HVAC

7 Best Gas Furnaces from Top Brands in 2023: Costs, Pros & Cons

The best gas furnaces are the highest quality models made by Trane, Lennox, Carrier, American Standard, Bryant, Payne, Rheem and Ruud furnaces.

They aren’t always the most efficient gas furnaces, though some of them have high efficiency ratings.

They don’t always have the most “advanced” technology because those units are shown to have higher rates of mechanical failure and worse customer reviews. In short, they aren’t worth the extra cash.

No Goodman. No Heil. No York – definitely no York. That’s the bottom line, and it is fully explained on this page.

Data Analysis – Where Do We Get the Information?

The gas furnaces on this list have a proven track record as quality products. Track record?

Yes – based on statistics compiled from real homeowners and HVAC technicians that work on all brands and see with a trained eye what is a good furnace and what isn’t.

Furnaces, Not Brands

Most brands make basic entry-level (cheap) furnaces, midrange “best sellers” and high-end furnaces that are expensive and not always as reliable.

So, ignore comparisons of the “best furnace brands.” They’re meaningless. Lennox, for example, makes quality Signature Series and decent Elite Series furnaces – and they make Merit Series furnaces which don’t belong anywhere near a Best Furnaces list.

The Best Gas Furnaces

The top-rated furnaces are:

  1. Carrier Infinity 98
  2. Trane S9V2
  3. Payne PG95ESA
  4. Rheem Prestige R96V
  5. Lennox Elite EL296V
  6. Carrier Infinity 80 58TN
  7. Rheem Prestige Series R802V
  8. Trane XV80

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Fujitsu Mini Split Heat Pumps: Costs, Top Units, Pros & Cons, ROI

Fujitsu mini split heat pump systems are available in single zone and multi zone options. Installed cost starts at $4,800 for a small, single-zone unit. Prices can exceed $20,000 for a large, 5-zone system when main equipment, necessary accessories and labor are added in.

You can find cheaper prices on lesser brands. Fujitsu is considered one of the better brands by HVAC installers and repair technicians. It is a good brand to consider if you:

  • Plan to make a long-term investment in your current home.
  • Prefer professional installation to doing it yourself.

This is a comprehensive Fujitsu mini split heat pump buying guide with system options and comparisons, costs, pros and cons and the return on an investment from installing a Fujitsu mini split system.

Fujitsu General – That’s the company’s full name. But everyone simply calls it Fujitsu, so that is what we use (mostly) throughout this review.

Introducing Fujitsu Airstage

Fujitsu recently announced a global rebranding of its mini split HVAC systems – All Fujitsu mini split systems are now called Airstage mini split systems. The transition will take some time as wholesalers and retailers sell out of the old units, replacing them with Airstage systems.

You likely know that a mini split system consists of:

An outdoor unit or condensing unit is installed outside where it collects heat when in Heat mode and where it dumps heat in AC mode.

Average Cost To Install a Ductless AC (Mini-Split) Typical Range: $3,270 - $4,780
See costs in your area

Outdoor units, also called condensing units, come in various sizes to match the needed indoor carpet and number of zones from 1 to 5. That’s the maximum # of zones for Fujitsu – 5.

Indoor units come in a bunch of types – Wall mounted, floor mounted, universal (put it low or high), cassette, etc. They are all described, with pros, cons, and costs, below.

Remotes – While wired wall controls can be (must be in some cases) installed for your system, all systems also come with a wireless remote for each indoor unit.

WiFi / Smart Home – WiFi modules are either standard or optional in all systems and are used with the Fujitsu FGLair App. When a module is installed, the systems can be controlled with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Details of what is available in Fujitsu indoor units are given below in the reviews of the single zone and multizone systems.

You’ll have the information you need to purchase a system online or discuss your Fujitsu mini split system choices with the contractor you select to install your system.

Which raises a good question…

Are Fujitsu mini split systems DIY?

No. By design, Fujitsu and most top brand manufacturers do not fill their units with sufficient refrigerant. This requires hiring a licensed technician with what’s known as a “refrigerant card.” It is the certification necessary to charge a system with refrigerant.

Fujitsu warranties also require installation by a licensed professional – a common industry practice.

Here is what the Fujitsu warranty states: “PROPER INSTALLATION – This Limited Warranty applies only to Systems that are installed by contractors who are licensed for HVAC installation under applicable local and state law (Licensed Contractor), and who install the System in accordance with: (a) all applicable building codes and permits; (b) FG [Fujitsu General] installation and operation instructions; and (c) good trade practices.”

Fujitsu Single Zone Mini Split Systems – Airstage Single Zone Systems

Fujitsu single zone systems have one outdoor unit and one indoor unit. That’s stating the obvious, perhaps. And there are 9 indoor unit styles.

What is unique to Fujitsu General is that the single zone systems are not mix and match. Each indoor unit type has its own outdoor unit series in various sizes.

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Lennox Furnace vs. Carrier vs. Trane: Costs, Pros & Cons – The Ultimate Guide

Compare Lennox furnaces to Carrier furnaces and Trane furnaces? OK. That’s what we do – evaluating each in key areas and pointing out where one brand is superior – or in some cases inferior – to the others.

The data gathered from technicians that work on all brands and surveys taken by homeowners that own them paints a pretty clear picture.

Carrier, Trane, and Lennox furnaces break down less than most other brands – and that is really what matters to the average homeowner in the middle of February.

Lennox vs Carrier vs Trane Overview

Trane furnaces are the top-rated brand for quality. Lennox and Carrier are slightly behind, essentially tied for second spot. But Lennox quality isn’t as good in its cheapest furnaces, as explained below.

Lennox furnaces are the most efficient furnaces, but the small differences in efficiency aren’t worth considering when making a purchasing decision – about 1% in the most efficient furnaces.

Carrier furnaces could be said to win the “all around” competition by delivering good quality and efficiency levels right up there with the others. A lot of the “quality” part has to do with Carrier’s network of highly trained Authorized Dealers who properly install them most of the time.

What about cost? It depends on where you live. Carrier usually has the highest price followed by Trane and Lennox. But in some markets, like metro Detroit and the Northeast, Trane is the most expensive brand.

More on this below – but the takeaway is that you should get estimates on all three brands because they vary regionally – and even from dealer to dealer within your area.

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