7 Worst Furnace Brands to Avoid 2023 (Buy These Brands Instead)

Knowing the furnace brands to avoid can help you choose the ideal furnace from the recommended brands. Buying a good furnace is essential to keep your home comfortable throughout the year, especially in the winter seasons. If not, you might have to undergo the terrible experience of frost and dampness. As furnaces are made to be bought once and used for many years, it is essential to choose a brand that lasts for a long time. 

List of Furnace Brands to Avoid

Here is a list of the worst brands of furnaces that you need to avoid at all costs. These are considered to be avoided as they have many issues related to performance and longevity. They would be made of cheap material and even cost you more for repairing and replacing parts. Read on to find these furnace brands and the reasons behind the negative reviews.

1. Lennox

Even though Lennox is a popular brand for home furnaces, the limited warranties and large expense on premature damages have caused a lot of negative customer reviews. Therefore, it is considered among the furnace brands to avoid.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Do not heat fast
• Uneven heat distribution
• Short and limited warranties
• Expensive units
• Low reliability
• Poor customer service

2. Buderus

This is one of the cheapest furnace brands but has a low rating of 2.8 out of 5 in surveys. Due to the low performance, it has only a 43% of customer satisfaction. Here are some of the reasons that make this brand a worse choice.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Costly repairs within 3 years
• Stops working in 5 years
• Performance is below average
• Not durable

3. Ducane

Ducane might be a better brand when compared with many other cheap furnaces. However, there are many negative feedbacks related to the low quality, and it has only a 38% customer satisfaction rating. These are the causes for getting this brand named under the HVAC brands to avoid.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Short warranty
• Components break easily
• Low performance
• Creates abnormal noises

4. Frigidaire

Frigidaire is a reputed brand for home appliances. But there are problems with their furnaces. The quality of heat is not satisfactory, and this furnace has only 3.4 out of 5 for customer satisfaction. As users have mixed reviews regarding this, it is not a recommended brand for purchase.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Uneven heating
• Fails to work in very low temperatures
• Low-rated customer service
• Average efficiency

5. York

This is among the worst furnace brands due to its very high failure rate. Many premature repairs occur very soon, and the overall performance is rated as 2.8 out of 5. Here are the main causes behind these negative reviews of users.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Premature repairs
• Poor heating
• Components have a short life span
• Low-rated customer service
• Questionable 10-year warranty

6. Burnham

Despite being a fast-rising brand, the products are cheap and have a rating of only 1.8 out of 5 for the performance. The expensive repairs that need to be done in few years of use have made this one of the worst furnace brands.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Poor energy-efficiency
• Low reliability
• Issues in burner
• Costly repairs in 5 years
• Poor customer service

7. ArcoAire

This brand offers products at cheap costs and has reliability issues. It has a very noisy operation that even causes the users to panic. This has a very negative review by customers, and it is recommended to avoid this brand at all costs.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Low reliability
• Costly repairs within 3 years
• Poor heating
• Noisy running
• Low energy-efficiency
• Difficult to install

Most Reliable Furnace Brands

These are some of the better alternatives that you can choose from. As these furnaces are more reliable, they have better customer reviews and feedback.

1. Rheem (Classic Plus Series)

This brand of furnace is an ideal choice as it does not have any solid complaints. They have good reviews related to the performance and are considered to be reliable. They also have much evidence for their good rating of 4.6 out of 5.

2. American Standard (Platinum 80)

This is a very practical purchase as it has a low installation cost and is around $2500. The warranty is offered over limited parts and heat exchangers. It has an AFUE rating of 80%, which shows that these furnaces are very energy efficient.

3. Carrier (Infinity Series)

This is a reputed brand that is in the industry for many years. It is rated 8 out of 10 on the performance and also rated grade A by the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Affairs. It is reviewed as most efficient in 2019 and 2020 and has many commendable features. These are some of the main features that make this brand a good choice.

