If you’re building a new house or are considering replacing an old furnace system in your current home, you’ll face questions of budget versus premium HVAC systems. The price can vary so widely that you might wonder if a high-end system is worth the extra money and if you’ll ever recoup those dollars. One can make a case for going the budget or the premium route, depending on factors like cost, efficiency, longevity, and advanced features.
While budget-friendly models may offer reliable heating at a lower upfront cost, top furnace brands often come with enhanced energy efficiency, smart home technology integration, and superior warranties. Whether you prioritize affordability or long-term performance, understanding the differences between premium and budget furnace brands can help you make an informed decision when considering a new furnace installation. In this blog, our Carrollton furnace installation experts at Lex Air Conditioning and Heating explore the many factors to consider when weighing this potentially expensive decision.
What is the Best Furnace Brand?
The best furnace brand depends on your specific heating needs, budget, and long-term goals. Many major brands in the HVAC industry, such as Trane, Lennox, Carrier, and Rheem, are known for producing quality furnaces with high furnace efficiency ratings and advanced features. Premium brands like these often provide better warranties, superior build quality, and energy-efficient models that can help lower your energy bills over time.
However, budget-friendly options from reputable HVAC companies can still offer reliable heating performance at a lower initial cost. Ultimately, the best furnace brand for you will depend on factors like climate, home size, and your priorities when it comes to efficiency, durability, and upfront investment – which is what we’re here to help you explore.
List of Budget Furnace Brands
If you’re looking for affordable furnaces that still provide reliable performance, several furnace companies offer budget-friendly options without compromising too much on efficiency and durability. While they may lack some of the advanced features found in top brands, these furnace models can still effectively heat your home and integrate well with HVAC systems. Here are some of the best budget-friendly furnace brands to consider.
Amana
Amana is a well-known brand in the HVAC industry, offering a solid balance of affordability and performance for homeowners looking for a reliable home furnace. While they may not have all the premium features of higher-end brands, Amana provides excellent value with strong warranties and reliable customer support, making them a popular choice for budget-conscious buyers.
Goodman
Goodman is another popular choice for homeowners seeking an affordable yet reliable heating solution. Known for their solid construction and energy-efficient performance, Goodman furnaces are designed to meet various heating needs without the premium price tag.
Payne
As a brand under the same parent company as Carrier and Bryant, Payne offers solid performance at a more affordable price point. Their gas furnaces typically have competitive AFUE ratings (up to 97%) and are known for their durability and straightforward design, making them an excellent choice for those seeking dependable warmth on a budget.
Tempstar
Another member of the Carrier and Bryant family, Tempstar furnaces benefit from quality engineering while maintaining a lower cost. Many of their models also come with high AFUE ratings (some up to 98%), providing a budget-friendly, energy-efficient alternative for those who want a well-built furnace without paying for premium branding.
Bryant
A brand under the same umbrella as Carrier, Bryant offers high-quality furnaces that deliver reliable heating at a more competitive price point. From budget-friendly options to high-end units with smart technology, Bryant furnaces provide a great balance between affordability and premium performance for homeowners looking to upgrade their heating system.
Ruud
A trusted HVAC company since 1897, Ruud – a Rheem brand – provides affordable furnace options equipped with features like variable-speed blowers and smart thermostat compatibility. Many Ruud furnaces also come with high AFUE ratings, helping homeowners save on energy costs while maintaining consistent indoor comfort.
Armstrong
Armstrong is yet another furnace brand recognized for their durable construction and solid engineering. With strong warranties and a reputation for long-lasting operation, Armstrong furnaces provide a budget-friendly alternative without sacrificing quality or reliability.
Concord
For those prioritizing reliability over advanced features, Concord stands as a great option. While not as widely known as some major HVAC brands, Concord focuses on delivering solid performance, straightforward operation, and dependable warmth. They are also recognized for their no-frills, practical designs, making maintenance and repairs more affordable.
York
York furnaces are known for their combination of efficiency, durability, and innovative technology. Many York gas furnace models also feature advanced technology like variable-speed blowers and AFUE ratings as high as 98%, helping to enhance comfort while lowering energy bills.
Lux
Lux HVAC systems are designed to be durable and easy to maintain, making them an appealing choice for those who want dependable heating without a high price tag. While they may lack some of the cutting-edge technology found in premium brands, Lux furnaces provide a cost-effective option for those prioritizing simplicity and affordability in their home heating system.
