Gas furnaces give you energy efficiency.
When you are choosing a furnace, you want one that will keep you warm without emptying your wallet. Selecting the right furnace depends on the size of your home and the size of your budget. But in the end, if the furnace keeps you and yours warm, you're on the right track.
The Best
According to Consumer Search, gas furnaces with a 90 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE, rating are ideal because they waste less fuel and are more environmentally friendly. However, they can be expensive, costing an average of $3,000 and up installed as of 2010.
Most Comfortable
Multistage modulating gas furnaces, which can maintain a constant temperature in your home, cost an estimated $3,500 as of 2010. Rheem, Trane, Tempstar and York are some of the companies that manufacture multi-stage gas furnaces. The AFUE rating for these types of furnaces is between 92 percent and 97 percent, according to Consumer Search.
The Budget Furnace
Gas furnaces that have an 80 percent AFUE rating are cheaper to install, according to Consumer Search and furnace expert James Dulley. However, furnaces with an 80 percent rating are less energy-efficient than those with a 90 percent rating, so they can cost you more to run.
There Wiil Be Oil
Peerless Pinnacle, Burnham Hydronics, and Crown Boiler Freeport make the best oil furnaces, according to Consumer Search. Oil furnaces are an option if you cannot have a gas furnace. The AFUE rating of oil furnaces is at least 87 percent.
Top Brands And Conditions
According to the website Home Remodeling Center, the top 10 furnace brands today are Lennox, Carrier, Goodman, Trane, Bryant, Coleman, York, Rheem, Amana and Armstrong. Before purchasing any furnace, consider the size of your home, your budget, your climate and how much insulation your home has.
Features
The top-rated furnaces all offer a variety of features, including variable speed blowers, air filtration, dual heat exchangers, ignition systems, zoned heating and variable heat output. Also consider the length and terms of the warranty on the furnace.
Braynt
The Bryant Plus 90i Series gas furnace is the best due to its quiet operating sound and heat consistency, according to the website Galt Tech. The website also recommends gas furnaces produced by Carrier and Rheem.
A Matter Of Opinion
As with any best-of list, there are different opinions about the best furnace. According to the website Wetheadmedia, the three best furnaces on the market as of 2009 were the Amana AMV9 Gas Furnace, the Carrier Performance 93 gas furnace and the Trane XV95 gas furnace. All three models have been Energy Star rated, meaning they have met government standards for energy efficiency.
Wood and Electric Furnaces
Wood-burning furnaces are not efficient at heating, and they also can have a negative effect on the environment. Check your local ordinances before firing up a wood-burning furnace. Electric furnaces also are very costly and inefficient; they use much more energy than gas furnaces do.
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