Question:
Our oil furnace is 50 years old and we will probably replace it in the next couple of years. I have searched the internet for different gas burning furnaces, but I dont know which brands are good and which are less durable (or breakdown more often). Every contractor suggests a different brand (Sears, Utica, Lennox). The efficiency rating of these is comparable (about 80-82%). 1) What are the better Gas and Oil burning steam furnaces? 2) Any reason to stay with oil rather than switch to gas? [we have a gas water heater 4 feet from the boiler, and we would time the replacement so there is little oil left in our outdoor 1000 gallon oil tank- which is also probably 50-70 years old] 3) the contractors have mentioned that neoprene seals are less desirable than metal push pin seals. What other features are important? The house is 1800 square feet.
Response:
Why are you replacing the whole thing? You can get a replacement hi-efficiency oil burner installed and keep the rest of your furnace as it is probably high quality cast iron, something that most of today’s cheaply built furnaces dont have. My oil-fired hot air exchanger is 40 years old and my contractor recommended not replacing it along with a new A/C unit. The burner itself is reasonably new, though. — Richard I also hate to receive spam, so please discard the "stop" to email me
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Our oil furnace is 50 years old and we will probably replace it in the next couple of years. I have searched the internet for different gas burning furnaces, but I dont know which brands are good and which are less durable (or breakdown more often). Every contractor suggests a different brand (Sears, Utica, Lennox). The efficiency rating of these is comparable (about 80-82%). 1) What are the better Gas and Oil burning steam furnaces? 2) Any reason to stay with oil rather than switch to gas? [we have a gas water heater 4 feet from the boiler, and we would time the replacement so there is little oil left in our outdoor 1000 gallon oil tank- which is also probably 50-70 years old] 3) the contractors have mentioned that neoprene seals are less desirable than metal push pin seals. What other features are important? The house is 1800 square feet.
Response:
I need a new gas furnace. I’ve gotten a variety of bids ranging from $1250 for a Bryant to $2060 for a Lennox. All are 80% efficient and have a 20 year limited warranty on the heat exchanger. Parts warranties range from 1 to 5 years. I’m having trouble deciding what to get. I’ve heard Lennox is "top of the line" but if Bryant is almost as good I’d just soon save the $800. Does anyone have any opinions about furnace brands? Thanks a lot. Walter Alvey
Response:
I need a new gas furnace. I’ve gotten a variety of bids ranging from $1250 for a Bryant to $2060 for a Lennox. [...] I’ve heard Lennox is "top of the line" but if Bryant is almost as good I’d just soon save the $800. Does anyone have any opinions about furnace brands? Thanks a lot. Walter Alvey
I bought a rental double that has two Lennox furnaces in it. On Friday, January 1, 1999 I got a call from the tenant on one side. No heat! No problem I stopped by. It was nothing I could fix, so off to call my furnace man. Sorry! He can’t do Lennox furnaces, because he can’t get parts. Call a Lennox Service place. Call Lennox place. Canned message on phone. "If you are not on a Service Contract with us, or didn’t purchase your Lennox furnace from us in the last 2 years, then we cannot help you." Call another. Same thing. Next one. ’Sorry, too busy handling our "regular" customers.’ As it turned out, I couldn’t get help for about 5 days. What alarmed me was that all of the Lennox Service places were filled to capacity servicing only those furnaces that were installed in the last 2 years (what new furnace needs fixed within two years? Not one that I want to own), or helping people on Service Contracts. I thought the whole purpose of a Service Contract was to reduce the need for emergency work, because the furnace was properly cared for. Apparently it doesn’t make a difference if there were that many calls on the first real cold day of the 98-99 winter season. Lesson I learned. Stay away from Lennox (unless you replace your furnace every 2 years (even then, go for a cheaper one 
), or want to pay $10 per month on a service contract (which, BTW, $10 per month is $120 per year. I haven’t known a neglected furnace that didn’t last 15 years. $120 * 15 = $1,800 or enough to pay for a new one after 15 years, not to mention the interest earned on the saved $10 per month investment. And since it will last another 5 years, with only minor maintenance ($300), you got your new furnace paid for by saving the contract fee, whereas if you were on the contract, the contracting company would now be hounding you to purchase another furnace since this one is 20 years old). No Lennox for me! I like service when I need it. Russ
Response:
I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
All of us installers have our favourites and dislikes of products. Since the price of fuel can only go up, try to get a high efficiency model in the 90+% range. You’ll want a furnace that parts are easy to get, fast and locally. If your contractor will stand behind you on service at 3 in the cold morning, then go with him. Brand names are more money as they have to advertise. The furnaces are pretty similar. Dave
|I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel |cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace |the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. | |The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox |and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. |He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know |if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the |others. | |I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have |replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to |figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is |Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night.
