottom Line

Maytag makes a decent furnace, but you're paying a premium for a licensed brand name on a Nortek product. Goodman offers comparable or better performance, industry-leading parts availability, a larger technician network, and significantly lower pricing at factory-direct from Furnace Direct. Same-day delivery in the Twin Cities metro for orders before 3 PM CT. Full factory warranty on every unit.