4. Goodman (Bronze Comfort System Series)

Goodman furnaces have a better reputation in the market for their performance efficiency. They also have a high energy efficiency of 90% AFUE. Minimal issues are reported related to the repairs. The following are some of the causes that make this a recommended furnace brand.

5. KeepRite (ProComfort G9MX)

This is one of the most competitive brands that are energy star certified. It has an energy efficiency of 96% AFUE and has a performance rating of 4.5 out of 5. Here are some of the benefits of purchasing this brand.

Buyer’s Guide

When purchasing a proper furnace, avoiding the worst brands is not enough. To choose from the recommended brands, you need to know the important considerations. Look out for these when you purchase a furnace. The furnace brand comparison chart would give you a better understanding of the best furnaces.

What red flags help you to identify the furnace brands to avoid?

As many new brands and models are being introduced to the market, it is difficult to find reviews about all of them. So if you are planning to buy a new furnace, here are some of the major points that should be focused on to find what furnace brands should be avoided. 

Cheap Material

It is easy to notice the cheap build of a furnace from its material and construction of components. Low-quality brands often have material that breaks easily after few maintenance checks. They would also have to be subjected to expensive repairs in a few years of usage. 

Indoor Climate Control

Furnaces with single-speed fans and single-stage burners are not efficient in serving the purpose. Therefore, make sure to avoid inferior furnaces with these features.

Short Warranties

When the manufacturers are aware of the fact that their products’ performance wouldn’t last that long, they would most likely issue a short-term warranty. This is done to back up the limited longevity of furnaces. Therefore, do not settle for any product of warranty less than 12 years. Never purchase a furnace with a 5-year warranty as it is a clear sign of a low-quality product.

Abnormal Sounds

Noisy furnaces would mean that the circuit boards are defective or that the single fans have been overworked. This again is a sign of a worse furnace brand.

Costly Repairs

If you purchase a bad brand of furnace, then you would most likely have to face expensive repairs in three years or less after purchase. This is another negative impact of furnaces that should be avoided.

What Should You Look For When Buying A Furnace?

Here are the major factors that you need to consider when buying a furnace. Make sure to use these tips to find the perfect model for your requirements. However, do not get driven away by additional features as some of them might be useless depending on your requirements.

Pick the Right Size

You need to pick the right size of furnace for your home. It might not be able to perform well if the wrong size is picked. Smaller sizes for larger spaces might create uneven heat distribution, while larger furnaces in smaller spaces would cause high expenditure and energy inefficiency. So request your contractor to assess the right size of furnace for you.

Air Filtration

Pre-installed air filtration systems are available in most good furnace brands. It works in a way to collect dust particles that circulate through the heating system. It is most suitable for people with respiratory problems like asthma. 

Variable Speed Blowers

Having various speed blowers in the furnace helps to regulate the internal temperature. As very high heat is not required in homes, it is ideal to have a seven-speed blower than two or three-speed blowers.

Variable Heat Output

Multi-speed blowers have this special feature that can adjust the temperature when it senses that the room has required the required heat level. This feature may not be present in all furnace brands. It would deliver more heat with increased efficiency by altering the heat output automatically. You can even customize the level of heat required for your needs.

Heat Exchanger

A heat exchanger draws heat from the burned heat and increases the energy efficiency of the furnace. Most good furnace brands have this secondary heat exchanger made of stainless steel and protected.

Zoned Heating

The zoned heating feature is available in high-end furnaces. It channels various levels of heating to different rooms in the house. This feature might be useful for larger spaces and homes. However, having this feature might lead to frequent repairing of the system.

High AFUE Rating

The Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency measures the efficiency of the furnace gas being converted to heat. When choosing a furnace, it should have a rating of at least 80% to 85%. Choosing below this is not cost-efficient.

Warranty

A premium furnace would mostly have a warranty of 10 years or more. Having a warranty less than this might be questionable. It is also necessary to go for a brand with good customer support to get support for the warranty.