Response:
Snip he is pulling a fast one
Any equipment is only as good as the installation. Goodmans rep is below that of the other two. Perhaps they stopped selling to him, rather than he stopped buying from them…. — BBB Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
Response:
The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore.
Maybe his profit margin is higher on Janitrol.
Response:
All of us installers have our favourites and dislikes of products. Since the price of fuel can only go up, try to get a high efficiency model in the 90+% range. You’ll want a furnace that parts are easy to get, fast and locally. If your contractor will stand behind you on service at 3 in the cold morning, then go with him. Brand names are more money as they have to advertise. The furnaces are pretty similar.
Good points. In regard to the east to get parts, unless to live in a large metro area I would stay away from Lennox. There do things a "little different" so that, for example, parts that a generic in most systems have to be ordered from Lennox. In my case, the installer for his own reasons decided to stop handling Lennox products. Lennox cut him off and I have been waiting for a new Lennox motor for the air handler for over a YEAR. (The old one was made to work by borrowing an end plate from the bone yard.) Obviously, if it came down to no heat we would rewire or do whatever it took to use a non Lennox part BUT… IOW: Stay away from LENNOX!
Response:
The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others.
Janitrol is the Yugo (or maybe Kia) of heating. Very low priced and I wouldn’t say overly reliable either. Some swear by them but most swear at them. I don’t think Carrier is that reliable either, trouble with the control boards they make themselves. I don’t see enough Lennox anymore to know how they are doing but they use the White-Rodgers Intellignition boards which are reliable so should see little problems. I would certainly get at least 1 more bid. — HVAC Advice, Pictures, Links… http://www.geocities.com/~johnmills http://www.appelheat.com alt.hvac Charter, FAQ, Links… http://home.att.net/~alt.hvac/
Response:
I have been looking at Goodman (Janitrol by another name), and it seems that no one agrees. Anyone you talk to seems to say that their product is the best. Sounds good, but I haven’t had the Nissan people recommend a Toyota to me either. Does proper installation and maintenance make a difference? Some say yes, some say no. There is a consumer reports article referenced in the 2001 buying guide, but my magazines are in storage along with all my stuff. However, you may be able to get a reprint from CR.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. Janitrol is the Yugo (or maybe Kia) of heating. Very low priced and I wouldn’t say overly reliable either. Some swear by them but most swear at them. I don’t think Carrier is that reliable either, trouble with the control boards they make themselves. I don’t see enough Lennox anymore to know how they are doing but they use the White-Rodgers Intellignition boards which are reliable so should see little problems. I would certainly get at least 1 more bid. — HVAC Advice, Pictures, Links… http://www.geocities.com/~johnmills http://www.appelheat.com alt.hvac Charter, FAQ, Links… http://home.att.net/~alt.hvac/
Response:
The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol
I have a Lennox A/C installed 6 yrs ago never broke down once for me ,its rigged up to a 28 yr old G.E furnace now known as the Trane. company.Just try not to buy anything with any bells and whistles,just the basic 80 percent. "When sparks fly,robots die "
Response:
The price seems too high to me. My furnace went out five years ago when the house was covered by a warranty and it was replaced with a 100k (I think) furnace. Since the house warranty was up for renewal, I asked the installer how much it would have cost me, he indicated about $600 to $700. That has been about five years and I am sure there are any number of variables, but $2k seems high for a drop-in replacement. I have no complaints about the furnace – it works and it is quieter than the original. On the other hand, I would suggest you price a new blower and weigh the benefits of replacing the entire furnace. If it is more than a simple drop-in replacement, get several bids and ask them lots of questions about what they will do and get it all in writing. Walter Barnett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
That price seems a bit high to me. Two years ago at my previous house I had an old oil furnace and tank removed and a Carrier furnace installed for about $1350. I guess if you have a big house it could be more money, but My house was a 4 bedroom home. I would get a couple of estimates, before you decide.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
