Contents
A Complete Furnace Buying Guide + The Best Furnace Brands in Canada
One of the biggest contributors to comfort in your home is the temperature inside. Whether too hot or too cold, if the ambient temperature is outside of that comfortable range, inside will not feel like home. Sweaters can only do so much. In Canada, with winter on the back of everybody’s minds year-round, making sure you have a furnace that is works right is important.
There are so many HVAC companies that sell furnaces, and among them, so many different models and sizes that it may be overwhelming to shop for a new furnace if the old one starts rattling. Instead of trying to pick individual furnaces, we decided to check out each brand available, figuring out what people like about each brand, their strengths, and their weaknesses, so you can call the right HVAC company that carries the right brand of furnace for you.
Looking for a new thermostat to pair with your new furnace? We also got you covered here.
The ins and outs of your furnace
The basic premise of how a furnace works involves a heating component heating the air, and a blower component moving that hot air into the house and moving cold air out of the house.
For gas furnaces, it starts with the fuel source, whether that is natural gas or propane, which ignites in the burner, and heats a metal component simply called the heat exchanger. Similarly, electric furnaces work similarly, with electricity powering heating elements which warm the heat exchanger.
Then, the heat exchanger warms up air in the system, where the furnace blower then moves the heated hair into the ducts which distributes the heat around your home. While warm air is being distributed, cold air is drawn into the return ducts which bring that air back to the heat exchanger.
One last important part of your furnace system, and perhaps the one that you might be most familiar with yourself, is your furnace filter. The filter stops the furnace system from sucking up the household detritus like hair and dust, which can damage your furnace and reduce the air quality in your home. Your furnace filters are the component of the furnace that needs most replacing, as once clogged your furnace will need to work harder to move hot air around your home.
Your furnace is not a complex system, but it is extensive since it runs throughout your home, and one you need to depend on when the winter gets colder.
What to look for in a furnace
Controls: Furnaces have primarily been controlled by thermostat, but some modern furnaces are compatible with smart thermostats, which can be controlled or monitored remotely by smartphone or tablet, programmed to change temperature throughout the day, and send reports or system diagnostics as needed.
Efficiency: Efficiency for furnaces is measured in AFUE, which is a percentage of the heat generated out of the amount of fuel used. Other factors involved in the efficiency of a furnace include the type of furnace, since two-stage and modulating furnaces allow for more control and using less fuel when you need to, instead of the “all-or-none” functionality of a single stage furnace. Efficiency is a big factor as it not only reduces the amount of natural gas you will burn through, making your home more environmentally friendly, but also can save you money in the long run.
Initial Price: Balancing the efficiency and features of your furnace against its initial cost is an important step. Since furnaces can cost thousands of dollars, you may be tempted into going down the cheaper route, but paying more for a more efficient, technological furnace may pay off in the long run.
Size: One of the biggest factors that will determine how well a specific furnace will work in your home is how well it is “sized,” in relation to the size of your home. Having a furnace unit that has a heating output that exceeds or does not meet the requirement of your home can cause problems and reduce the lifespan of your furnace. If undersized, your furnace will struggle to heat your entire home, and could push the furnace too far. Likewise, a furnace that is too powerful for your home might wear out from all the starting up and shutting down.
Warranty: Furnaces are designed to have a long lifespan, around 15 years or potentially longer. Considering the warranty of a furnace might be a good idea, since if anything goes wrong, repairs might be expensive if otherwise uncovered by a warranty. Many furnaces will primarily include proprietary components, meaning that you cannot find 3rd party components to replace it if it breaks or wears down. Repairs can be highly expensive because of this, so opting for a unit with a strong warranty is a great idea.
Our methodology
When shopping for a furnace, you are also likely shopping for a HVAC company to help with the process. While said company will help you throughout the process, knowing what you are looking for and having some background with different furnaces will be helpful, so you know what you are looking for.
