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I have a 15 yr old gas furnace combined with a forced air system, including a/c. What features are important in selecting a replacement furnace, and which brands are known for reliability and efficiency?
Your help is appreciated.
Andy
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Andy - My vote would be for Carrier or Trane. Assuming you plan to stay where you are, I'd recommend a SEER of 13.0 or higher and a variable speed system. Some utility companies have rebates available (here in NJ up to $300-400) for more energy-efficient models - check with them.
Carrier's newest condenser/compressors have become smaller - a plus - but they have a certification program (as I understand it) such that you have to be licensed by them to service them.
Trane has been plagued by some recalls in the past few years as I recall.
You might consider an electrostatic air cleaner or the newer pleated filter type.
Don't forget a high-quality programmable thermostat - I am partial to Honeywell here.
Jeff
*Jeff:Thanks for your help, but what is the SEER? My local guy is reccomending an Olson (olsen?)ThanksAndy
*Andy, Ditto on the Trane or Carrier. Ditto on the pleated filter. I disagree on the electronic air cleaner. Mine lasted 14 months, a friend of mine go 20 months from his. Both Honeywell units, cleaned regularly according to spec. I do like their thermostats though. DanT
*SEER = Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio - the key measure of how efficient the unit is to operate. Higher SEER = lower utility bills but higher initial equipment cost.
*SEER is efficency rating for AC.For gas furnaces it is %percentage efficent.And for heat pumps, in heating mode it is COP.In all cases it is a governement defined test that is suppose to reflect "typical" operating conditions.On gas furnaces the higher eff units have more special equipment and I have "been told" more to fail.In my area there is no rebates, but the electric co offers 50-60% discounts during the non-summer 8 months.
*Andy,Nothing runs like a Trane. We have the xl-80 high efficiency two stage job. Let me tell you, we saved beaucoup bucks with that thing last winter. We also have the Honeywell 7 day programmable thermostat.Gary
*What kind of furnance do you have now? Especially: naturally drafted (no draft inducer); 80+ (draft inducer and metal flue); or 90+ (draft inducer and plastic flue?)What kind of climate are you in?I'm wondering why you need a new furnace after 15 years.FWIW, a couple of years ago Consumer Reports did a story on furnaces.Bottom line: they recommended 80+'s because of higher repair costs with the 90+'s. With increased energy costs, though, that situation might have changed.
*Heil also makes a good furnace in either the 80+ or 90+ model.The extra stuff that can go wrong with the 90+ model of any of the manufactures is usually in the addtional safety devices that are added for the forced draft/ heat recovery system. When a saftey fails, the unit will not operate. That is not a bad thing in my book. The ones I have worked on in the last five years were all covered by warrenties for at least the parts. Heil, Carrier, and Trane warrenties were 5 years parts and labor, and 10 years parts only.I personaly like the 90 or 95+ models. Yes, they are more expensive initialy, but the "pay back" is about 5 years for the differnce in price between them and the lower 80+ models.Try to get one with a ceramic heat exchanger no matter which you choose. I have not seen one of them rusted out since they first came out some 15 years ago. Heat exchanger failure is probably the single largest item for gas furnace failure, and 90% of those failures occur because of poor maintenance. Everything else on a gas furnace if pretty much fixable.I agree with others about the T-stat and electronic filters. Use the pleated high efficency filters and change them regularly.If you choose a 90+ unit make sure you have a place to drain the condensate water. You acctualy get more condesation in the heat cycle than you do from an a/c unit because of the heat recovery system.I like both Trane and Carrier. Carrier also make Tempstar, so you get almost the same unit as the the one with the Carrier name on it. I think Trane and York also make another brand name furnace so you may want to do some sluething if cost is a big issue.Dave
*Bob:Our current furnace is a natural draft, and I would guess about 60-70% AFUE. I can not find any brand name on it anywhere, or a date of installation. The main problem is a very noisy, single speed blower, and the low efficiency, plus our chimney is falling apart- 700$ to repair. So we figured to replace the furnace and hot water heater, and eliminate the need for a chimney repair,while boosting our fuel efficiency.We live near Toronto, with a climate similar to detroit, buffalo, Chicago.Appreciate your comments.CheersAndy
*Andy,Good reasons.Don't forget, though, the water heater will still njeed to be vented.Depending on the state of the chimney, two options are (i) 80+ furnace with the water heater V'd into thew metal flue with the metal flue running the length of the existing chimney or (ii) 90+ furnace and side vent water heater. I don't know how the efficiencies on the side vent water heaters are; they sure are more expensive, though!
anyone have any comments on Luxaire inre to quality?
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I have a 15 yr old gas furnace combined with a forced air system, including a/c. What features are important in selecting a replacement furnace, and which brands are known for reliability and efficiency?
Your help is appreciated.
Andy