Coleman
Renowned for their sturdy construction and efficient performance, Coleman furnaces are designed to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining steady indoor comfort. Many models incorporate energy-saving features, making Coleman furnaces a smart choice for those looking to balance affordability with long-term efficiency.
List of Premium Furnace Brands
When it comes to the best furnace brands on the market, these premium models stand out for their advanced technology, superior durability, and high energy efficiency.
American Standard
American Standard is a top choice among premium HVAC brands. With advanced features like variable-speed blowers, modulating gas valves, and AccuLink™ communicating technology, these furnaces provide precise temperature and humidity control as well as superior comfort. American Standard furnaces are a great investment for those looking for long-lasting performance and maximum efficiency.
Carrier
If you’re looking for high-performance heating solutions, Carrier furnaces are a great solution.
Carrier demonstrates its dedication to sustainability and energy efficiency through innovative, eco-friendly technologies designed to minimize energy use and lessen environmental impact. The Carrier brand offers a range of models with advanced features like Greenspeed® Intelligence, variable speed blowers, and smart thermostat integration for precise temperature control and optimal efficiency.
Trane
Trane furnaces are a top choice for homeowners seeking a reliable furnace with exceptional energy efficiency and cutting-edge technology. With their sleek construction, eco-friendly operation, and advanced features – including ComfortLink™ II communicating technology, fully modulating gas valves, and Vortica™ II blowers – Trane models stand out from other brands of furnaces, and for good reason.
When comparing Carrier vs. Trane, both brands provide exceptional quality, but Trane is often praised for its cutting-edge technology and quiet operation, making it a strong contender in the premium furnace market.
Lennox
Lennox is a brand known for its industry-leading energy efficiency, innovative technology, and ultra-quiet operation. Many Lennox models boast AFUE ratings of up to 99%, making them some of the most energy-efficient furnaces available. With features like Precise Comfort® technology and variable-capacity heating, a Lennox furnace provides exceptional temperature control while minimizing energy waste.
Rheem
With high AFUE ratings and modulating burners, Rheem furnaces provide consistent warmth while optimizing energy use, making them a great choice for those seeking both comfort and efficiency. Many models also include advanced technology like EcoNet® Smart Monitoring, which allows homeowners to control their heating system remotely for enhanced convenience.
Comparing Different Brands of Furnaces
Choosing the right furnace system involves more than just picking a well-known brand—it requires careful consideration of several key factors that impact performance, longevity, and cost savings. The top furnace brands offer varying levels of energy efficiency, advanced features, and heating capacities, making it essential to compare them based on your specific needs.
Whether you’re looking for a new furnace with smart controls, a high-efficiency model to lower heating costs, or the right size furnace to heat your home effectively, understanding these factors will help you make an informed decision.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)
The biggest difference between budget and premium furnaces (besides the price tag) is the energy efficiency rating. Modern furnaces typically range from 80 to 98.5% AFUE efficiency. AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is essentially an average measurement of efficiency for a furnace over the entire winter season.
The US Department of Energy requires all new furnace installations to be at least 80 percent efficient, so this is the budget end of the spectrum. If your furnace is more than 20 years old, it could be shockingly inefficient, perhaps as low as 60%.
For example, a 90% AFUE efficiency furnace wastes only 10% of the fuel through exhaust–whether oil, gas, or electricity–over the winter season. This means that if your old furnace is only 60% efficient, 40% of the cost of your heating bill is being wasted due to inefficiency. Even upgrading to the new minimum of 80 percent can cut your monthly bill drastically.
However, when it comes to upfront costs, comparing an 80% AFUE furnace with a 98.5% high-efficiency gas furnace can result in a price difference of $1,000. The right choice for you depends on whether saving money on monthly bills or upfront costs is more important to you.
Types of Heating Options
It’s also worthwhile to determine whether an electric or gas furnace—or even a heat pump—is the most economical choice for your home. Choosing the right system depends on factors like your home’s existing infrastructure, your average climate, and the overall heating process.
Among the various gas furnace brands, many offer high-efficiency models that can provide cost-effective heating. In the Dallas area, where winters are generally mild, oil furnaces and other traditional heating systems like boilers and wood-burning stoves are rare and often more expensive than natural gas or electric furnaces.
Calculating the Cost
Most people aim to purchase one of the most efficient furnaces they can afford, expecting to recoup the investment through lower energy bills over time. However, it’s important to consider all the cost factors beyond just monthly savings. High-efficiency models often come with a higher initial cost due to their advanced technology and installation requirements. Unlike standard furnaces, these premium units require two vent pipes instead of one and include a condenser, which necessitates installing a drain line. Depending on your existing furnace setup, these additional expenses could bump up the price significantly.
