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advice - purchasing a new furnace
QUESTION:I am looking to buy a new furnace to replace the cheap, crummy one I
have now. This is the first house I have ever owned (as well as had
built) and it turns out the furnace that was installed is about the
lowest quality that a builder can get away with installing. It is a
plain jane model with no real external markings to identify any of its
features (except the AFUE rating). I live in Pennsylvania and although
the winters aren't usually too brutal they can still be cold. Even
during some of the "milder" cold spells, the furnace will run almost all
day and night (the furnace is off for a very short time between
cycles) and that is with a temperature setting of 68 F.
The house is about 2,100 sq. ft and I am in the midst of getting
estimates from the different dealers. A Lennox dealer was out today
and quoted what I think was a decent price for an Elite 80 and Elite 90
model with input of 75,000 Btu (output 80 or 90% of that respectively).
My question is this:
Anyone have opinions on which furnace is the best for the money?
Any advice (good or bad) about certain brands?
I am also having Trane and Rheem come out for an estimate as well.
I have learned several things with this first house, that is for sure.
ANSWER: I live in Pennsylvania (Johnstown) as well and my house has an old (40+
yrs) Lennox. When we first moved in we were worried it wouldn't last much
longer and got several estimates to have it replaced. We were very
impressed with the local Lennox dealer(O'Conners). Unlike the other
dealers the Lennox dealer suggested we have the furnace checked out and
sent one of their techs out to look at it. He said that despite the age
of the furnace it was in good shape and could give us 5 or more years of
service. The other dealers suggested we replace it asap. I don't need to
tell you who will be getting our business. They may not have had the
lowest offer but I'd rather do business with someone I trust.
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