In our research, we researched some of the most popular furnaces in Canada, and looked into the product lines of each, looking at what people might look for in a furnace, things people might look for when shopping for a furnace includes consistent and quiet performance, energy efficiency, and comprehensive warranty. Other features, including built-in control panels and smart functionality, are nice features that some people may be willing to spend more on but are not necessary. The most important thing by far is getting a furnace with an appropriate size, rated to provide the required amount of BTU’s your home needs.
Canada’s best furnace brands
Goodman
Features
Goodman is a reputable American brand, specializing in home furnaces and air conditioning. Goodman offers a wide range of gas furnace options, including many highly efficient models, with prices that are generally in the budget range for furnaces.
Goodman’s furnaces are dependable, efficient, and American made throughout their product line. Goodman’s furnaces feature heavy-duty tubular heat exchangers made from either aluminized-steel or stainless-steel, with some heat models feature secondary heat exchangers for additional heat. Goodman’s range of furnaces have a range of blower components, from quiet, efficient variable speed blowers to single-speed. Gas valves range from self-calibrating modulating valves to single stage gas valves. Across the product line, the more advanced features tend to be grouped together, and the simpler features also tend to be grouped together. Goodman’s furnaces all have an AFUE of 80% plus, with many above 92% AFUE, meaning there is a wide selection of highly efficient furnaces.
Some of Goodman’s furnaces include ComfortBridge technology, that continuously monitors system performance, analyzes data, and minimizes your house’s energy usage, adjusting automatically, when necessary. ComfortBridge is designed to work seamlessly with a variety of single-stage thermostats and other HVAC control systems, while also having an integrated touch screen in the furnace itself.
Goodman units typically have strong warranties across the product line, with most units having limited 10-year unit replacement warranties, limited 10-year parts warranties, and a limited lifetime heat exchanger warranty.
KeepRite
Features
KeepRite is quality brand of furnace with a price range with options attractive to most Canadians. KeepRite has a wide selection of high-efficiency furnaces, with both gas and oil options available.
KeepRite features three lines of furnaces to choose from. KeepRite’s top-of-the-line Ion System Gas Furnaces include variable-speed blower motors, a range of different gas valve operations from single-stage to modulating, and efficiencies of upwards of 80% AFUE, with some as high as 98% AFUE. The Ion System include Ion System controls that can connect to your Wi-Fi for remote control and performance diagnostics. The EnergyStar certified QuietComfort Series is a midrange product line that offers a durable gas with strong efficiency ratings of 96% AFUE, two-stage gas valve and variable-speed blower make this series a strong furnace. The Performance series is a more budget-friendly, value line of KeepRite furnace with features that include single-stage operation, single-speed to multi-speed blowers and an efficiency rated at minimum 80% AFUE.
KeepRite offers a wide range of warranties that varies by model. The Ion series includes a limited 20-year warranty on the heat exchanger, and a 5-10 year limited No Hassle Replacement warranty, where KeepRite will provide a replacement unit if certain components fail due to defect. The QuietComfort series features a 10-year limited parts warranty, a 20-year limited heat exchanger warranty, and a 5-year No Hassle Replacement limited warranty period. Finally, the Performance series comes with a limited 10-year parts warranty, and a limited 20-year heat exchanger warranty.
For their selection of oil furnaces, KeepRite has offerings in both the QuietComfort and Performance series. These oil furnaces maintain an efficiency of 85% AFUE. The QuietComfort line features variable speed fans, as well as a quiet performance to ensure comfort in your home. The Performance line of Oil-fueled furnaces are entirely fixed speed, however. QuietComfort comes with Limited 10-year No Hassle Replacement warranty, limited 20-year heat exchanger warranty, and limited 10-year parts warranty. The Performance series comes with a limited 20-year heat exchanger warranty and a limited 10-year parts warranty.
American Standard & Trane
Features
These two companies are under the same parent company and have a similar product lines, with some models being identical between the companies. The American Standard is a name connected to kitchen and bathroom fixtures, but American Standard is known for HVAC equipment too (although since 2007 they have been made by different companies). In the eighties, Trane was bought by American Standard, and ever since, the two companies have been connected. Both American Standard and Trane are reputable companies with a solid selection of gas furnaces to choose from.
