NEW ORLEANS - The Rheem Air Conditioning Division is launching a new customer support team to assist residential homebuilders. According to the company, the Rheem and Ruud Builder Group will offer competitively priced products, manufacturer incentives, and a consumer upgrade program designed to meet the needs of builders, HVAC contractors, and home buyers.

The Builder Group will offer residential products marketed under the Rheem Corsair Series, Ruud Zephyr Series, and WeatherKing labels. The company said the new value line joins a new Rheem and Ruud premium line offering of 10-, 12-, and 14-SEER products, heat pumps, condensing units, 80- and 90-percent gas furnaces, and air handlers.

The new group also will offer an Internet-based consumer upgrade program. The program will enable contractors and builders to promote products by showing homeowners the full range of Rheem and Ruud HVAC products through the Web.

"The residential building market continues to be one of the most dynamic and high-growth areas of the U.S. economy," said Bill Hanesworth, vice president of sales for Rheem Manufacturing Co. "The formation of the Builder Group will now enable us to even better serve home builders, new construction HVAC contractors, and home buyers through a broader array of products and programs customized to meet their needs."

Publication date: 03/22/2004