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Here Are the Top Furnace Brands in Cincinnati


Shopping for a new furnace allows Cincinnati area homeowners to explore heating and cooling products made by a variety of HVAC brands. You can find oil furnaces, gas furnaces, and electric HVAC unit equipment from top furnace brands such as Rheem furnaces, Lennox furnaces, Carrier furnaces, Goodman furnaces, Bryant furnaces, Trane furnaces, the York gas furnace brand, and other brands.

There are many furnace manufacturers that produce quality furnaces and heating units, but the number of major brands can make it difficult for homeowners to determine which are the best furnace brands. However, there is no one best furnace brand that everyone agrees upon because every home and household has different demands for their HVAC systems. Most oil and gas furnace brands produce a diverse selection of reliable furnace equipment, with options ranging from affordable furnaces to the most efficient furnaces available with impressive annual fuel utilization efficiency AFUE ratings.

Today’s gas furnaces, oil furnaces, and electric home furnace units are technologically advanced pieces of equipment. Some furnace brands are well-known for their innovative furnace system features that maximize energy-efficient performance, while other furnace companies are regarded as a budget-friendly option that produces an affordable gas furnace with average furnace installation costs that won’t break the bank. In the end, the best furnace brand to purchase from is one that you trust, and that offers a furnace that fits your specifications.

Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing makes furnace replacement easy for homeowners throughout the Cincinnati area. Our team will introduce you to the top furnace brands for Cincinnati homes and help you find the quality furnace brands that offer heating units that perfectly fit your needs and budget. Once you’ve decided on a new furnace for your home, our NATE-certified technicians ensure proper installation so your furnace offers the energy efficiency you expect and provides many years of comfortable heating. We are here to support you throughout the service life of your furnace with additional services, including furnace repair and maintenance tune-ups for furnaces.

Factors to Consider for Your New Furnace Installation

If you think the number of furnace brands seems overwhelming, the number of individual gas furnaces, oil furnaces, electric furnaces, heat pumps, and other HVAC equipment is seemingly endless. Because there are so many choices, it’s a big help to narrow down your options before you start shopping for new HVAC systems. Making choices regarding energy-efficient furnaces, fuel type, and capacity will set basic criteria to guide your search and make the process simpler.

Energy Efficiency Ratings

Energy efficiency for furnaces is stated by a unit’s annual fuel utilization efficiency, which is abbreviated as AFUE. Efficiency is represented as a percentage that reflects the amount of energy consumed by the unit that is actually utilized for creating heat versus waste. The minimum energy-efficiency furnace you can buy is 80% AFUE while the most efficient furnaces are around 98% AFUE.

A furnace’s energy efficiency rating will impact your purchase decision in terms of cost, from initial cost to ongoing operating expenses.

  • A high-quality furnace with a high energy efficiency rating may also be ENERGY STAR® qualified – these units have a higher equipment cost than standard efficiency furnace models, so the average furnace installation will be more expensive if you choose these heating units. More affordable furnaces are typically standard efficiency and don’t come with all the bells and whistles that the extremely high-quality furnaces do, which contributes to their lower purchase cost.

  • The energy efficiency of the new furnace you choose affects ongoing costs, as the efficiency of your home furnace directly impacts the amount of energy used for heating. High-efficiency HVAC system equipment costs less to operate, while lower-efficiency models generate higher energy bills because they produce more waste through the heating process.

Furnace Fuel Source

Furnace brands produce a variety of heating and cooling equipment options with different fuel sources. Options for heating units include oil furnaces, gas furnaces, liquid propane furnaces, and electric furnaces. In Cincinnati, the most common heating fuel source used to heat homes is natural gas.

As you look for a new HVAC system for your furnace replacement project, you need to keep in mind what fuel sources are available in your house. In homes currently using electric furnaces or heat pumps, or those that rely on propane or heating oil to power their furnaces, it may be possible to add a natural gas connection and install gas piping throughout the house to facilitate switching to gas furnaces. Installing gas piping throughout a home will greatly increase the average furnace installation costs, making this option cost-prohibitive for some homeowners.

