Best Reviewed
Furnaces
- High-efficiency gas furnace 90 percent AFUE gas condensing furnace *Est. $3000
- Budget gas furnace 80 percent AFUE gas furnace *Est. $2000
- Oil furnace 90 percent AFUE oil furnace *Est. $2000
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- Only choice if gas furnace isn't an option
- Can be as efficient as some gas furnaces
- Higher fuel costs than gas
Because they're not as common as gas furnaces, there are relatively few reviews of sealed-vent oil furnaces. The best we found is a 2008 survey of furnaces by James Dulley, a recognized expert in the field.
Experts say sealed-vent oil furnaces can't achieve the fuel efficiency of gas furnaces with annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings of 80 percent or 90 percent (*est. installed cost $2,000 and up), but if you're in the market for this kind of furnace, it's because you have no choice: If gas is not available, oil is the best option. The Peerless Pinnacle, Burnham Hydronics MPO series and Crown Boiler Freeport series all have AFUE ratings of at least 87 percent and lifetime warranties on heat exchangers. Also, sealed vent oil furnaces have several advantages, such as quieter operation and not having to vent through the chimney. The rising price of fuel oil, of course, makes these furnaces more expensive to operate.
Our Sources
1. Sensible Home
While gas boilers are more efficient overall, oil boilers can be more efficient than certain gas models, Dulley says. He recommends sealed-vent models in particular. As in his other reports, Dulley provides a chart of the cost savings one can expect after installing a new unit -- but recent changes in energy prices have made this a less useful feature.
Review: New 2008 Gas and Oil Boilers for Efficient, Comfortable Heat, James Dulley, 2008