I live in Canada, and recently choose a Lennox. I’m quite happy with it, but Trane’s are also just as reliable. Have no idea about Janitrol. I would personally stay away from the high efficiency models. They can be troublesome and expensive to maintain. I have a few friends with them, and they curse their units to no end. Bruce – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
goodman is janitrol. years ago janitrol was a good product, then Mr ron goodman bought janitrol , and now you can buy a janitrol , or a goodman both made by the same company in houston texas, my experience with goodman or the "new" janitrol has not been good, the goodman gmp series furnaces are noisy and problematic and i cant begin to recall how many of their condensers i have had to recharge repeatedly because the coils had microscopic leaks which i could not find,but the company would not replace the coils because i couldnt find the leaks, although i knew the coil was leaking due to an isolation and pressure test the other issue with goodman-janitrol, trane, lennox and carrier is that they use a lot of proprietary parts meaning basically that you will have to go through one of their dealers to get replacement parts. this is why i personally recommend , service, sell and install "Comfortmaker" a member of the Icp family they make Heil, arcoaire, comfortmaker, tempstar, kenmore they are all the same furnace , just different names and use readily available honeywell controls where do you live? if you live in central illinois, perhaps you would entertain a bid from me? stay away from Goodman, just my 2 cents i am under the impression that because they are located in houston that they may be using untrained south of the border labor to keep cost’s down and subseqeuntly lessening the quality good luck rich – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. Janitrol is the Yugo (or maybe Kia) of heating. Very low priced and I wouldn’t say overly reliable either. Some swear by them but most swear at them. I don’t think Carrier is that reliable either, trouble with the control boards they make themselves. I don’t see enough Lennox anymore to know how they are doing but they use the White-Rodgers Intellignition boards which are reliable so should see little problems. I would certainly get at least 1 more bid. — HVAC Advice, Pictures, Links… http://www.geocities.com/~johnmills http://www.appelheat.com alt.hvac Charter, FAQ, Links… http://home.att.net/~alt.hvac/
Response:
I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
All of us installers have our favourites and dislikes of products. Since the price of fuel can only go up, try to get a high efficiency model in the 90+% range. You’ll want a furnace that parts are easy to get, fast and locally. If your contractor will stand behind you on service at 3 in the cold morning, then go with him. Brand names are more money as they have to advertise. The furnaces are pretty similar. Dave
|I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel |cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace |the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. | |The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox |and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. |He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know |if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the |others. | |I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have |replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to |figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is |Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night.
Response:
Snip he is pulling a fast one
Any equipment is only as good as the installation. Goodmans rep is below that of the other two. Perhaps they stopped selling to him, rather than he stopped buying from them…. — BBB Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
Response:
The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore.
Maybe his profit margin is higher on Janitrol.
Response:
All of us installers have our favourites and dislikes of products. Since the price of fuel can only go up, try to get a high efficiency model in the 90+% range. You’ll want a furnace that parts are easy to get, fast and locally. If your contractor will stand behind you on service at 3 in the cold morning, then go with him. Brand names are more money as they have to advertise. The furnaces are pretty similar.
Good points. In regard to the east to get parts, unless to live in a large metro area I would stay away from Lennox. There do things a "little different" so that, for example, parts that a generic in most systems have to be ordered from Lennox. In my case, the installer for his own reasons decided to stop handling Lennox products. Lennox cut him off and I have been waiting for a new Lennox motor for the air handler for over a YEAR. (The old one was made to work by borrowing an end plate from the bone yard.) Obviously, if it came down to no heat we would rewire or do whatever it took to use a non Lennox part BUT… IOW: Stay away from LENNOX!
Response:
The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others.
