Friedrich air conditioners are made by Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., which operates as a standalone business unit within the Rheem Manufacturing Company family of brands following Rheem’s acquisition in August 2021.
Friedrich is a premium room air conditioning brand founded in 1883 in San Antonio, Texas, and is best known for its Kuhl through-the-wall and window units, Chill Premier inverter models, and its commercial Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner systems used in hotels and multi-family buildings.
Rheem Manufacturing is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is owned by Paloma Industries of Japan, giving Friedrich the backing of one of North America’s most respected HVAC manufacturers.
Knowing that Rheem owns Friedrich explains how one of America’s oldest room AC brands has access to world-class engineering resources while maintaining its own identity and product focus.
This article covers who makes Friedrich air conditioners, where they are produced, who owns the brand, its history, how it compares to a rival, and whether the systems are any good.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Makes Friedrich Air Conditioners?
Friedrich air conditioners are made by Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rheem Manufacturing Company.
Friedrich operates as a standalone business unit within the Rheem family, maintaining its own engineering team, product development, and brand identity in San Antonio, Texas.
The company focuses entirely on room and single-zone air conditioning rather than central HVAC systems, covering window units, through-the-wall installations, portable air conditioners, mini-split systems, PTACs, and dehumidifiers.
Friedrich is widely recognized as the premium tier of the American room air conditioner market, competing with LG and Frigidaire at the top end of window and through-the-wall categories.
Rheem’s acquisition of Friedrich in 2021 was confirmed as part of Rheem’s strategy to expand its residential and commercial single-room AC solutions, as announced on Rheem’s official press release.
Where Are Friedrich Air Conditioners Made?
Friedrich air conditioners are manufactured in Monterrey, Mexico, where the company moved its production in 2008 after closing its San Antonio, Texas production plant.
All engineering, product development, and warehousing remain based in San Antonio, Texas, where Friedrich has been headquartered for over a century.
Distribution centers in Texas and New Jersey support rapid delivery across the United States for both residential and commercial customers.
The company also collaborates with select international partners for specific product lines, as noted in Friedrich’s company history.
Who Owns Friedrich Air Conditioners?
Friedrich is owned by Rheem Manufacturing Company, which acquired the brand from private equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners in August 2021.
Before Monomoy, Friedrich was owned by Corinthian Capital Group, which acquired the company in 2012 after a period of private family ownership stretching back to the brand’s 1883 founding.
Rheem is itself owned by Paloma Industries of Nagoya, Japan, a privately held gas appliance manufacturer that acquired Rheem in 1988.
Friedrich continues to operate under its own name as a standalone unit within Rheem and is not marketed under the Rheem brand in any product category.
What Is the History of Friedrich?
Friedrich was founded in 1883 by Ed Friedrich in San Antonio, Texas, initially as a manufacturer of handcrafted furniture, billiard tables, and store fixtures.
The company shifted toward refrigeration in the early twentieth century and became a major manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment by 1950.
Friedrich entered air conditioning in 1952 with its first window units and is credited with several innovations including introducing the first refrigerated display case for food retailers.
The brand has remained focused on room and single-zone cooling throughout its history, building a 140-year reputation for premium product quality in both residential and commercial markets.
Friedrich Air Conditioners vs LG Air Conditioners: How Do They Compare?
Friedrich and LG are two of the most respected names in the room air conditioner market and compete directly in window and through-the-wall applications.
Friedrich is the premium American brand, known for quieter operation, more commercial-grade durability, and products specifically engineered for demanding hotel and multi-family environments.
LG is a South Korean electronics giant that offers a broader range of window and portable AC models at more accessible price points, with strong smart home and inverter technology.
For commercial applications, hotels, and high-demand residential use, Friedrich typically holds a quality edge, while LG leads on smart features and value in the everyday consumer market.
Are Friedrich Air Conditioners Any Good?
Friedrich air conditioners are among the most highly regarded room air conditioners available in the United States, consistently earning top marks from both residential owners and commercial buyers.
The Kuhl series is particularly praised for its quiet operation, with the Library Quiet technology achieving sound levels as low as 42 dB on select 2023 and later models.
The Chill Premier inverter line, launched in 2023 and updated for 2025 with R-32 refrigerant and Precision Inverter technology, delivers efficiency levels competitive with the best window ACs on the market.
Friedrich’s commercial PTAC products are widely used in hotel and multi-family applications where durability and ease of service are essential.
For buyers who want the quietest, most refined room air conditioning available from a 140-year-old American brand backed by Rheem’s manufacturing resources, Friedrich is the clear premium recommendation.
For more on related Rheem family brands, see Who Makes Rheem Air Conditioners and Who Makes Ruud Air Conditioners.
Frequently Asked Questions About Friedrich Air Conditioners
Who makes Friedrich air conditioners?
Friedrich air conditioners are made by Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., which operates as a standalone subsidiary of Rheem Manufacturing Company. Rheem acquired Friedrich from Monomoy Capital Partners in August 2021.
Where are Friedrich air conditioners made?
Friedrich air conditioners are manufactured in Monterrey, Mexico. Engineering and headquarters remain in San Antonio, Texas, with distribution centers in Texas and New Jersey.
What is Friedrich best known for?
Friedrich is best known for its Kuhl through-the-wall and window air conditioners, its Chill Premier inverter line, and its commercial PTAC units used in hotels and multi-family buildings. It is regarded as the premium tier of the American room AC market.
Is Friedrich still made in the USA?
No. Friedrich closed its San Antonio, Texas production plant in 2007 and moved manufacturing to Monterrey, Mexico in 2008. Engineering, product development, and warehousing remain in San Antonio.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.