The current product lines for American Standard and Trane both include 90%+ and 80%+ AFUE furnaces with a wide selection of features and configurations. Between the two companies, a few models available in both American Standard and Trane product lines stand out. Among these include standout furnaces like the American Standard Platinum 95 or Trane XC95m; a variable stage heater that is ENERGY STAR certified and has an AFUE calculated at 97.3%, the whisper quiet S9V2-VS; which features a discreet Vortica II blower and an AFUE of 97%, and the best bang for your buck S9X1; a highly efficient furnace at 96% AFUE, with a more attractive price tag that will save you money in the long term.
Certain models like the Platinum 95/XC95m and the S9V2-VS have some impressive additional features. AccuLink or ComfortLink for American Standard and Trane respectively is a communicating technology, that connects to other key components like your thermostat for automatic configuration and calibration for improved performance every time it is in use. Also included on some models is Comfort-R, a handy dehumidifier, and a wide range of other features spread throughout their respective product lines.
Both company’s furnaces generally come with a limited lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger, and a limited 10-year warranty on internal functional parts, with the option to purchase an extended warranty.
Bryant
Features
Bryant is a company with over one hundred years of experience in heating and cooling, and is owned by Carrier, who also have over one hundred years of experience. You would imagine a company with this longevity knows what they are doing – and you would be right. Bryant has a wide selection of energy efficient, and Energy Star certified furnaces.
Bryant offers 3 lines of furnace: their top-of-the-line Evolution line, their mid-range, variable speed Preferred gas furnace line, and their more budget-friendly, fixed speed Legacy furnace line. The Evolution series is made up of quiet, highly efficient furnaces with efficiencies of upwards of 96.7%. With a modulating gas valve and a variable speed operation, these units give you the control to keep your house the temperature you need, while potentially reducing energy usage at the same time. The Preferred series includes a wide range of ultra-quiet, consistent furnaces, with strong humidity control and efficiency of upwards of 92%, although the majority have efficiency of 96% or higher. These furnaces are primarily single stage gas valve models (although there are two-stage gas valve options available) and feature variable speed blower motors. The legacy line is cheaper due to its single stage gas valve, and fixed speed motor, but these units still have a strong efficiency of at least 92% AFUE or higher.
Bryant has a range of features that are found on their furnaces. SmartEvap technology found on the Evolution and Preferred lines provide dehumidification, which combined with the Perfect Humidity dehumidifying feature found on the Evolution line makes controlling your home’s humidity easy. TrueSense is a feature offered on the Evolution line that notifies you when the filter needs to be changed. Finally, every Bryant unit includes QuietTech, which reduces the volume of the unit when in operation.
Across the different product lines, Bryant’s furnaces come with a limited lifetime heat exchanger warranty and a limited 10-year parts warranty.
Lennox
Features
Lennox is a company with a reputation of high quality, highly efficient furnaces. While it comes with a higher price tag, these premium furnaces are dependable for keeping you warm all winter long.
Lennox has a wide selection of gas and oil furnaces with Energy Star certifications and efficiencies above 80% AFUE, with some as high as an astounding 99%. Lennox has so many different furnaces available, including models of all types of configurations including variable-speed blower motors, as well as gas-valves that range from single-stage to variable-stage. Lennox furnaces feature SilentComfort technology, as well as a fully insulated cabinet, for whisper quiet performance, up to 50% more quiet than comparable units. Lennox’s Power Saver motor improves the efficiency of their units by 33%.
With so many different products, there is bound to be variation on the warranties, but most models come with a 20-year to lifetime limited warranty on heat exchangers, and a 5-to-10-year limited warranty on certain parts inside.
Carrier
Features
Carrier has been a major player in heating and cooling since 1902 – when their founder, Willis H. Carrier invented the first modern electrical air conditioning unit. Carrier’s history of innovation is still alive in their current products, as they carry numerous furnace units with strong performance, quiet operation, and efficient energy use.
