Furnace Questions
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You'd be lucky if you could get 20+ years (I did on my last one), but I wouldn't guarantee that every time.
There are lots of decent brands out there. Lennox, Trane, and Goodman are ones I've had experience with. Some are premium brands, some are regular, reliable brands.
Don't try Costco (I'm in GTA). I inquired, and had someone drop by. Waste of time.
And I personally wouldn't go with Reliance, either.
Both Costco and Reliance are the high-priced alternative for pretty much the same thing.
Get a few quotes from smaller furnace guys, and you'll get competitive prices.
BTW, Enbridge has a rebate program if you're upgrading your furnace to one that has a particular efficiency %. I took full advantage of this, upgrading my furnace and topping up attic insulation.
It is likely worth doing the research and paying for the energy audit. Just don't start any changes until you look it up.
There are lots of decent brands out there. Lennox, Trane, and Goodman are ones I've had experience with. Some are premium brands, some are regular, reliable brands.
Don't try Costco (I'm in GTA). I inquired, and had someone drop by. Waste of time.
And I personally wouldn't go with Reliance, either.
Both Costco and Reliance are the high-priced alternative for pretty much the same thing.
Get a few quotes from smaller furnace guys, and you'll get competitive prices.
BTW, Enbridge has a rebate program if you're upgrading your furnace to one that has a particular efficiency %. I took full advantage of this, upgrading my furnace and topping up attic insulation.
It is likely worth doing the research and paying for the energy audit. Just don't start any changes until you look it up.
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DO NOT BUY a high efficiency furnace. It is a big waste of money. The repairs on those parts are massive. Do you get any energy savings??? NO, unless your house is absolutely configured in every way to prevent energy loss, which 99.9999995 of homes aren't unless you blew a fortune doing it, in which case, you were better off not doing it and saving that money you would never get back. Stay below 95 efficiency or you are wasting your money.
As for Enbridge, GOD NO don't use them. Hire someone and look someone up in Facebook, etc... in groups that will do it on the side from their regular HVAC job. YOu will literally save 50%, then just take out the Enbridge insurance plans that will cover all costs and repairs on a furnace.
But it is your money!
As for Enbridge, GOD NO don't use them. Hire someone and look someone up in Facebook, etc... in groups that will do it on the side from their regular HVAC job. YOu will literally save 50%, then just take out the Enbridge insurance plans that will cover all costs and repairs on a furnace.
But it is your money!
10-12 yrs before you need expensive repairs, like a new ecm motor which will cost close to 1000 bucks.
Not true at all about the high efficiency. A 2 stage high efficiency furnace will have noticable savings in a year. Provided the outside temperature isn't below -10 your furnace might not even run at the second stage. For example a 60000 btu 2 stage will run at approx 38000 first stage, and if your thermostat and furnace are configured correctly (hint - most aren't) that might be enough. So right off the top you are only running at slightly over 50% capacity. That is especially useful in a place where the temperature isn't consistently -15C.
But believe whatever you want. I have one in my house, as do my parents and we both noticed savings over previous years. Yes, the parts are expensive, but the warranty is at least 5 years on a name brand furnace, and the only expensive part is the ECM blower, and possibly the control board. Anything else super expensive means you are getting ripped off.
NB my best friend is an electrician, and he hooked me up with a really good hvac guy, not one of those useless clowns who work for enercare.
Most furnace manufacturers these days use same parts, put them together and slap their logo on the final product. I'd look for good warranty. For example Goodman gives 10 year warranty on parts. Most furnaces these days are very efficient, so I'd consider comfort. In winter, once activated, 2 stage furnace will circulate air at low speeds until burners are hot, then kick into a higher gear. Modulating furnace is designed to keep temperature consistent and might be ON all the time but will work at 30-40% capacity simply giving enough to maintain desired setting.
It's like comparing stop and go traffic to a smooth ride at 90km/hr on highway.
If a furnace efficiency is 92% for example, what it means is that out of every dollar spent on gas, 92 cents goes towards heating your home. To decide whether or not you want a higher efficiency furnace, you can look at your gas bill, calculate the difference (92% vs 98% for example) then compare price difference between furnace models to decide if you'll ever make up that difference.
It's like comparing stop and go traffic to a smooth ride at 90km/hr on highway.
If a furnace efficiency is 92% for example, what it means is that out of every dollar spent on gas, 92 cents goes towards heating your home. To decide whether or not you want a higher efficiency furnace, you can look at your gas bill, calculate the difference (92% vs 98% for example) then compare price difference between furnace models to decide if you'll ever make up that difference.
