Payne Gas Furnace Reviews: Cost, Pros & Cons, Buying Guide

Payne gas furnaces are considered among the most reliable in the industry. Details below.

Did you know? Payne gas furnaces are identical to Carrier furnaces – Payne is a Carrier company. And Carrier quality is excellent too, which accounts for Payne’s proven reliability.

*But… Payne doesn’t offer as many models as Carrier. However, there is an identical Carrier counterpart to every Payne model. Make sense?

What’s missing? Payne does not offer a variable capacity furnace and has fewer single stage and two stage units too.

Apart from two low-NOx units sold only in California, you have five models to consider. Here are Payne furnace reviews for each model.

Payne furnace FAQs are sprinkled throughout this guide.

Cost of Payne Furnaces

Right off the bat, furnace size is a major cost factor when considering the range of possible prices.

Furnace replacement often costs less than installation in new construction. This is because when replacing a furnace, it is usually possible to use an existing gas line, electrical circuit and wiring plus the exhaust vent.

Model Efficiency Fully Installed Cost
96 PG96VTA 2-stage 96% $5,800 – $9,150
95 PG95ESA 1-stage 96% $5,375 – $8,625
92 PG92ESA 1-stage 92.10% $4,650 – $7,500
80 PG80VTL 2-stage 80% $4,850 – $7,725
80 PG80ESA 1-stage 80% $4,385 – $6,925
Ultra-low NOx
95 PG95ESUA 1-stage 95% $5,750 – $9,100
80 PG80ESUA 1-stage 80% $4,785 – $7,495

Installation includes:

  • Removal of old equipment (optional)
  • Installation of gas line, wiring and circuit, ventilation (new construction)
  • Setting the furnace, and attaching it to ductwork and the return and supply connections
  • New ductwork transitions (optional)
  • New thermostat (optional)
  • Adjusting the blower speed to fine-tune the system for your specific application.
  • Placement and connection of a new or existing AC coil (coil not included)
  • Starting and testing the furnace

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Mitsubishi Mini-Split Systems: Costs, Top Units, Pros & Cons, ROI

Mitsubishi mini split systems are available in single-zone and multizone configurations of up to 8 zones.

In quality and performance, Mitsubishi mini split heat pumps and air conditioners are considered good to premium, comparable to Fujitsu, LG, and Daikin.

The Mitsubishi Hyper-heating H2i and H2i Plus options provide full-capacity heating in subzero temperatures, ideal for northern climates.

Mitsubishi mini split cost begins at around $4,900 for a small single zone system installed. Common systems for 2-4 zones run $7,500 to $11,000 installed. The largest Mitsubishi ductless systems exceed $25,000 when professionally installed.

*And yes, all Mitsubishi systems must be installed by a pro because they need a refrigerant charge, something only a certified installer can do by law.

Let’s get into the details including costs, pros and cons, available systems and options.

Meet METUS

Who? METUS stands for Mitsubishi Electric Trane United States.

Mitsubishi ductless systems are produced through a joint venture with Trane Technologies. The 50/50 partnership was established in 2018 to produce ductless systems for both brands. They also make VRF (variable refrigerant flow) systems for commercial buildings.

So, it’s easy to compare Mitsubishi to Trane mini split systems: They are identical in all but the logo.

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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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