Carrier’s furnaces are separated into three distinct product lines: their higher-end Infinity system, the mid-range Performance series, and their standard Comfort series. Among these lines, there is likely a furnace unit suited for you.
The Infinity series are Energy Star certified, high efficiency furnaces with some premium features. The furnaces feature variable speed blowers and modulating gas valves, which combined with Carrier’s Greenspeed technology, which allows for precise control of the output by degrees of as small as 1%, via the system’s intelligent controls. This improves the efficiency of these units, achieving efficiency as high as 98.5% AFUE.
The Performance series include a single stage and two stage gas valves combined with variable speed motors with pre-set airflows add up to a strong yet efficient furnace that achieve and average efficiency of 96.5% AFUE.
The more budget-friendly Comfort series are single-stage furnaces with a single speed motor, installed to be fine-tuned to what your home requires. The Comfort series furnaces all feature efficiencies upwards of 80%, with some models featuring an AFUE of 96.5%. Each unit across Carrier’s product line feature quiet operation and humidity controls and are compatible with an accessory that allows for propane operation.
Carrier’s furnaces come with a respectable warranty, that includes a 10-year limited parts warranty and either a 20-year or lifetime limited heat exchanger warranty, granted you register your unit in the first 90 days.
Amana
Features
Amana is an American furnace company with many furnaces to choose from. Whatever you are looking for, whether that be efficiency, performance, quietness.
Amana features a wide range of gas furnaces, with efficiencies rated up to 80% and 90% and above – with many options above 96% AFUE. With too many models to talk about individually, Amana’s product line features many common features across many of the product, including stainless-steel tubular primary heat exchangers, efficient and quiet multi-speed motors, self-calibrating modulating gas valves, and a diagnostic control board which can connect to Amana’s CoolCloud app. ComfortBridge – the aforementioned control board installed into the furnaces – constantly monitors the performance of the furnaces, making automatic adjustments to minimize the energy use required, while improving the quietness of the unit as well.
Amana’s warranty features a Lifetime Unit replacement warranty, for the original homeowner, although this is predictably limited. Additionally, there is a 10-year limited warranty on functional parts.
Daikin
Features
Daikin is a long-standing Japanese HVAC global leader. While Daikin might be more renown for their air conditioners (since they are among highest selling air conditioning companies in the world), their furnaces are certainly noteworthy too.
Daikin has quite the extensive line of furnaces offered, with different permutations available of gas valve (modulating, two-stage, or single stage), blower motor (multi and variable speed), and extra features. The entire product line features stainless-steel tubular heat exchangers, for strong performance. Certain models are compatible with Daikin’s Premium Air Cleaner, which combine to filter your house’s air for better quality breathing. Some models also feature compatibility with Daikin’s smart thermostat called Daikin ONE+, which boasts full, two-way communication between the two systems. Every Daikin Furnace has an efficiency of 80% AFUE at minimum, with many units having efficiencies that push above 95% AFUE and are Energy Star certified, making Daikin a great choice if you are looking to make your house greener while saving some money at the same time.
Daikin’s furnaces come with a dependable warranty to have you covered when you need it most. Daikin offers a limited lifetime heat exchanger warranty, a limited 12-year limited lifetime warranty for parts, and between a 6- or 12-year replacement warranty for unit replacement if eligible.
Napoleon
Features
You might know Napoleon for their barbecues, but the company also is involved in the heating and cooling industry. With a streamlined lineup of energy efficient furnaces to choose from, going with Napoleon furnaces can be an easy pick.
Napoleon has five different main furnaces that they currently offer: the 9500 Series, 9600 Series, 9600Q Series, 9600E Series, and the 9700 Series. The 9500 Series is a reliable furnace with a single stage gas valve, and a quiet multi-speed blower, that bolsters a 95% AFUE.
The 9600 Series is a step above, that features a two-stage gas valve, and a quiet variable speed blower, with a solid 96% AFUE efficiency. The 9600Q and 9600E Series both feature similar specs to the 9600, but with a modular construction that features components that easily slide in and out easily.
