A home with a furnace is a home with heat and comfort. However, not all types of furnaces have high performances when it comes to quality, reliability, and durability. This is the main reason why you should know the best furnace to install in your home that you want to warm up.
This blog post will be your answer to know which type of furnace will suit your wants and needs. We will present to you the best furnace types you can use in 2019. Along with that, you will also learn the traits of each of these furnaces to really know which one is the best furnace.
The features that make up the best furnace
High-quality parts
Most people already understand that most products have their own classifications. They may vary from basic, better, and best. It’s the same thing as other types of appliances. There is an obvious difference between a cheap-looking space heater between a well-built home furnace. That difference will be one of your key to finding out which one is the best furnace.
Exceptional durability
Here’s a fact for you to consider: 77 percent of the time furnaces break down, you will spend more than $150 for repair. Also, the furnace that is being repaired will be out of commission for a day or more. This is according to an independent testing company, Consumer Reports. Well, why do these furnaces fail most of the time? It is basically because of poor durability.
In the course of their lifetime, reliable furnaces will break down less often. Thus, it will save you more money. It is safe to say that you have the best furnace if it has excellent durability.
More beneficial warranties
A long warranty is a sound sign that a company believes in the quality of its product and is ready to put some money behind that belief. If the company you are buying furnace sells good ones, they won’t hesitate to pair it with a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and general parts warranties of at the very least 10 years. This is very fit for you if you are a prudent person.
Efficient performance
If gas furnaces are well-built and have exceptional durability with considerable warranties, the company selling it must also offer superior performance to make you choose the best furnace for your home.
The efficiency of your furnace is like the gas mileage on your car: The higher it is, the more you will get out of each dollar of fuel you purchase. Well, how do you manage to know the efficiency of a furnace before purchasing it or installing it on your house? It is measured by AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), which commits to how great your furnace converts fuel into heat energy.
In 1970, most gas furnaces had an AFUE of around 65%. But today, the law allows a bare minimum of 78%. To purchase the best furnace, it is advised that you choose one with an AFUE ranging from 80% to 98%. But the specific choice for you depends on the climate of the area, your house size, and your budget.
In polar regions or in areas that experience the winter season, it is advised that you purchase high-AFUE furnaces. This is because people in these areas will make use of their furnaces more. So, the higher the AFUE and space heating, the higher the long-term money will be saved. However, this does not mean that you won’t have any expensive upfronts.
ENERGY STAR® certification
ENERGY STAR® is a government-supported system that operates with the EPA to help people know the energy-efficient appliances, or in this case, the best furnace for their homes. The requirement for ENERGY STAR® certification is baseline efficiency, minimal air leakage, and a motor control electronically. Furnaces with this certification will also save you money. Further, it assures you of an environment-friendly appliance.
The candidates for the best furnace of 2019
1. Bryant
This company began operating in the early 1900s. They specialize in gas-fired water heaters. Across the past century, it has offered gas furnace lines, such as its Evolution, Preferred and Legacy products. Bryant began making more high-efficiency traits to its gas furnaces as early as 1981. The features they made help homeowners save more money on their heating and electric bills.
For most homes, Bryant gas furnaces are a good fit. Why? They are in the middle of the pack in terms of price and performance. Bryant’s list of furnaces gives you a broad range of options. This includes the Bryant Evolution 987M, a modulating gas furnace that runs at up to 98.3 percent AFUE. Many Bryant gas furnaces are Energy Star certified, and you will find that all Bryant’s furnaces are incorporated with a lifetime warranty. A very good candidate to consider as the best furnace.
2. Trane
Just like Bryant, Trane is one of the most energy-efficient furnaces on the market. Its AFUE? One of the best indeed! as it goes up to 97.3% AFUE, ENERGY STAR® certified. It also has state-of-the-art modulating valves that take its performance to the top of the line.
Trane and its sister company American Standard scored an impressive 9% for failed furnaces, according to Consumer Reports’ study. This suggests that 91% of Trane furnaces can make it through the first three years without requiring any big renovations. That is why when you buy a Trane furnace, you can feel positive that it will be with you for a very long time.
In case your Trane furnace does need repairs, you don’t need to go far. Trane has a huge presence in the U.S. and your repairs are the parts you will need for repair is close to your area.
3. Amana
For nearly a century, Amana has been providing homes with heat solutions. You get a lot of value when you fuse their furnaces’ efficiency with their warranties. In fact, all of Amana’s designs come with a 10-year warranty on parts plus a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger. It is very beneficial for many.
Another big point to consider with Amana is its affordability. They don’t have that much of a high price on their quality products. However, there are some models of Amana that are not as energy-efficient as the others. That is why when purchasing on Amana, you should pick the best furnace model.
4. Ruud
Well, to be frank, Ruud is one major furnace company to consider in the market. No brand performed better than Ruud when Consumer Reports tracked the breakdown rate of furnaces in over 21,000 homes over a span of five years. A solid 8% low of Ruud furnaces failed during that period, lesser than the brand we mentioned earlier, Trane. If correctly installed, you can be comfortable knowing that you won’t need to make frequent repairs to your heater in years.
Another big plus for them is their lengthy warranty. All of the brand’s furnaces come with a 10-year limited parts warranty, including a lifetime replacement on the heat exchanger. Here is more, if you opt for one of the high-end Ultra Series models and the system crashes, Ruud can substitute the whole unit. This is only effective when the furnace is in the original home with the original owner.
The prices of Ruud is on the higher end, but it is reasonable. This is because they are one of the most dependable and effective products out there.
5. Goodman
Speaking of reasonable prices, Goodman is a sound choice. It is a fact we’ve been talking about that the best furnace should come with a good price, a reasonable price. The average Goodman furnace goes for $695, and an installment of around $1,860 for the average home. This pricing is among the lowest of any major brand. If you do the math, you will find out that the pricing of Goodman is about half of the cost of our other candidates for best furnace, like Ruud and Trane.
When it comes to the certification, Goodman earned ENERGY STAR®’s certificate for six models. Also, don’t let the cheap price let you think that it has a low performance. Its efficiency is very solid as its AFUE goes up to an astonishing rate of 98%.
6. Rheem
Because Rheem focuses on air and heating manufacturing, they offer a vast range of furnaces you could choose from. Its advantage is having more two-stage units than any other gas furnace company. They have one of their models that had an Energy Star rating, along with a 96% AFUE score.
But Rheem also has its top gun, the Prestige Series R98V, which has an AFUE rating of up to 98.7 percent and it is also Energy Star certified. It comes from a modulating design and a variable-speed blower.
Final thoughts for the best furnace
When it comes to choosing the best furnace for you, we can’t really give you a specific answer. That is because the answer you are looking for depends on you, your budget, and your situation. However, to help you choose the best furnace for you, we made a guide, a list of choices you can make to help you gain the right conclusion for you.
