Carrier gets our vote for the best available furnace brand based on our research into several top providers. Carrier offers some of the most energy-efficient heating systems with quiet operation and variable-speed blowers.
Lennox is a close second for its high efficiency ratings. For homeowners on a budget, Bryant offers some of the most competitively priced furnaces on the market today.
We evaluated dozens of furnace brands based on our methodology, rating each one’s warranty coverage, customer reputation, efficiency and more. We also surveyed 750 heating customers in late 2023 to learn about their furnace repair experiences.
Below, we rounded up the five best furnace brands for reliability, efficiency and overall value.
Our top choices for furnace brands
When shopping for a new furnace, consider its performance, estimated life span and pricing. Note its energy-efficiency features and upfront cost when assessing its value against your budget.
You should also understand a furnace brand’s warranty coverage. A good warranty should cover most of the furnace’s life span, although it’s not uncommon for it to fall short by around five years.
Below, we answer common questions about a quality furnace’s durability and cost.
An HVAC system regulates the temperature, humidity and air quality inside a building. Its main components are a furnace, an air conditioner and air ducts. Modern systems have zoning capabilities and can be controlled remotely via smartphone to readily meet your heating needs. Upgrades such as programmable thermostats and sealed ductwork can optimize performance and provide consistent indoor comfort.
Furnaces last 15 to 20 years, depending on the brand, model and maintenance. You should usually replace them within this time frame to avoid costly repairs. After 10 years, issues become more frequent, and it’s better to replace the entire furnace than to invest in fixing an old and inefficient one.
Based on our October 2023 survey of 750 heating customers, most homeowners paid $500 to $2,000 for furnace repair. Replacing an entire unit will cost more than this and will depend on the type of furnace you purchase. The furnace’s size and efficiency features are the biggest influences on the heating system’s overall price.
Based on our assessment, these are the best furnace brands. Typically, pricing and quality align, so our top recommendations are also the highest initial cost — but remember that higher-efficiency furnaces can lower your ongoing utility bills.
How do I choose a furnace brand?
When choosing a new heating unit, consider unit size, efficiency features, sound ratings and your budget.
1. Determine the right size furnace
Determining the appropriate size furnace for your home is essential to ensuring you can control the temperature and use energy efficiently. The key factors to consider are square footage, materials and climate.
Generally, you need 20 British thermal units (BTUs) of heating power per square foot for an average-size, moderately insulated home. Therefore, for a 2,000-square-foot house, a furnace with around 40,000 BTUs would be appropriate. However, you may need 25–30 BTUs per square foot for poorly insulated or drafty homes.
The number of stories and the layout of your home also matter. For example, ranch-style homes require more heating power than multilevel houses that retain heat better upstairs. Similarly, the colder your winter climate, the more heating power you’ll need for sufficient warmth.
While most HVAC contractors use sophisticated manuals and load-calculating software to determine the exact furnace size you’ll need based on thermal dynamics, the above rules provide a reasonable estimate. Oversizing a furnace leads to energy inefficiency and uneven heating, while undersizing causes it to overwork in meeting temperature demands.
2. Choose the appropriate efficiency
When choosing a new furnace, one of the most crucial factors to consider is its efficiency. The efficiency rating you select can significantly impact your energy costs, your comfort and the environment.
Energy Star ratings
An Energy Star rating is the EPA’s trusted benchmark for appliance efficiency. You’ll notice a blue Energy Star logo on certain furnace models when shopping. This logo represents the most energy-efficient models on the market that also meet strict performance guidelines.
To earn Energy Star certification, a gas furnace must have an AFUE rating of at least 95%, several percentage points higher than federal minimum standards. This implies that at least 95 cents of every dollar spent on fuel is converted into usable heat instead of wasted energy. Oil furnaces, on the other hand, must achieve an 85% AFUE to meet Energy Star requirements.
Besides exceptional AFUE ratings, Energy Star furnaces must pass third-party testing to verify the performance of real-world temperature control, reliability and quality.
AFUE ratings
The primary metric to understand is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which measures the percentage of fuel that is converted into usable heat based on standardized testing. AFUE ratings range from 80% at the low end to 98% for the highest efficiency models, with most furnaces having ratings between 80% and 95%.
As a general rule, selecting the furnace with the highest AFUE rating within your budget is advisable. Upgrading from an 80% AFUE model to a 95% AFUE model can lower your annual heating costs by 15%–30%, resulting in thousands of dollars in lifetime savings for homeowners. Moreover, high-efficiency furnaces consume less energy, reducing your property’s carbon footprint, an essential sustainability consideration.
3. Choose the right sound rating
When choosing a furnace for your home, it is crucial to account for its sound rating, which is measured in decibels (dB). Understanding furnace sound ratings can help you pick a quieter model that will provide greater comfort.
Furnace sound ratings range from 50 to 80 dB. A rating of 50 dB is similar to a typical conversation, while 80 dB is as loud as a garbage disposal. Exposure to sound levels over 60 dB can be disruptive, so lower sound levels are preferable.
Most furnaces have sound ratings between 60 and 70 dB while operating. Premium models with insulated cabinets, multispeed fans and vibration-dampening mounts can achieve outstandingly quiet 50 dB ratings. If noise concerns you, look for a sound rating that is at or below 60 dB.
4. Consider the cost
When budgeting for a new furnace, consider both purchase price and long-term operating costs. While an initial furnace investment may seem high, choosing an efficient model saves you money for years through lower energy bills.
When buying a furnace, it’s important to consider the upfront cost, potential utility savings and the cost of future repairs. A furnace with an Energy Star certification and a high-efficiency rating of 95% AFUE can save you 15%–30% on fuel costs compared to a standard 80% AFUE model. Over a life span of 15–20 years, you can save thousands of dollars in energy costs by investing in a more efficient furnace.
Also, consider the cost of repairs and replacement when thinking about the total cost. Choosing a reputable brand with a long warranty can help prevent unexpected breakdowns that require urgent fixes. Investing in a top-tier unit allows homeowners to go for years without worrying about surprise furnace issues.
Final take: Carrier, Lennox and Bryant offer the best furnaces
We find that Carrier offers some of the best all-around furnaces. It offers high AFUE ratings, quality customer service, and various features and models. If you’re concerned about getting the highest AFUE rating possible, consider Lennox’s 99% models. We also know that budget is a big concern when replacing a furnace, so we suggest Bryant for high-quality yet competitively priced furnaces.
Consult a local HVAC technician to determine the appropriate size heating unit for your home. We recommend obtaining at least three quotes from different furnace brands to help you identify the one that suits your budget and heating needs.
Our rating methodology for HVAC systems
We research and rate HVAC brands and companies to connect you with the right providers for your heating and cooling replacements and repairs. We examine a company’s reputation and customer reviews, energy-efficiency ratings, product and upgrade options, warranties, pricing, customer service and more.
Our detailed rating system helps us objectively review and compare HVAC providers. Companies are scored out of a possible 100 points, and that total is then divided by 20 to achieve the 5-star rating we include in our reviews.
BBB and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of January 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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