Natural gas furnaces are cost-effective for indoor heating, and they are used in nearly 50% of US homes. However, purchasing the right furnace model is key if you want reliable heating and a long service life. Common issues when using low-quality furnaces include whistling noises, frequent breakdowns, poor air quality and insufficient heating.
In this consumer buying guide, we will review seven furnace models that provide reliability and good performance, according to our research:
- Carrier Infinity 98
- Carrier Infinity 80
- Trane S9V2
- Trane XV80
- Payne PG95ESA
- Rheem Prestige R96V
- Lennox Elite EL296V
These furnaces are consistently ranked among the best, and they are covered by solid warranties. When comparing furnaces, it makes more sense to focus on specific models instead of brands. Furnace manufacturers offer products for all budgets, which means you can find top-tier equipment and cheap equipment from the same company.
Did you know? A high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is not a quality metric, it simply means the furnace burns gas efficiently. There are reliable furnace models with modest efficiency values, and poorly rated products with a high nameplate efficiency.
How Much Does a New Gas Furnace Cost?
The price of gas furnaces and other types of HVAC equipment can vary depending on your location. Skilled labor costs also vary from city to city, and this also affects total project costs. On average, you can expect to pay between $4,500 and $10,200 when installing a new furnace, while most projects fall within the range of $5,000 to $7,500.
As you might expect, high efficiency furnaces come with an increased price tag. According to our own research, an 80% efficient furnace has an average price of $5,700, while a 90% efficient unit has an average price of $7,200. However, you recover the extra investment multiple times in the form of natural gas savings.