What Furnace Should I Buy

Think of an electric furnace as you would a hair dryer or toaster. The furnace pulls cold air into an exchanger where it is then heated over electric heating elements. Once heated, the warm air is pushed into your home via ductwork.

what furnace should i buy

A natural gas furnace works by igniting natural gas inside of your furnace's burner. The flames heat up a metal heat exchanger, which in turns heats incoming cold air received from your home's ductwork. The warm air is then pushed into your home by a blower via its ductwork.

A gas furnace costs more to purchase than an electric furnace, but because it uses natural gas as opposed to electricity, it is less expensive to operate. It is also more powerful than an electric furnace because it is able to heat the air within the heat exchange chamber more quickly.

Oil furnaces work much the same way as a natural gas furnace. Once activated, the furnace draws oil from the tank into a burning chamber. Instead of being directly lit, however, it is first converted into a mist and then sprayed onto a burner. Once ignited, air is pulled into a chamber near the burner where it is heated and sent back into the home through the ductwork.

Propane furnaces also operate much the same way as a natural gas furnace, except they do not require a flue. It's possible, instead, to simply install a direct vent beside it on an exterior wall. This eliminates the need to have a flue regularly inspected and cleaned.

However, even though it is similar to natural gas, propane furnaces are more efficient. The result is that you don't have to burn as much propane to get the same amount of warmth you'd get with a natural gas furnace.

A single stage thermostat is more affordable, while a modulating furnace is the most expensive. To choose, consider your budget and needs. Smaller, single-story homes don't require as much heating power as larger, multistory homes. If your home is somewhere in the middle, then a multistage heat furnace may be the perfect fit for you.

AFUE stands for annualized fuel utilization efficiency. An AFUE rating reflects how much heat is produced for every dollar spent. The higher AFUE rating a furnace has, the lower the amount the homeowner should spend on fuel.

Ideally, you want a furnace with an AFUE rating in the '90s because these are the most fuel efficient furnaces. However, just be aware that furnaces with this high of an AFUE rating are usually some of the most expensive.

A midrange, new furnace costs between $1,500-$6,000 (for example, a Rheem furnace, which has an 80% AFUE rating, costs $1,488 plus installation). Opt for a high-end model with a higher AFUE rating and the cost may jump up to $10,000.

Your furnace needs ductwork to transfer heat into your home. If you live in a newer home, your home's ductwork is likely already well taken care of. However, you will still want to have a licensed HVAC technician come to your home and test your home's ductwork system. It may or may not be able to handle a furnace with greater blowing power.

If you have been having issues with an older furnace, it's possible your ductwork may be to blame. The technician will be able to tell you if the ductwork was properly installed, or if there are any leaks or blockages. If there are any damages to your ductwork, it's unlikely you will need to get the entire system replaced. Instead, you may be able to get by with just replacing the damaged portions.

Chimneys aren't just for fireplaces. They can also dispel gasses from a hot water heater or furnace. If you purchase a high efficiency furnace, it's possible you won't even need a chimney at all. However, if not, you'll want to get your chimney inspected before getting your new furnace installed. Thereafter, you will need to get it cleaned once a year.

We're not referring to the air registers in each of your rooms that you can open or close. Instead, we're referring to the vents that direct flue gases to the outside of your home. If you change the type of furnace you use, you may need to replace your vents. Propane, oil and natural gas all burn a little differently, so the material used in your outdoor vents may not be strong enough to handle new temperatures.

Furnaces dry out the air in a house, which isn't a good thing during the cold and flu season. Sinus infections can result from breathing too much dry air. To combat this, many homeowners opt to install furnace humidifiers. The cost of a furnace humidifier varies a lot depending on which make and model you choose. You can spend as little as $200 to as much as $1,600. Putting a single humidifier in each room is also a valid option.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to have a licensed HVAC technician come out to your home. Once there, they can address your concerns about your old heating system, as well as give you their professional opinion about the best type of furnace for your home. While there, you may also want to speak to them about your cooling system, too. Window units are often the best choice, but sometimes there is room for an upgrade.

