Jandiel
HVAC technician
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Goodman and Daikin
Side-Discharge Inverter Heat Pumps Goodman GZV6S vs Daikin Fit DH6VS
A side-discharge heat pump blows its air out the side of a slim cabinet instead of up through the top, and runs a variable-speed inverter compressor. Home Therapist installs two lines of them across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Our Elite tier is the Goodman GZV6S ($13,022 to $16,593 installed) or the Daikin Fit DH6VS ($14,281 to $18,540). Elite Max, the higher-efficiency 7 series with new copper lines, runs $16,145 to $23,877. The estimate is FREE.
- HVAC license CAC1819196
- 4.8 stars from 1,300+ reviews
- Background-checked, drug-tested techs
- Hablamos español
At a glance
- Goodman GZV6S (Elite)
- $13,022 to $16,593
- Daikin Fit DH6VS (Elite)
- $14,281 to $18,540
- Elite Max (GZV7S or DH7VS)
- $16,145 to $23,877
- Efficiency
- 16.6 to 19 SEER2 by size and series
- Refrigerant
- R-32 on both brands
- Included
- Thermostat, hurricane pad and tie-downs, haul-away
What makes a side-discharge inverter different
Most outdoor units are a tall box with a fan on top. These are built differently, and that changes where they fit and how they run.
Air goes out the side
The fan sits in the side of a narrow cabinet. The unit is shorter and slimmer, so it fits side yards, tight spots beside the house and some balconies and rooftops where a top-discharge unit will not.
Variable-speed inverter
Instead of switching full on and full off, the inverter compressor speeds up and slows down. Most of the day it runs low and steady, which keeps rooms even and pulls more moisture out of the air.
Communicating controls
The outdoor unit, the air handler and the thermostat talk to each other, so the system sets its own speeds. Each package includes the matching thermostat.
Side-discharge systems we installed
Real photos from Home Therapist jobs.
What our customers say
Recent reviews from Tampa Bay homeowners, refreshed every day from Google. See all our reviews.
★★★★★ 4.8 (1,398 verified reviews)
Verified4.8★ · 1,398 reviews🛡 FL Licensed: CAC1819196 · CFC1431159💼 $1M General Liability + Workers’ Comp🏠 Family-owned since 2017⚡ Same-day service
MaintenanceGreat Team. Arrive on Time and do complete maintenance on our system. Recommend to anyone looking for quality service.
PlumbingHappy with the service and excellent communication with Home Therapist for help with a plumbing/ drain issue. Can recommend!
AC repairI have the Service Maintenance Plan with them for my a/c and plumbing, their visit was pleasant making sure all was clean and functioning properly. I pay monthly $20 of which is…
PlumbingExcellent service and fair pricing from Home Therapist. Their quote was $180 less than similar plumbing company for simple disposal replacement. Plumber arrived promptly, worked efficiently, and answered all of my questions…
Water heaterI had the best experience with this company. From the free estimate to everything in between. I have my beautiful new water heater and more room under my sink when he took…
Water heaterI had a great experience with Home Therapist Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing. We were getting our house ready to sell and the home inspection identified several plumbing issues that needed to be…
AC installI was in need of air conditioning for my detached garage. My AI search for the most trustworthy mini-split AC installer led me to Home Therapist; my expectations were exceeded. Scheduling a…
AC installExcellent service from Richard! He was professional, courteous, and very knowledgeable. He fixed my A/C problem quickly and explained everything clearly. I highly recommend Richard for anyone needing A/C service. had a…
AC repairI had a great experience with Home Therapist AC Repair. Alejandro arrived on time to diagnose why my AC wasn't cooling and quickly found the problem that the previous company had missed.…
Latest review: October 2026 · auto-refreshed daily
What a side-discharge heat pump costs in Tampa Bay
Installed prices from our price book, 2 to 5 tons, with the air handler. A horizontal air handler costs a little more than a vertical one.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Goodman GZV6S Elite, 2 to 5 ton | $13,022 to $16,593 |
| Goodman GZV6S Elite, 3 ton | $14,088 to $14,513 |
| Daikin Fit DH6VS Elite, 2 to 5 ton | $14,281 to $18,540 |
| Daikin Fit DH6VS Elite, 3 ton | $15,500 to $15,925 |
| Goodman GZV7S Elite Max, 2 to 5 ton | $16,145 to $21,256 |
| Daikin DH7VS Elite Max, 2 to 5 ton | $17,518 to $23,877 |
Elite reuses and flushes your existing copper lines. Elite Max includes new copper lines, a new communication wire and a surge protector with voltage monitor. Every package includes the thermostat, a hurricane pad and tie-down kit, a secondary drain pan with float switch and haul-away of the old system. The permit fee is billed separately. Financing with rates from 0% APR is available for qualifying customers.
