Nortek Global

Not the appliance companies. Central air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces with the Frigidaire, Maytag and similar names are built by Nortek Global HVAC (NGH), which uses those names under license. In October 2024, Rheem bought NGH from Madison Industries, and it now sits in Rheem’s Global Air Division. See our Rheem page for the rest of the family.

Older units may also carry names NGH has licensed in the past, such as Westinghouse, Tappan, Philco or Kelvinator.

• Manufactured housing specialist. NGH designed and engineered its Intertherm and Miller lines for the unique needs of manufactured homes.
• Familiar names, one factory. NGH is headquartered in O’Fallon, Missouri, and builds equipment at a plant in Saltillo, Mexico. A Frigidaire and a Maytag unit from NGH are cousins under different licensed badges.
• Residential and manufactured housing. Rheem describes NGH as serving the residential and manufactured housing markets, which is where most of its equipment ends up.
• A long history. NGH traces its roots to 1919.

Brand licensing is common in HVAC. The Maytag name on a Nortek air conditioner and the Amana name on a Daikin-built unit are both licensed from the appliance world. So a “Maytag” condenser and a Maytag washing machine share a logo but not a factory. Now that NGH belongs to Rheem, those licensed names sit in the same family as Rheem and Ruud.

• Came with the house? If your Frigidaire, Maytag or Gibson system was installed by the builder, it is worth having the sizing and airflow checked if the house feels sticky or uneven, before blaming the equipment.
• Heat. Single-stage units work hard in long summers. Clean coils and correct refrigerant charge make a big difference.
• Attics. Check the condensate drain and float switch every season.
• Freezes. During Winter Storm Uri, Camp Mabry recorded 7°F. Heat pumps need working backup heat for that kind of event. See our freeze guide.

Many Frigidaire, Maytag and Gibson systems around Austin are at the age where owners start asking this question. Some simple guidelines:

• Repair makes sense for capacitors, contactors, fan motors, drain issues and control boards on a system that is otherwise healthy.
• Replacement deserves a look when a compressor or coil fails on an older system, when there is a refrigerant leak on an older R-410A or R-22 unit, or when comfort and bills have been getting worse for years.
• Manufactured homes often need equipment designed for them, such as Intertherm or Miller, with specific clearances and duct connections. Do not assume a standard site-built furnace will fit.
• Keep the data plate handy. Model and serial numbers identify parts quickly, especially on older units that may carry a licensed name like Westinghouse or Kelvinator.

Gold Eagle installs, services and repairs heating and cooling systems across Central Texas, including Nortek-built Frigidaire, Maytag, Gibson and Broan equipment. For repairs, see AC repair and heating. If your builder-grade system is near the end of its life, compare options with Build Your Own System. Our Home Maintenance Plan helps older units last.

Sister and related pages: Rheem and Ruud, Fujitsu General, Daikin, Goodman and Amana.

Who makes Frigidaire central air conditioners?
Nortek Global HVAC, now owned by Rheem, builds Frigidaire-branded central heating and cooling equipment under license.

Who makes Maytag HVAC systems?
Nortek Global HVAC, now part of Rheem. The Maytag name is licensed; Maytag appliances come from a different company.

Who owns Nortek Global HVAC?
Rheem acquired Nortek Global HVAC from Madison Industries in October 2024.

Is Maytag HVAC the same as Frigidaire HVAC?
Both are licensed names on heating and cooling equipment built by Nortek Global HVAC, now part of Rheem, so they are sister brands.