Multi-stage or modulating furnaces are the most efficient option as they can continuously warm your home within two degrees of the programmed temperature. The flame in the unit increases and decreases slowly, allowing your house to remain consistently comfortable. Modulating furnaces cost between $5,000 and $7,500 for parts and labor.

Gas is the most economical energy source for furnaces, making it the most popular type of heating system. Gas furnaces burn cold air with natural gas to create heat, then use a fan to move the warm air through the home via air ducts.

Electric furnace systems work similarly to gas units. They produce heat by pulling air through a heat exchanger to warm it, then use a blower to push the warm air through the ducts. Electric furnaces are an option for homeowners who may not have access to a natural gas line or for those who prefer to avoid any risk of carbon monoxide fumes.

There are a variety of comfort features available with different furnace systems, including lower noise levels and temperature controls. While these options often come at an additional cost, a furnace is an investment you will be living with for the next 15 to 20 years, so consider what will work best for your household in the long term.

As a general rule, higher quality furnaces, such as two-stage and multi-stage units, are quieter. You can also opt to add a furnace dehumidifier, which helps regulate the levels of humidity in your home. A whole-house dehumidifier costs anywhere from $1,300 to $2,800.

When you have a new furnace installed, the system should include at least one manufacturer warranty for the parts. These warranties need to be registered and are generally valid for five to 10 years. You may also have the option to purchase additional coverage, such as an Installation Warranty or an Extended Warranty.

Although a new furnace price quote generally includes parts and labor, there are other costs that may come into play. Be prepared to pay additional installation fees for upgrades to other elements the heating system needs to work properly, including ductwork, vents, and the chimney.

In addition to saving money on utility bills, investing in a new furnace often comes with rebates from your utility company. High-efficiency heating equipment can qualify for local incentives through the Energy Star rebate program, which is available in most locations.

Now that you have a basic understanding of furnace types, sizing, efficiency, costs, accessories and maintenance, learning how to buy a furnace is the next step. Carrier offers a complete family of furnaces for nearly every home and budget, starting with our Comfort Series models and including our top-of-the-line Infinity 98 gas furnace with Greenspeed Intelligence. If you do not already have an established connection with and HVAC professional, your local Carrier expert can assess your home and work with you to find the right Carrier furnace for your home. Carrier has well over a century of experience in the HVAC industry, highlighted by inventing modern-day air conditioning systems in 1902.

While there are several different types of furnaces, they all serve the same function in your household: ensuring warm air and comfort. Your furnace is a crucial element of your HVAC system that allows you to heat air via various operations and fuel sources. A fan activates and moves the warm air through your ductwork to distribute the flow of air throughout your home. (If your home lacks air ducts, we can help you with that, too.)

A single-stage furnace has just one stage of operation, which could potentially call for temperature fluctuations within your home. Ultimately, this is the most basic of the different types of furnaces. However, a single-stage furnace is affordable and easy to install in any home.

This type of furnace is more efficient and distributes warm air evenly throughout households. Two-stage furnaces offer more control since the homeowner can choose between full-speed and half-speed settings. These furnaces are typically the quietest of all furnace types and make for a great selection.

Not only is this furnace type energy-efficient, but it also improves indoor air quality. A variable-speed blower has several speed controls and can also regulate heat output depending on the temperature outside of the home. However, given all its features, a modulating furnace often has a higher upfront cost than the furnace types listed above. But in the long run, it may prove to have the lowest operating cost.

Natural gas furnaces are the most common types of furnaces in America. With this type of furnace, gas is distributed through a natural gas line to ensure reliable heating year-round. Gas furnaces are also the most affordable compared to the different types of furnaces available on the market.

If your home lacks access to pipelines that can efficiently distribute gas, then an oil furnace is most likely the best furnace for you. Oil-powered furnaces have a long lifespan and can be very cost-effective. However, these furnaces require homeowners to stock up on oil to function. Oil furnaces also typically require more maintenance than gas furnaces and will play a role in determining your overall furnace costs. 041b061a72