Janitrol is the Yugo (or maybe Kia) of heating. Very low priced and I wouldn’t say overly reliable either. Some swear by them but most swear at them. I don’t think Carrier is that reliable either, trouble with the control boards they make themselves. I don’t see enough Lennox anymore to know how they are doing but they use the White-Rodgers Intellignition boards which are reliable so should see little problems. I would certainly get at least 1 more bid. — HVAC Advice, Pictures, Links… http://www.geocities.com/~johnmills http://www.appelheat.com alt.hvac Charter, FAQ, Links… http://home.att.net/~alt.hvac/
Response:
I have been looking at Goodman (Janitrol by another name), and it seems that no one agrees. Anyone you talk to seems to say that their product is the best. Sounds good, but I haven’t had the Nissan people recommend a Toyota to me either. Does proper installation and maintenance make a difference? Some say yes, some say no. There is a consumer reports article referenced in the 2001 buying guide, but my magazines are in storage along with all my stuff. However, you may be able to get a reprint from CR.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. Janitrol is the Yugo (or maybe Kia) of heating. Very low priced and I wouldn’t say overly reliable either. Some swear by them but most swear at them. I don’t think Carrier is that reliable either, trouble with the control boards they make themselves. I don’t see enough Lennox anymore to know how they are doing but they use the White-Rodgers Intellignition boards which are reliable so should see little problems. I would certainly get at least 1 more bid. — HVAC Advice, Pictures, Links… http://www.geocities.com/~johnmills http://www.appelheat.com alt.hvac Charter, FAQ, Links… http://home.att.net/~alt.hvac/
Response:
The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol
I have a Lennox A/C installed 6 yrs ago never broke down once for me ,its rigged up to a 28 yr old G.E furnace now known as the Trane. company.Just try not to buy anything with any bells and whistles,just the basic 80 percent. "When sparks fly,robots die "
Response:
The price seems too high to me. My furnace went out five years ago when the house was covered by a warranty and it was replaced with a 100k (I think) furnace. Since the house warranty was up for renewal, I asked the installer how much it would have cost me, he indicated about $600 to $700. That has been about five years and I am sure there are any number of variables, but $2k seems high for a drop-in replacement. I have no complaints about the furnace – it works and it is quieter than the original. On the other hand, I would suggest you price a new blower and weigh the benefits of replacing the entire furnace. If it is more than a simple drop-in replacement, get several bids and ask them lots of questions about what they will do and get it all in writing. Walter Barnett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
That price seems a bit high to me. Two years ago at my previous house I had an old oil furnace and tank removed and a Carrier furnace installed for about $1350. I guess if you have a big house it could be more money, but My house was a 4 bedroom home. I would get a couple of estimates, before you decide.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have a 50 year old house with the same furnace that the squirrel cage blower seized it’s bearings. I figured I might as well replace the furnace now as it was something I planned to do anyway. The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
I live in Canada, and recently choose a Lennox. I’m quite happy with it, but Trane’s are also just as reliable. Have no idea about Janitrol. I would personally stay away from the high efficiency models. They can be troublesome and expensive to maintain. I have a few friends with them, and they curse their units to no end. Bruce – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – … The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. I don’t have any background in this and non of my neighbors have replaced their furnace in the last 15 years so any help in trying to figure out a brand of furnace to buy would be appreciated. This is Wisconsin and it gets mighty cold at night. Thanks
Response:
goodman is janitrol. years ago janitrol was a good product, then Mr ron goodman bought janitrol , and now you can buy a janitrol , or a goodman both made by the same company in houston texas, my experience with goodman or the "new" janitrol has not been good, the goodman gmp series furnaces are noisy and problematic and i cant begin to recall how many of their condensers i have had to recharge repeatedly because the coils had microscopic leaks which i could not find,but the company would not replace the coils because i couldnt find the leaks, although i knew the coil was leaking due to an isolation and pressure test the other issue with goodman-janitrol, trane, lennox and carrier is that they use a lot of proprietary parts meaning basically that you will have to go through one of their dealers to get replacement parts. this is why i personally recommend , service, sell and install "Comfortmaker" a member of the Icp family they make Heil, arcoaire, comfortmaker, tempstar, kenmore they are all the same furnace , just different names and use readily available honeywell controls where do you live? if you live in central illinois, perhaps you would entertain a bid from me? stay away from Goodman, just my 2 cents i am under the impression that because they are located in houston that they may be using untrained south of the border labor to keep cost’s down and subseqeuntly lessening the quality good luck rich – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The contractor has recommended Janitrol and has told me that Lennox and Carrier are so unreliable that they don’t represent them anymore. He gave me a quote of $2000 to for a 80k BTU Janitrol and I don’t know if he is pulling a fast one on the price and the reliability of the others. Janitrol is the Yugo (or maybe Kia) of heating. Very low priced and I wouldn’t say overly reliable either. Some swear by them but most swear at them. I don’t think Carrier is that reliable either, trouble with the control boards they make themselves. I don’t see enough Lennox anymore to know how they are doing but they use the White-Rodgers Intellignition boards which are reliable so should see little problems. I would certainly get at least 1 more bid. — HVAC Advice, Pictures, Links… http://www.geocities.com/~johnmills http://www.appelheat.com alt.hvac Charter, FAQ, Links… http://home.att.net/~alt.hvac/
Response:
Categories: Carrier Furnace Filter | 
No Comments »