The 9700 Series furnace features a two-stage gas valve, variable speed blowers, and UV-C technology that cleans the air of pathogens and viruses. The soft start / soft stop feature of the motor allows for one of the quietest operations of any furnaces available. With an impressive 97% AFUE, this is Napoleon’s best furnaces they offer, but is priced as such.
Napoleon’s line of furnaces features solid warranties, however, there are some inconsistencies between the warranties of different models. Typically, Napoleon’s furnaces feature a limited 10-year parts warranty, a limited 10- or 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger, but double check with your model to know the full details of the warranty.
Frequently asked questions
What are the furnace types?
Furnaces range in how they heat the home in their fuel source and the range of settings they provide.
Energy sources for your furnace fall into 4 different types. Natural gas is one of the most common sources and are highly efficient today. Propane is another common energy source. Oil furnaces are less efficient, but can be cheaper outright, but these furnaces are becoming outdated. Electric furnaces can be costlier, as it will add to your electric bill, but electric furnaces can be cheaper to buy and install and last longer too. This resource is a great place to learn about Canada’s more prominent heating options, and the pros and cons of natural gas and electricity specifically.
On top of that, many furnaces are separated by how they ignite the fuel source. The following explains the different terms that explain how a furnace works.
Single stage – The furnace has two modes: off, and full blast. This is the simplest type of furnace and is cheap but inefficient.
Two stage – The furnace features a high flame setting and a medium setting, for more control.
Modulating furnace – Instead of one or two settings, modulating furnaces have a spectrum of flame that they can produce, allowing you to finely adjust the amount of heat the furnace produces. These units can be the most expensive upfront but can be the most energy efficient.
What furnace size do I need?
Ultimately, getting an appropriately sized furnace is one of the most important factors in terms of how well a furnace will work for you. An undersized furnace will struggle to produce the amount of heat you require, burning a lot of fuel and burning out the furnace in the process. Inversely, an oversized heater will overheat your house, and might be strained as turning a furnace on or off again and again.
While you can easily calculate an estimate based on the square footage of your home and the climate that you live in, this estimate should not be used for the final decision about your furnace. The furnace you will need will roughly produce between 30-60 BTU (British Thermal Units) per square foot of space, with the range of BTU based on the climate of the area you live, but other factors like insulation or how much vertical space you have will also play a factor.
What is a high-efficiency furnace?
Some of the cheaper furnaces are single stage have two options: full power, or off. These furnaces are ultimately inefficient, as the full power setting can burn a lot of fuel. High efficiency furnaces either have the ability to adjust the amount of heat generated or have a more energy efficient way of transferring fuel to heat. Almost all furnaces today will have an efficiency above 80% AFUE, but if you want a high-efficiency furnace, look for furnaces with an efficiency above 90-95% AFUE.
How is furnace energy efficiency measured?
Furnace efficiency is measured in a unit called AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. AFUE measures the number of units of fuel are converted to heating output.
How long do furnaces last?
Typically, a furnace can last you 15 years plus, although this can vary depending on the type of fuel the furnace uses. After 15 years, it is recommended you start looking into replacing these furnaces. There are warning signs you can look for that will tell you when you need to start looking for a new furnace.
Some of these signs include noises include rattling, popping, humming, screeching, clicking and booming. Other signs include temperature fluctuations and excess dust or soot around furnace registers and the house in general.
Should I replace or repair my old furnace?
It depends on a few factors, primarily the age and condition of your furnace. If your furnace is approaching that 15-year age, and has any of the above symptoms, it may be time to replace your furnace. Additionally, if the problem is reoccurring, or the repairs are costly, it may be worth considering replacing the furnace instead.
What’s the average furnace price in Canada?
You can realistically expect to pay between $2500 and $6000 on a furnace, while the lower range will most likely include less technology and a lower efficiency.
Is a professional furnace installation worth it?