How the install works
- FREE estimateWe run a Manual J load calculation, look at where the outdoor unit can go and give you both brands priced in writing.
- PermitWe pull the permit and schedule the inspection.
- Install dayWe remove the old system, set the new outdoor unit and air handler, connect the controls and start it up. Most installs finish in one day.
- Haul-away and inspectionWe haul the old equipment away, and the county inspection follows.
Goodman GZV6S or Daikin Fit: which one
Both are side-discharge, variable-speed inverter heat pumps on R-32, with the same efficiency range in each series. The differences are price, warranty and the cabinet.
- PriceThe Goodman GZV6S costs about $1,250 to $2,000 less than the Daikin Fit DH6VS at the same size. On a 3 ton system it is $14,088 to $14,513 against $15,500 to $15,925.
- WarrantyGoodman: 10-year parts, 10-year condenser unit replacement and a 10-year labor warranty from us. Daikin: 12-year parts, 12-year unit replacement on select models and a 12-year labor warranty from us. Warranties need registration.
- Near the waterThe Daikin Fit cabinet is 500-hour salt-spray tested. Near the Gulf or the bay we recommend coastal protection on either brand, and a coastal coil coating is quoted in writing.
- ThermostatThe Goodman comes with a Goodman WiFi thermostat; the Daikin comes with a Daikin communicating thermostat.
More reading: Daikin Fit reviews from a St. Petersburg install, a Goodman side-discharge install in Tampa and Goodman vs Daikin. Looking at a ductless wall unit instead? See Daikin Fit vs Atmosphera.
Want both brands priced side by side?
Call or text us for a FREE estimate on a side-discharge system.
Your Tampa Bay HVAC techs
Our HVAC work is done under Richard Morales’s Florida Class B Air Conditioning Contractor license, CAC1819196. Every tech is background-checked and drug-tested, factory-trained, and trains with us every week. Meet the whole team.
R
Roberto
HVAC technician
Alejandro
HVAC and plumbing technician
Related pages
AC replacementEvery tier, from Goodman Value to Elite Max.
AC replacement costWhat a new system costs in Tampa Bay.
Goodman vs DaikinHow the two brands compare.
Single, two-stage or variable speedWhat the inverter changes.
FinancingPayment options for a new system.
Air conditioning servicesAll of our AC services.
Where we install side-discharge systems
We serve the three counties of Tampa Bay from our shop at 1408 W Linebaugh Ave in Tampa.
Hillsborough County
Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Carrollwood, Town ‘n’ Country, Plant City, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, Valrico, Lutz, Seffner
Pinellas County
St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach
Pasco County
Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Trinity, Zephyrhills, Dade City
Side-discharge heat pump questions
How much does a side-discharge heat pump cost in Tampa?
Installed, our Elite tier runs $13,022 to $16,593 for a Goodman GZV6S and $14,281 to $18,540 for a Daikin Fit DH6VS, 2 to 5 tons. Elite Max (Goodman GZV7S or Daikin DH7VS) runs $16,145 to $23,877 with new copper lines. The permit fee is billed separately.
What is the difference between the Goodman GZV6S and the Daikin Fit?
Both are side-discharge, variable-speed inverter heat pumps on R-32. The Goodman costs less and carries 10-year parts, unit replacement and labor coverage. The Daikin carries 12-year parts, 12-year unit replacement on select models and 12-year labor, and its cabinet is 500-hour salt-spray tested.
Is a side-discharge unit quieter?
Yes. The inverter runs at low speed most of the day instead of cycling on at full power, and the side fan sits lower, so the outdoor unit is quieter than a single-stage condenser in normal use.
Does a side-discharge heat pump help with humidity?
Yes. Running longer at low speed moves air across the cold coil for more of the day, which pulls more moisture out of the house than a system that cools fast and shuts off.
What is the difference between Elite and Elite Max?
Elite is the 6 series (GZV6S or DH6VS), 16.6 to 18 SEER2 by size, and it reuses and flushes your copper lines. Elite Max is the 7 series (GZV7S or DH7VS), 17 to 19 SEER2, and it comes with new copper lines, a new communication wire and a surge protector with voltage monitor.
Is the Daikin Fit a mini split?
No. The Daikin Fit is a central, ducted heat pump with a slim side-discharge outdoor unit and an air handler inside. A mini split is ductless, with wall units in each room.
Do you install other brands?
Yes. We install and service every brand. Goodman and Daikin are the brands we recommend first.
Get both side-discharge brands priced for your home
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The diagnosis and the estimate are FREE, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Hablamos español. Llámenos o envíenos un texto al (813) 343-2212.