Often homeowners choose to buy a new furnace that is powered by the same fuel type as their old unit. However, there are good reasons to switch. While electric furnaces have higher energy efficiency ratings than gas furnaces, they actually consume more energy than a gas furnace would to create the same amount of heating. If you use liquid propane or heating oil to heat your home, you’re dependent upon refills to keep your home heated and subjected to price fluctuations and additional fees from your fuel provider. Switching to natural gas furnaces provides constant fuel source access without the ongoing expenses.

HVAC System Capacity

Capacity is a critical factor to consider when purchasing a new home furnace. Electric, oil, and gas furnaces all must be sized correctly for the home to operate efficiently and deliver enough heat for comfort inside. Purchasing the wrong size of furnace leads to immediate problems such as poor comfort control and increased stress on your furnace that causes breakdowns requiring furnace repair to correct – the only way to eliminate these problems is to undergo another furnace replacement.

Capacity for a furnace system is expressed in BTUs. BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a heat measure, and it shares how much heat the furnace is able to produce. Furnaces in residential HVAC systems typically range between 36,000 BTUs to 120,000 BTUs. Average furnace installation costs tend to be higher for a home that requires a larger capacity unit versus a smaller capacity furnace.

Work with a qualified HVAC professional to determine the proper size for your new furnace. Sizing a furnace is done by completing an HVAC residential load calculation. The load calculation shares the amount of heat that is needed to increase the home’s temperature to a comfortable level.

Best Furnace Brands for Cincinnati Homes 

Cincinnati homeowners in need of a new furnace have tons of equipment choices from many different furnace brands. The best furnace brands will be different for each situation, as heating needs, budgets, and preferences are unique to each household.

To help you explore furnace brands and find the best furnace brands with products that fit your criteria, here is some basic information on the leading HVAC brands. These reliable brands are well-known for their quality heating and cooling products.

Carrier Furnaces 

Carrier is certainly one of the best gas furnace brands around, and their furnaces are found in millions of homes worldwide. Options for Carrier furnaces include Infinity, Performance, and Comfort series gas furnace models. Infinity gas furnaces offer up to 98.5% AFUE with variable blower motors and modulating gas valves. The Performance and Comfort series gas furnace models feature a range of energy efficiency ratings at more affordable price points, with single-stage and variable speed operation options. 

Trane Furnaces 

Trane is a well-known furnace brand that manufactures gas furnaces as well as oil furnaces. They are among the top furnace brands for gas furnaces, with owners giving high ratings for their gas furnaces in terms of reliability and user satisfaction. Furnace options range from affordable standard energy efficiency single-stage furnaces, two-stage furnaces, and variable speed furnaces with up to 97.3% AFUE.

Lennox Furnaces

Lennox furnaces date back over 100 years, as the company is credited with developing the first riveted steel furnace. Lennox produces gas furnaces and oil furnaces that range in price, energy efficiency ratings, and features. Single-stage and variable-speed furnaces are available, offering up to 99% AFUE and extremely quiet operation.

Rheem Furnaces

Rheem manufactures a range of propane and natural gas furnaces for home installation. Their furnaces range in energy efficiency from 80% AFUE to 98.7% AFUE. Features such as a removable heat exchanger makes servicing these furnaces a breeze.

Goodman Furnaces

The Goodman Furnace company is known for producing affordable gas furnace options. The Goodman gas furnace line features energy efficiency ratings up to 98% AFUE. The Goodman Furnace company uses sustainable practices, which makes them a leading furnace brand among environmentally conscious homeowners.

York Furnaces 

York furnaces are American made, and the company is known for producing equipment with affordable average furnace installation costs. Furnaces go up to 98% AFUE for high-efficiency operation.

Bryant Furnaces

Bryant offers oil furnaces as well as Bryant gas furnaces. With over 100 years in the business, Bryant is known for their quality furnaces that deliver reliable operation for homeowners. Their furnaces range from standard efficiency to an energy efficiency 98.3% AFUE rating.

Support Your New Furnace with Proper Installation

No matter which energy-efficient gas furnace or oil heating unit you choose, Thomas & Galbraith provides proper installation to help your new home furnace run at its best, both right away and for years to come. Contact us today to request a quote for furnace replacement in your Cincinnati area home.

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