A new furnace will save you money when it comes to heating your home. They typically have an improved AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency; they use less fuel while still heating the house more effectively than older models; and they heat up faster too! Older systems have more expensive repairs and are less energy efficient.
Furnaces will cost anywhere from $2,000 - $7,000 depending on what type of furnace you buy (propane, natural gas, electric or oil) and what kind of efficiency rating it has. In addition to these price differences, the prices depend on installation costs and the size of your home.
The current federal minimum for your furnace or heat pump’s AFUE rating is 80%. These days, there are high-efficiency heating and cooling systems on the market that have an efficiency rating of 98%. Only up to 20% of the energy is lost while the other 80% can be converted into usable heat.
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Winter is coming and you may be asking, what are the 10 best furnaces for your home? If you’re due to install or replace your home furnace, then here’s your chance to buy one that gives you lasting value.
When comparing the top furnace brands, there are numerous factors to take into account:
There are dozens upon dozens of home furnace brands on the market. To help narrow your search, we present this list of the 10 best furnace brands in 2024.
American Standard is one of the biggest names in heating and air conditioning products. When you purchase an American Standard furnace, you know you’re getting a product that’s high quality and built to last—with an average shelf-life of 15-20 years. American Standard has 14 gas furnaces with AFUE ratings ranging from 80% to 97.3%. Whatever you’re looking for–whether it's a single-stage or two stage (for different settings on cold and mild days), large or small, highly efficient or quiet–American Standard, has all types of furnaces and air conditioners.
Lennox’s Signature Collection SLP99V variable-capacity gas furnace is the most efficient product on the market, with a 99% AFUE rating. Lennox has several other Energy Star-certified two-stage gas furnaces with energy ratings above 96%, some of them with built-in Power Saver technology. Overall, there are 23 models of Lennox furnaces with varying selling points–including being reliable and economical.
Bryant earns a place on our list of the best gas furnace brands. It has 13 reliable furnaces with AFUE ratings ranging from 80% to 98.3% and a choice of single-stage, two-stage, and modulating configurations. Aside from ultra-quiet performance, other advanced features include consistent airflow and enhanced summer humidity control. Bryant is a part of the United Technology Corporation group of companies, which also includes Carrier, Payne, and Heil.
Rheem’s propane and natural gas furnaces are renowned for their easy installation and maintenance. Most of Rheem’s line of 21 gas furnaces come with built-in PlusOne Diagnostics, an industry-first 7-segment LED display that instantly identifies issues–making service calls easy. Rheem furnaces aren’t as energy-efficient as competitors, with most carrying an AFUE rating of 80% and only a handful exceeding 96%. But if you’re looking for a furnace that’s easy to handle and maintain, then look no further than Rheem.
Trane is owned by Trane Technologies and is a sister company to American Standard. It offers gas furnaces as well as two oil furnaces that promise reliable heat for your home all winter long. The XV80 oil furnace has a variable-speed fan that adjusts speed to provide a consistent flow of warm, comfortable air.
The XP80 has a four-speed blower and an in-built Trane CleanEffects Air Cleaner, removing dust, pollen, and other irritants from the air. Both oil furnaces have an 85% AFUE rating, which is pretty good for oil furnaces.
Goodman is part of Daikin Industries, a member of the Fortune 1000 and a leader in HVAC products. It offers the best value for top-of-the-line gas furnaces, with prices starting at less than two grand for purchase and installation. Goodman Furnaces has a huge range of gas furnaces, with 15 quality furnaces with over 90% energy efficiency and an additional 13 furnaces with 80% efficiency. Therefore, you can find quality products to suit virtually all price points and preferences at Goodman.
While most of the top furnace brands only work with authorized dealers, Carrier goes a step further and requires its dealers to be factory trained. Therefore, when you order purchase and installation from Carrier, you can be sure of getting off to a smooth start. Carrier offers three price tiers: Infinity, Performance, and Comfort. The premium Infinity series is fairly expensive, but it’s worth it if you want your furnace to be energy efficient (up to 98.5%), ultra-quiet, and have great humidity control.
Ruud is owned by Paloma Industries and offers the same maintenance-friendly diagnostics tools as its sister company, Rheem. It was the first home furnace brand to offer environmentally friendly Ultra Low NOx technology. NOx is an abbreviation for nitrogen oxides (a collection of harmful greenhouse gases) and Ruud’s furnaces are known for their low emissions. Ruud has 23 gas furnaces with AFUE ratings ranging from 80% to 96%.
Heil has three lines of gas furnaces – ranging from budget-friendly to standard to the premium Ion series. Ion gas furnaces feature enhanced levels of comfort and temperature control. They come with in-built Wi-Fi capability, enabling smart control of the system. The Ion series has four gas furnaces, ranging from variable-speed furnaces with energy-ratings up to 98% to durable furnaces with ultra-low NOx emissions.
Amana’s furnaces are more expensive but possibly more durable than those offered by sister company Goodman. Amana has an impressive range of multi-speed and two-stage variable-speed gas furnaces. Amana’s furnaces are solid without standing out for any particular reason.
The average cost of buying and installing a furnace is about $3,300. The price can include the furnace itself, labor fees, and other costs such as old furnace disposal, ductwork, and new installation. In the end though, the cost will depend on how big your house is, and how efficient your furnace is.
Furnace installation quotes are usually free. Considering all your requirements, your HVAC professional will see what type of furnace is best for you. The size, the model, and where you live all play a part in this decision and how much you will pay.
Large furnaces are typically bigger, they take up more space and they can be louder than small ones. On the other hand, if you have a large home, a smaller furnace might not have enough strength to heat your home entirely. The important thing, regardless of the size of furnace you choose, make sure it has AFUE rating and is strong enough to meet your needs.
Knowing how big your house is before you buy a furnace can save you money and headaches in the long run. You can usually find this information on blueprints or other relevant documents. If the measurements aren't easy-to-find, then you should take measurements based on different areas of your home. Multiply the width by length for each measurement and add all together for total square footage.
When you buy a new furnace, take time to research the reasons people choose to repair or replace theirs. One of the most common furnace problems is when your thermostat stops working. It is easy to tell if you have a faulty one - turn on your fan and see whether it continues to run even after you change settings for heat levels. If so, chances are you need a new one.
When it comes to heating, there is a wide range of problems that arise. Sometimes they're minor fixes like switching out an old filter or cleaning up some of the dust around your vents. If you don't take care of them right away, they can cause bigger problems. It's important to know what repairs are more likely so you know when it's time for intervention. Listed below are a few more common furnace repairs:
Furnace running but no heat
Odd noises
Gas leaks
Water leaks
Weird smells
Safety switch going off
Cracked heat exchanger
There are several ways to keep warm this winter. The HVAC system you choose may be impacted by your region or price range. Nowadays, it’s possible to pick from natural gas furnaces, heat pumps, oil furnaces, electric furnaces, or propane heating systems. The most popular method of heating your home is through natural gas, as 50% of Americans use natural gas.
Electric furnaces are less expensive to purchase and install but your electricity bill may be higher, as natural gas is a less expensive energy source. Oil furnaces are more common in the northeast of the United States and their upfront costs are cheaper. Lastly, we have heat pumps which pull out warmth from surrounding air (rather than burn gas). This is best for people who reside in tropical climates and regions where there isn't as much snow or cold winter months.
Thanks to the top premium brand furnaces, you can stay warm and comfortable this winter—and for many winters to come. Today’s gas furnaces are more advanced and efficient than they were in the past. Therefore, if you're in the market to purchase or get a furnace replacement, you may as well get one that’s built to last.