Consider the Climate
Another very important factor to consider is the average climate in which you live. For instance, people who live in Chicago expect giant heating bills for many months of the year. For those of us Dallas dwellers, however, it’s far more reasonable to purchase a high-efficiency air conditioning system than a furnace. The few months in a year that a furnace is needed means it takes Texans much longer to recoup the extra costs of a high-efficiency furnace.
In fact, some people in warmer climates may decide that 80% AFUE is good enough. The Trane XL80 series is a good mid-efficiency line of furnaces for Texas weather.
Single-Stage vs. Two-Stage vs. Variable Speed Furnaces
When considering budget vs. premium heating units, you’ll often hear about single-stage, two-stage, and variable-speed furnaces. This refers to both the burner valve and the blower motor, which play crucial roles in efficiency and comfort.
In a single-stage furnace, the burner’s gas valve is either fully open or closed, providing only one level of heat output. A two-stage furnace adds a partially open setting, allowing for a more gradual heating response. However, some premium furnaces take efficiency even further by incorporating modulating gas valves and variable blower motors, which adjust heat output and airflow incrementally to match the home’s heating needs. Furnace brands equipped with variable speed technology operate at lower speeds for longer periods, maintaining consistent temperatures while reducing energy consumption—an ideal solution for the mild Dallas winters compared to the harsher climates of cities like Chicago.
Noise
Premium furnace brands are generally quieter than budget models due to their advanced engineering, superior insulation, and variable-speed technology. These features help minimize operational noise, making them less likely to disrupt your sleep when they turn on during the night. Many high-end furnaces, such as the Trane XC95m, Carrier Infinity 98, and Lennox SLP99V, are specifically designed for ultra-quiet operation, so it’s something to consider if that is important to you.
Energy Star
Since high-end furnaces are more energy-efficient, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy are big proponents. The federal government bestows an Energy Star label upon high-efficiency furnaces, and homeowners can typically earn rebates and tax breaks for purchasing these units.
Generally, a furnace must be at least 85 percent efficient to get the Energy Star certification. Rebates vary by state and the efficiency rating of your new system. Research the current program before you buy, as factoring in savings can bring the cost of a premium heating system significantly closer to that of a budget system.
Warranties and Lifespan of Equipment
With proper installation, high-end furnace brands are more likely to outlive budget brands due to higher-quality components. These premium components are also less likely to require regular HVAC maintenance, though annual servicing is still recommended to maximize efficiency and longevity.
Plus, warranties for premium brands often extend for many more years than budget furnaces, covering both equipment breakdowns and replacement parts. A premium brand like Trane includes a limited warranty of 20 years on the heat exchanger, 5 years on internal parts, and 10 years on functional furnace components. Extended warranties are also available, covering labor and part replacements for up to 10 years, ensuring reliable performance and long-term cost savings.
Range of Choices Within Brands
Keep in mind that there’s a range of models and prices within a premium brand like Trane, as many furnace brands offer both high-end and entry-level options. For example, the Trane XL80 is an entry-level furnace with a price that rivals value brands. Similarly, American Standard furnaces, which are manufactured in the same facility as Trane, offer nearly identical heating and cooling products, providing another premium option with comparable internal components.
At the same time, many premium brands own and manufacture budget-friendly models under different brand names. These lower-cost options may come with reduced efficiency, fewer sizing choices, and more basic features, but they still allow homeowners to access heating and cooling equipment from reputable manufacturers at a more affordable price.
Interested in a New Furnace? Our Carrollton Furnace Installation Pros at Lex Air Can Help
At Lex Air Conditioning and Heating, we are proud to be Trane Comfort Specialists, offering top-tier furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioning systems to homeowners and businesses throughout the DFW area. In addition to premium brands like Trane, we also partner with Amana and Goodman, which are often considered budget-friendly yet reliable options for those seeking an affordable furnace replacement. Whether you need expert guidance on choosing the right furnace or are considering installing a new air conditioner, our team is here to help you navigate the many heater and air conditioner brands available today.
We understand that every home’s heating and cooling needs are unique, which is why we provide professional recommendations tailored to your specific situation. From energy efficiency and budget considerations to advanced features that ensure optimal performance, we’ll help you find the right solution for your home.
If you have any more furnace brand FAQs or if you’re ready to schedule your Carrollton heater installation today, give us a call at (972) 217-8955 or reach out online to get in touch!