In Canada, a properly certified technician is required by law to install, alter, or replace a furnace. Professionals will have the expertise and certification to install the furnace correctly, which is important when working with something that can be as potentially dangerous as a gas leak can be. Going with a professional also means that you will have professional guidance and support through the process, which can be beneficial when picking a furnace that will suit your living space perfectly.
What’s a furnace ignitor?
The furnace ignitor is a key component to furnaces, which ignites the gas or fuel source that powers the heater, which heats the air.
What’s a good furnace warranty coverage?
Most furnaces will have some type of warranty, with different lengths of coverage, and different things that the coverage can cover. Many warranties will be limited, meaning they last for the length of the warranty for the original, registered homeowner only. The most common components covered by warranty include the heat exchanger, and other parts inside, however some warranties will cover the full unit if a defect prevents it from working properly. The length of warranties varies, from as little as 1-year, to up to 20-years with some models, but a 10-year warranty is a good length and last most of the expected lifespan of a furnace.
How often to change a furnace filter?
How often you need to change a furnace filter is dependant on the type or thickness of furnace filters that are in use. The timeframe that a filter will last for before it needs replacing is indicated in the product information that is included. Otherwise, filter thickness, filter efficiency (measured in MERV), and other factors like amount of family members (including those who walk on 4 legs) might impact how often you might need to change a furnace. The following is a guideline of when you need to start thinking of changing your furnace filter:
1-2 inch – every 3 months max.
3-4 inch – every 9 months max.
5-6 inch – every 12 months max.
How to clean furnace ducts?
To clean furnace ducts, you will likely need a vacuum that is stronger than what you can get from your standard household vacuum, and a long reach. Additionally, you will need a brush or something to remove dust that could build-up inside the furnace ducts.
Remove the screws from your air duct covers, and place paper towels on the inside of the supply vent covers (which blows air out from the furnace) and place the covers back on, so dust does not spew from out of them. Set the fan on via your thermostat, and then loosen any dust in the ducts using a tool like a brush, knocking off any deposits of dusts that might be stuck inside.
Then, you can start to vacuum the interior of the supply registers, removing the dust that has inevitably built-up. You can then use a damp microfibre cloth or other type of cloth to wipe the interior clean. Then, you can do this with the return registers too. Finally, shut off the fan and furnace, before removing the panels of the furnace, where you can replace the furnace filter and vacuum any extra dust that has built up in the blower compartment.
When should I turn off my furnace?
Many appliances need to be turned off when not in use. While you will certainly get more mileage out of your furnace during the autumn and winter months, during the summer months you might not need your furnace as much. But should you turn off your furnace during the summer months?
The answer is no, but don’t be afraid to turn it down instead.
See, furnaces will only turn on when needed, so only when your thermostat determines the temperature in your house dips below its threshold will the thermostat turn on. Since this process is automatic, there is not going to be too many instances where your furnace will be burning money, even during summer months.
Should I turn off my furnace in spring?
Turning off your furnace may seem like an easy way to save money when the weather gets warmer, but it is not necessarily the best move for you to make.
If you are considering shutting off your furnace at some point during the year, you need to consider if any of your utilities are connected to your furnace. Some water heaters and AC unit are connected to your furnace, and so turning off your furnace come springtime might mean sacrificing comfort or the effectiveness of the appliances in your home.
If your furnace assists with either of these two functions in your home, you should probably not turn off your furnace during the warmer months.
The energy-saving advantages of a furnace inspection
Furnace inspection lets you get the most out of your furnace, so if it’s been a while since your last inspection, here are a few reasons why you should book a furnace inspection.
1. A well-maintained furnace is a furnace with maximized efficiency. Even simple acts like changing out old filters can help you use less energy and save more money.
2. A furnace inspection can identify potential malfunctions or issues and repair them before they become problems down the road.
3. Elongate the lifespan of the furnace by completing necessary maintenance and cleaning.
4. Ensure safe and clean air quality in your home.
5. Some companies might have conditions assuring that you maintained your furnace to maintain the warranty of the furnace. It is better to be safe than sorry.
