Furnace Comparison Guide for New Installations

Furnace technology has advanced enormously in just the last decade. The furnaces of today are designed to be more energy efficient while reducing your carbon footprint. With greater energy efficiency comes a reduction in energy bills, and with how much you use your furnace during our cold, bitter winters, these are all benefits that homeowners are happy to reap! 

So what do you need to take into consideration when shopping for a new furnace? Some key things to consider are its fuel type, AFUE rating, and blower speed. Let’s take a look at these in depth.

Which factors should you compare for a new furnace installation?

• Efficiency (AFUE Rating): Choose furnaces with at least 90% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) to reduce energy bills and qualify for rebates.
• Furnace Type (Gas, Electric, or Oil): Select the proper type based on your existing system and local fuel availability, for example, gas for lines already installed.
• Sizing & Capacity: Ensure the furnace is correctly sized for your home’s square footage and heat loss to optimize comfort and avoid frequent cycling.
• Two‑Stage vs. Modulating Operation: Two‑stage or modulating furnaces offer quieter operation, better temperature control, and higher efficiency.
• Warranty & Quality of Components: Check warranty details for components like heat exchangers and blowers; longer warranties often indicate more reliable systems.

Fuel Type

Depending on what fuel sources are available in your area, most homeowners need to decide between a gas or electric furnace. If your home is hooked up to a gas line, the best type of furnace would be a gas furnace that provides efficient, inexpensive heat year–round.  If you’re unsure, consider whether a boiler or furnace is right for your Pittsburgh home.

If you don’t have a gas hookup, electric furnaces can be expensive to operate due to the cost of electricity. However, there are some very efficient electric furnaces on the market for those seeking to reduce their power intake. That brings us to AFUE ratings.

AFUE Ratings

In terms of efficiency, furnaces are measured by their AFUE rating. This rating is designed to describe how much fuel the furnace utilizes to produce heat. Today’s furnaces all have AFUE ratings of 80% or higher which in a nutshell, means they utilize at least 80% of the fuel they consume to produce heat. For a deeper understanding, learn why AFUE ratings matter when installing a new furnace.

Some gas furnaces are capable of maintaining AFUE ratings of higher than 96%, using almost every drop of fuel they consume to produce heat. Keep in mind that the higher the AFUE rating, the more expensive the furnace will cost to purchase upfront. However, you’ll enjoy much lower utility bills for the entire life of the furnace. That could be 15 years so long as you have it maintained regularly.

Operating Speeds

Variable speed furnaces are an innovative “new” furnace feature that you might not be aware of. These can make a huge difference in your energy use. Options include:

• Single-stage furnaces are the most basic type of furnace with a single-stage (single-speed) motor. They operate at 100% capacity whenever they’re running.
• Two-stage furnaces have three settings, Off, Low, and High. On the Low setting, they run at 60-65% capacity and on High, they run at 100% capacity. They can automatically figure out when to adjust their settings and can shift into High” when the thermostat target isn’t reached within a certain amount of time. 
• Variable speed furnaces are also known as modulating furnaces because of their exceptional ability to modulate the temperature of your home. Quieter in operation than single-stage furnaces, they operate the blower motor at multiple speeds in response to the fluctuating temperatures in your home. Even the smallest increment can really help maximize efficiency. To ensure proper installation, explore how to check if your HVAC system is the right size. A variable speed uses about 2/3 less energy than a single stage furnace and most homeowners will see a return on their investment within 4-5 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What types of furnaces are available for new installations?
Answer: Homeowners can choose from natural gas, propane, oil, or electric furnaces. Modern gas units are most common and often offer high efficiency. Electric furnaces have lower upfront costs and fewer repairs, while oil and propane are ideal in areas without gas infrastructure.

Question: What is AFUE and why is it important when choosing a furnace?
Answer: AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) measures how efficiently a furnace converts fuel into heat. Higher ratings, typically over 90%, mean less waste and lower energy bills. High-efficiency models like condensing furnaces can reach up to 98% AFUE.

Question: How do single-stage, two-stage, and modulating furnaces differ?
Answer: A single-stage furnace runs at full power or off, while two-stage units offer high or low output. Modulating or variable-speed furnaces adjust heat output continuously, providing superior comfort, quieter operation, and energy savings of up to 30–40%.

Question: What features should I look for in a new furnace installation?
Answer: Prioritize a model with high AFUE, a variable-speed blower for quieter, efficient performance, and proper sizing for your home. These features maximize comfort and energy savings over the long term.

Question: When is it worth investing in a high-efficiency condensing furnace?
Answer: If you want to significantly lower fuel use and utility costs, a condensing furnace (90–98% AFUE) is worth the extra investment, savings often recover the cost in 4–5 years, especially with rising energy prices.

Call the friendly staff at Boehmer Heating & Cooling for exceptional customer service in Pittsburgh, PA! Schedule your furnace installation with our team today.