How Much is a Brand-New Furnace?

The average price of a premium furnace would range between $2000 and $6000. With installation and labor costs included, this would range from $3700 to $30,000. This would slightly change, depending on the size, brand, and type of the furnace.

How to Avoid Cheap Installation?

Cheap installation is almost as bad as a cheap furnace. If it is not installed correctly, the effects would last throughout the years and even impact the efficiency and durability. Therefore, to ensure proper installation, you may need to know these ways.

1. Read the gas furnace buying guides and brands reviews to learn more about the brands you consider buying.
2. Get installation estimates from 3 or more local dealers who are qualified as furnace contractors in your area.
3. Check for the North American Technician Excellence program (NATE) certification of the installers or whether they are factory trained.
4. Make sure to review the online ratings and feedback of the relevant furnace company.
5. Cheaper estimates should be rejected as it might mean that the installers are new and inexperienced in the matter. They might even be planning to cut corners or perhaps even have less work due to bad reputations. So it is better to avoid these possibilities.
6. Choose the best option depending on the choices you have. Go for a reputed installer that offers the service at a reasonable cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What brand of furnace is the best quality?

Several furnace brands are at the forefront in terms of quality and performance. They are:

• Bryant
• Carrier
• Daikin 
• Goodman
• HEIL
• Maytag
• Rheem
• Trane

What is the quietest furnace brand and model?

The model Carrier Infinity 98 is the quietest among all furnaces for the longest time. It is also highly reputed for its energy efficiency and overall reliability.

Is a variable speed furnace worth it?

The efficiency of a variable-speed motor is 80% more efficient than a standard furnace motor. Therefore, it is suitable to get a variable speed furnace.

How long do furnace warranties typically last?

Premium brands offer a warranty clause of 10 years for limited parts and 20 years for the heat exchanger. Since the heat exchanger is the most important component of the furnace, it is necessary to have a dependable manufacturer that offers the maximum warranty over it.

Is it cheaper to replace the furnace and AC together?

The cost of replacement is not cheap, and the contractors might biggest not to replace them at the same time. As new components would need fewer repairs, it is advised to get them professionally assessed before deciding on them.

How long should a furnace system run daily?

The average time per a cycle of furnace would be around 10 to 15 minutes if there is no extreme temperature condition and the surrounding is insulated properly. However, the exact number of cycles required by your house in a day might vary, depending on the size of the area and the surrounding temperature. So it is necessary to get expert consultation on this.

What should not be stored in a furnace room?

Fire hazards such as paper, cardboard, and other chemicals should never be stored near the furnace room. It is also advised to buy a smoke or carbon monoxide detector for safety concerns.

Why Should You Avoid Cheap Furnaces?

Cheap furnaces should be avoided due to many reasons such as follows.

• Cheap components are used, which result in costly repairs within the first 5 to 10 years.
• They need to be cleaned and tuned often and run inefficiently. So maintenance would cost a lot in these inferior models.
• Short warranties are offered to cover the low durability of the product.
• Bad at indoor climate control and provide poor comfort due to single-stage burners and single-speed fans.
• Settling for a cheap brand would mean that there is a very high risk of having to spend on another new furnace soon.
• Having cheap HVAC brands to avoid in your house would reduce the quality and aesthetic appeal of your living space.

Conclusion

Buying a furnace is a long-term investment that you should be durable for over 10 years. Therefore it is necessary to have a dependable furnace system that would last a long time. Proper circulation of warm air would increase the comfort of the residents and is most essential during the colder seasons. A proper furnace helps in the cost and energy efficiency while offering a good performance throughout.

So to shop smart, there are many other worst brands you need to avoid in the market. Make sure to look out for any Fake Olive Oil Brands and other Worst Refrigerators and Hazardous Tire Brands available. Also, do not purchase these Low-Performance Water Heater Brands when picking goods for your home.