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Ive had good experience with carrier. had for 20 years and still working. i was told installation quality makes a huge difference.
Very true. Daikin and Goodmans - Same Company. Carrier, Payne and Bryant - Same Company - just different labels.
Uh,
You can only buy high efficiency furnaces now.
They no longer manufacture mid efficiency furnaces. Have not manufactured them in Canada in more than 10 years.
Carrier and Bryant have been the same parent company for a very long time.
I can't speak to Goodman furnaces, but their air conditioners are very poor quality.
I have a Carrier Infinity furnace and central air and I'm very happy with both. Knock on wood, no problems with either.
A lot more than I can say for my shitty Bradford White hot water tank. Fucking junk.
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As to an installer I have used Belyea Brothers and Easterbrook brothers and have been very happy with both and I'm a pretty exacting (some might say OCD) customer.
Whatever you do, please do not side vent the furnace. Send it in a liner up the chimney. For the love of God.
Whatever you do, please do not side vent the furnace. Send it in a liner up the chimney. For the love of God.
Very true with Goodman, Amana is also their label. Japanese company Daikin bought goodman a few yrs ago, hope they can improve the brand as it was made in America, just cheap crap.
Lennox brand is awesome, lasted 20 yrs and replaced with a stage 2 high efficiency Lennox.
I have an Armstrong 95% efficiency furnace that was in the place when I bought it in 2005. I did need to replace the air conditioner with a Lennox. The service man told me the Armstrong furnace has lasted a long time because it has a very good stainless steel heat exchanger. He also told me a furnace will last longer if you just set it on a steady temperature and leave it alone. I listened to him.
I think some people spend a lot more money on furnaces than they save on gas from their computerized thermostat running the temperature up and down. I had an employee once crack a cast iron heat exchanger by cranking it up high after it had been turned down lower for a long winter holiday weekend. Easy does it.
I think some people spend a lot more money on furnaces than they save on gas from their computerized thermostat running the temperature up and down. I had an employee once crack a cast iron heat exchanger by cranking it up high after it had been turned down lower for a long winter holiday weekend. Easy does it.
Why? The plastic PVC venting is much easier to run out the wall. Mid efficient furnaces that use chimney liners are no longer even available. I suppose you could run the PVC pipes up the chimney, but you are increasing the vent length, and might even have to increase vent size because of it. Then you need to make some kind of support or bracket to hold and terminate the pipe on the top of the chimney. Most installers probably wouldn't even do it for you. Especially since most furnaces in homes are installed fairly close to an outside wall. Anyway your AC lines will have to go out the wall, why not the vent?
Yes, pvc liner right up the chimney. It is a special liner made for that application and comes complete as a kit. No different than the old metal liners for mid efficiency furnaces, only a smaller diameter.
Why?
Because I'm tired of listening to all the noise associated with side vents at the same elevation as my ears. Its a very loud annoying form of noise pollution. You walk down a street on a nice quiet night in the winter and all you hear is the whine of exhaust blowers. It's obnoxious. In addition there is the steam which will freeze to your bricks and eventually destroy the brick.
I live in the old part of the city of Toronto where lots are small and tight and there are mutual driveways, or just a small path between houses to access the back yards. Dumb / lazy installers will run the exhaust into a mutual driveway or pathway because, yes, it is cheap and easy, but not better. In addition, side venting into a mutual driveway is in violation of the gas code, as is side venting into a tight pathway. They just either don't know, or don't care.
But you're correct, it is cheaper and easier.
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Mechanical contractors must have TSSA license. Make use your contractor has one. With last year's amendments to building code and standards contractors are finally liable for any wrongdoing such as not adhering to current code or putting AC condensing unit beyond property line under neighbor's window. New code requires two 2" or larger PVC lines for exhaust and air intake. Old ABS lines must be replaces. Many old furnaces drew air from inside a basement but new code requires a line to outside. If furnace installation was done to code and perhaps new thermostat was installed, you should have no problems with new furnace for foreseeable future. Change your air filters every 3 months and you'll be good.
fucks me. sounds as standardized as mc d will ever get. should be a template for the sp code
Thanks guys. A lot of diverse feedback.
My furnace guy said I should replace my HE furnace next year (15 years old). He said a new furnace will cost $3,000-$3,500.
I think 15 years is a rather short life and $3,000-$3,500 is rather expensive for a new furnace.
My furnace guy said I should replace my HE furnace next year (15 years old). He said a new furnace will cost $3,000-$3,500.
I think 15 years is a rather short life and $3,000-$3,500 is rather expensive for a new furnace.
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