EmailBest Reviewed
Furnaces
- High-efficiency gas furnace 90 percent AFUE gas furnace *Est. $3000
- Gas furnace for the most comfortable home environment Multi-stage modulating gas furnace 92 percent to 97 percent AFUE *Est. $3500
- Budget gas furnace 80 percent AFUE gas furnace *Est. $2000
- Oil furnace Sealed-vent oil furnace *Est. $2000
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Multi-stage modulating gas furnace 92 percent to 97 percent AFUE
Gas furnace for the most comfortable home environment
- Maintains constant home temperatures
- Relatively cheap to operate
- Expensive
- Can require new venting and other modifications
The best review of high-efficiency, multi-stage modulating gas furnaces is by James Dulley, who offers his picks based on his knowledge of manufacturers and years of experience. Consumer Reports' brand and contractor surveys are also very helpful.
Experts and homeowners agree that multi-stage and modulating gas furnaces produce the greatest level of comfort: While conventional gas furnaces with annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings of 80 percent or 90 percent (*est. installed cost $3,000 and up) cycle on and off, two and three-stage furnaces use variable-speed blowers to maintain a nearly constant temperature throughout your home. These furnaces are somewhat cheaper to operate over the long term; they're also more expensive than 80 percent or 90 percent furnaces, though, so experts warn you won't necessarily break even on the purchase cost. Among the recommended brands are Rheem, Trane, Bryant/Carrier, Lennox, Tempstar and York.
Our Sources
1. Sensible HomeDetails/Subscribe
In this article, Dulley offers his picks for super-efficient furnaces, which have AFUE ratings of at least 92 percent. He recommends and describes many brands and says all are reliable. Dulley says, "The primary change for 2008 is most companies now offer two-stage gas furnaces and a few offer modulating models." He cites the benefits of specific brands (for example, Lennox is quiet), but no drawbacks.
Review: Super-Efficient 2008 Two-Stage/Modulating Gas Furnaces Save Money, James Dulley, 2008
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
This survey covers more than 36,000 furnaces installed in homes between 1997 and 2004. The Consumer Reports staff rates 12 brands but neither tests nor recommends any particular models.
Review: Furnace Picks and Pans, Editors of Consumer Reports, Feb. 2005
3. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
This informative article on selecting a furnace incorporates interviews with 500 contractors. Editors don't compare or recommend specific models; instead, they emphasize the importance of selecting both an appropriate size of furnace and a reliable contractor. Information is provided about choosing the right efficiency level for your climate, selecting a contractor and soliciting bids.
Review: Heating with Gas, Editors of Consumer Reports, July 2003