Finding the right furnace can feel overwhelming with so many brands available. This guide simplifies the process by focusing on the top 5 furnace brands of 2024. We’ll explore what makes these brands stand out, including energy efficiency, premium features, furnace warranties, and more. Choosing a furnace is important for both your comfort and your budget, so finding the best option for your home is a worthwhile investment. A new furnace unit, and getting help deciding from available furnace companies can often take time and be overwhelming.
Top 5 Furnace Brands: A Deep Dive
We’re focusing on a select group of top furnace brands for easier comparison. Too many choices can be confusing. These contenders often appear in best-of lists and homeowner reviews, providing a wide range of quality heating units for many HVAC systems.
1. Lennox
Lennox is known for its quiet operation thanks to variable-speed blower motors that adjust airflow for better efficiency. These gas furnaces fall in a higher price range ($3,000 to $9,500 installed, according to HomeGuide). However, they offer some of the highest AFUE ratings available, up to 99%, providing significant long-term energy savings with proper care of the heat exchanger and digital security features. Lennox furnaces provide great customer service with all of their heating equipment and provide a range of energy-efficient heating options.
2. Trane
Trane is a popular choice with high customer satisfaction ratings and has one of the best heat pumps for central air systems. Their furnaces typically cost between $2,500 and $9,800 for installation. While not inexpensive, they’re known for reliable heating and low running costs, often justifying their initial cost for homeowners. Trane’s focus on heating and cooling systems spans over a century, solidifying their position as a leader in the HVAC market.
3. Carrier
Carrier consistently receives positive feedback for overall performance and quiet operation. Installation costs range from $2,400 to $8,000, with varying efficiency levels and innovative features like flexible-speed technology. Carrier’s partnership with Energy Star reflects their dedication to energy conservation. Their air conditioners and furnaces provide top-notch features and reliability in the HVAC industry, while some models are electric furnaces.
4. Goodman
If budget is a primary concern, Goodman is a more economical choice among the top 5 furnace brands. Known for their warranties and thorough testing (each unit is tested three times), prices typically start under $2,100 (per HomeGuide). They offer multiple furnace rating tiers, providing good options for various budgets and needs. Their gas furnaces are highly durable and efficient and a top furnace choice for buyers. They are among the most energy efficient with Energy Star Certification.
5. Amana
Amana, owned by Goodman, offers similar pricing ($2,100 to $8,200 installed). They receive positive reviews and offer basic models and units with advanced features. Their ComfortBridge technology adjusts heating based on more than just thermostat readings for more efficient and precise temperature control. Amana also produces heat pumps and other HVAC systems for air conditioning.
Key Factors to Consider
Beyond brand recognition, consider several factors. Energy efficiency (AFUE rating) is crucial, impacting gas usage for gas furnaces. Brand reputation and reliability reports from sources like Consumer Reports provide valuable insights.
| Feature | Importance |
|---|---|
| Energy Efficiency (AFUE) | Higher AFUE ratings mean lower energy bills. Aim for at least 80%, but higher is often better for energy efficiency requirements. |
| Warranty | A good warranty covers parts and labor. A longer warranty may indicate better quality, potentially making the higher installation costs a better return on investment, similar to trusted choice warranties when doing car buying. |
| Features | Consider features like variable-speed blowers, two-stage heating, humidity control, and smart thermostat compatibility. Selecting suitable features often depends on the environment and other efficiency requirements. |
| Installation Cost | Include installation costs in your budget, and consider hiring a qualified installer for professional and efficient central gas installation for central air conditioners and other furnace brands and related heating units, such as heat pumps. |
| Noise Level | Choose quiet models if noise is a concern. Look for brands that emphasize this quality or research solutions to address noisy air conditioners or furnace issues without compromising the quality of related air quality. |
FAQs about Top 5 furnace brands
Which furnace brand is most reliable?
Reliability can vary. Commonly cited reliable brands include Trane, Lennox, and Carrier. Consult Consumer Reports for data-driven reliability ratings and additional information on water heaters. Choosing brands like Lennox furnaces consistently shows they have high reliability. Lennox furnaces provide high quality that’s hard to match by some smaller brands.
What is the longest a furnace can last?
Most furnaces last 15-25 years with proper maintenance (according to industry sources). This includes regular filter changes, air conditioner cleaning, and annual tune-ups by professionals for heat pump issues or any type of furnace. Seasonal maintenance can often prevent larger, more expensive issues from cropping up when homeowners least expect it, potentially leading to higher average furnace costs.
What brand of furnace is the quietest?
Lennox and Carrier are often mentioned for their quiet models. Research specific models within each brand for verified noise levels. Look for furnaces that have certifications related to low noise levels or air quality solutions. Improper attempts to solve furnace noise issues, or using a generic conditioner brand that may harm furnace warranties and quality related to features like humidity control or negatively impact indoor air quality. Consulting a trusted choice provider when evaluating multiple furnace brands provide good third-party reviews for various HVAC systems, from simple to more complex systems requiring humidity control or indoor air quality controls for related heat pumps, air conditioners, or the furnace unit.
What’s the most efficient furnace you can get?
Lennox offers models with AFUE ratings up to 99%, representing the current peak of furnace efficiency for natural gas and some central air conditioners and heat pumps. However, local or regional requirements may affect AFUE rating benefits, such as when factoring in efficiency requirements with different climates or with newer homes. These high-efficiency gas furnace brand units often provide top-notch humidity control and help with overall indoor air quality, compared with traditional heating equipment or poorly maintained older units without premium features.
Conclusion
Choosing among the top 5 furnace brands involves balancing budget, efficiency, and long-term needs. This guide offers a starting point to compare furnace companies and evaluate suitable furnaces based on specific home or business needs. Be sure to get quotes from multiple companies to get the best furnace price. Consider how furnace warranties will be handled for regular maintenance, which helps you compare across different furnace brands. The initial cost should be balanced with factors like indoor air quality and efficiency requirements. When you find the best price for furnace cost or related heat pump pricing and compare across multiple brands, sometimes the initial cost doesn’t outweigh long-term costs related to maintenance or repair work for less durable heating equipment or when compromising quality on core needs like indoor air quality or humidity control. If you can find brands with star certification or are Energy Star certified, these furnaces provide longer-lasting quality for overall better quality than furnaces or heat pumps and air conditioners from less known or unreliable companies. For central gas, sometimes higher price point brands justify the cost and avoid other issues, or end up cheaper in the long run when factoring in the total costs of the furnace involved, including installation costs, repair costs, and overall cost for gas furnaces or similar heating units. Goodman furnaces consistently balance furnace price and overall performance, compared to higher price point companies. Look to reliable companies like Trane and Rheem for good overall ownership advice and an overall trusted choice reputation for a wider range of price ranges without compromising quality across a wide range of AFUE ratings. Choosing Goodman is choosing a brand synonymous with affordability and reliable gas furnaces. Carrier air conditioners and other similar HVAC systems in this top five list are often best in class with high customer satisfaction with a wide range of units covering both air conditioning, heat pumps, and furnaces provide long-lasting quality with only small differences related to total furnace cost across these top rated brands, with slightly better or worse warranty options or humidity control premium features, or differences with indoor air quality related components and certifications.
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