the best of Furnaces

Best furnace

There isn't a best furnace... The best depends on your climate, and on the insulation levels and size of your home, and on your needs. And also on your goals.

But if you just want to select an efficient central furnace with a very good price-quality ratio using consumer reports, than you may find it at Furnace Compare Reviews or ConsumerSearch. They have tested many dozens of gas and oil furnaces models and brands.

Best furnace type and features

There are now several types of furnaces. Gas and oil models include single, two, three and multistage furnaces. But there are also direct vent furnaces (ductless furnaces for small needs) or wood pellet furnaces (for those interested in a green alternative to oil and gas).

Multistage gas furnaces are the most efficient and the best response to large central heating needs, but they are also pricey. Two-stage and three-stage furnaces are a direct and less expensive alternative to them.

On the other hand, many of the best gas and oil furnaces are increasingly alike in efficiency (94-98%...), making the quality of the installation increasingly important, often more important than the differences in their AFUEs (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). Also very important are some specific features: variable-speed motor fans (for electricity savings and a quieter running) or zone heating features. See: Furnace Features

Best Manufacturers and brands

Obviously, there isn't a best manufacturer with the best furnace models and brands. Some top manufacturers have excellent furnaces, but only the time can fully test them and tell us which where in fact the best models. Anyway, it's advantageous to have into account the top gas and oil furnace manufacturers (see Top Furnace Manufacturers). Or the top wood pellet furnace manufacturers (see a list at Wood Pellet Furnaces).

For a more complete list of gas and oil furnaces, see the Energy Star lists for gas and oil furnaces). For a list of "electric furnaces" manufacturers (in fact air source heat pumps) see Air and Water and Ground Source Heat Pumps Manufacturers. As for direct vent furnaces Rinnai is the leader.

Obviously, if you trust a particular furnace manufacturer or brand you don't have to change. Just take into account some basics: choose a qualified model (Energy Star rated) with a high AFUE and the best features for your case. And never forget to hire a very good contractor. He is so important as the efficiency of the furnace.

Best weekend furnace projects

Installing a gas or oil furnace isn't a DIY weekend project. Quite the contrary: it's a highly professional task requiring deep knowledge and experience. The quality of the installation determines the final efficiency of the furnace and it's much more important than small AFUE (energy efficiency coefficient) differences. Only direct-vent ductless gas furnaces are easier to install.

The best furnace weekend project for a Do-It-Yourself er is basic furnace maintenance. Perhaps it lacks the appeal of an installation project, but it's surely very important and a source of energy savings. Take a look at Furnace Care.

best furnace warranties

When buying, choose a furnace with long warranties, mainly in what concerns the heat exchanger (the pricey part of a furnace). The longer the warranty of the heat exchanger and other expensive parts of the furnace the better. Furnaces have a large lifespan, and only companies confident of the quality of their products are ready to give long warranties. Top furnace manufacturers have limited lifetime warranties or 20 years warranties for some models (see for instance Lennox furnace warranties or Ruud warranties), but not for all.

Best furnace technical information and resources

For a good furnace installation checklist, see: ACCA
For multi-stage furnaces, see: Toolbase modulating furnaces
For furnaces prices, see: ConsumersSearch
For basics on gas furnaces, see: Natural Resources Canada Gas Furnaces
For basics on oil furnaces, see: Natural Resources Canada Oil Furnaces

 

best green alternatives to furnaces

The more direct alternative to furnaces are air-source heat pumps (sometimes called "electric furnaces"). Though running on electricity, they can be competitive with gas and oil furnaces and they have the advantage of being also cooling units. Anyway, they aren't exactly a green alternative (unless associated to solar electricity) and in very cold weather conditions they lose part of their efficiency as heating equipment (they are most suited for moderate climates).

For true green alternatives to gas and oil furnaces you may consider wood pellet furnaces (see Wood Pellet Furnaces).

Other more radical alternatives include very high levels of home insulation all over the home's envelope combined with zone heating, that is, selective room heating based on wood stoves or other types of room heaters. This strategy is relatively easy to implement in moderate climates, but can also be used in colder climates. They can be combined with passive solar heating techniques (exploring the shape of the building, the materials used in the walls, the types and size of windows and the exposition to the sunlight).

Best way to find Contractors

Furnace installation is crucial. Without a good installation the best furnace can be outperformed by lower efficient units. Oversizing if very common and a disadvantage. But there are also many possible flaws associated with the ductwork or the venting...

Furnace manufacturers can help you find not only dealers but also contractors and qualified technicians near your home. Just look at their sites or call them.

Professional associations can also help you in this task. See, for the USA and Canada:
- NATE (North American Technician Excellence),
- HVAC Excellence,
- Smacna,
- the Resnet Qualified Contractor tool.

Outside USA and Canada (where furnaces haven't a significant role) you may try associations like...
Europe: European HAVC Associations.
Australia: Energy Rating Australia Government

_____________ If you know a good resource on furnaces that should be listed here, please let us know by email (see Home Page footer).

Note about the mentioning of commercial companies, in this page: their inclusion is part of the resources and doesn't mean we are endorsing or supporting their owners and their materials...