Archives for June 2017

This Lennox furnace buyers guide is designed to inform our readers about one of the industry’s best-selling brands. We’ve included the good and the bad of Lennox furnaces plus the best models in each class. This Lennox furnaces review can be used to compare this brand with other brands we’ve reviewed including Amana, Trane, and Goodman.

In 1895, Dave Lennox designed and manufactured the industry’s first riveted-steel furnace. In 1935, Lennox introduced forced-air heating systems. This history of innovation continued, and so did expansion as Lennox International developed a global reach. A public company since 1999, Lennox owns several other HVAC brands such as Armstrong Air and Ducane. They all have different product lineups.

Lennox Furnaces Brand Overview

The current catalog of 10 Lennox furnaces are divided into three series in basic/better/best quality:

• Best – Dave Lennox Signature Collection: 2 models;
• Better – Lennox Elite Series: 5 models;
• Basic – Lennox Merit Series: 3 models.

Another way to look at the lineup is by dividing Lennox furnace models by efficiency and performance:

• Efficiency: 80% AFUE furnaces and 90%-plus AFUE furnaces;
• Performance: 5 single-stage furnaces from the Merit and Elite Series; 3 two-stage furnaces in the Elite Series; 2 variable-capacity furnaces in the Signature Series.

Lennox Furnaces Technical Specifications

Here’s a closer look at what the various Lennox furnace models offer:

• The four Lennox 80% AFUE furnaces have single heat exchangers. So they transfer an inefficient 80% of the heat they create into your home’s ductwork;
• Lennox single-stage 80% furnaces are affordable. But they run on full capacity and might heat past the thermostat setpoint;
• Lennox mid-price and high-price two-stage models run on low capacity most of the time for more balanced heating;
• The top pick among the 80% furnaces is the Signature Collection Lennox SL280V with a two-stage gas valve;
• Lennox 90% and higher efficiency furnaces are found in all series. They have an efficiency as high as 98.7% in the top-pick Signature Collection SLP98V;
• The 90%-plus furnaces include single-stage, two-stage and the variable-capacity (with variable-speed blower) SLP98V. This one modulates in 1% increments up and down to meet the exact heating needs in the home;
• The SLP98V, EL296V, EL296E and EL195E have secondary heat exchangers. They allow these Lennox furnaces to utilize a higher percentage of the heat created for heating your home;
• Most Lennox furnace models have units in a range from about 50,000 BTU to about 140,000 BTU capacity.

Pros and Cons of Lennox Furnaces

Knowing Lennox furnace advantages and disadvantages will assist you in comparing Lennox with other leading brands as you consider options.

Lennox Furnace PROs:

• Because Lennox makes such a wide range of furnaces, you’re able to put together the right combination of efficiency and performance;
• Lennox is typically among the top 10 brands in terms of customer satisfaction and mechanical reliability;
• Lennox is a national brand. So finding a certified Lennox dealer and repair technician isn’t a problem;
• The SLP98V and Lennox SunSource solar is a great combination for homeowners who want the greenest heating possible;
• Choosing a 90%-plus Lennox furnace might cut energy use by 20% to 30% when replacing an old gas furnace;
• Furnaces are available in upflow, downflow and horizontal configurations;
• Since Lennox makes furnaces, ACs, heat pumps, whole-house dehumidifiers, ventilation products and thermostat/controls, it’s possible to install an entire HVAC system designed to work together;
• Like all brands’ Energy Star furnaces, those made by Lennox might be eligible for rebates and credits from your utility company;
• While Lennox makes thermostats, most Lennox furnaces can be controlled by other brands including White-Rodgers thermostats;
• Lennox makes dual fuel heat pumps that can be installed with a gas furnace for the most efficient split-system heating option;
• Also, Lennox makes most of its own replacement parts, so their quality is assured.

Lennox Furnace CONs

• Lennox HVAC systems including furnaces are among the most expensive on the market;
• While using proprietary replacement parts ensures quality, the parts cost significantly more than standard replacement parts. So repairs are pricier;
• A second disadvantage of the proprietary parts issue is that Lennox sometimes has supply chain problems that make parts hard to get, slowing repairs by days or weeks;
• Lennox warranties are not as good across the entire product line, especially just 5 years on parts in the Elite and Merit Series, as warranties from competitors like Amana, Heil, Maytag and Goodman.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Lennox Furnace

Are you buying based on climate or your commitment to the environment? If the former, then the colder your climate is, the more cost-effective a 90%-plus furnace is. The extra cost over an 80% furnace will recoup through lower energy bills in 3-10 years depending on your climate and the specific furnace you choose. It’s also true that the longer you plan to stay in your home, the more sense it makes to buy a highly efficient furnace. An efficient furnace is a good selling point if you do put your home on the market.

If the environment is at the top of your criteria for choosing a gas furnace, then the solution is to buy one of the Lennox furnaces with 95% or higher efficiency. The Elite Series EL195E and Merit Series ML195 are affordable single-stage, 95% AFUE models; the two-stage EL296V at 96% AFUE and the variable-capacity SLV98P at 98.7% AFUE offer better performance at a higher cost.

The three performance levels – single-stage, two-stage and variable-capacity – give you cost vs. performance options at all efficiency levels. Do you want to pay more for enhanced indoor comfort? Would you prefer to pay less and put up with minor temperature fluctuations and a bit more humidity in summer? Either way, there are Lennox furnaces to suit your style.

Is a Lennox Furnace Right for You?

If you’re willing to pay a premium for better quality and reliability, with the chance of having your furnace down for a week or more should it fail during a winter cold snap, then consider Lennox. If you want a comparable brand with quicker repairs, Amana, Trane, Carrier and Bryant are a few to look at too.

Thanks for reading our Lennox Furnaces review guide. If it’s been helpful, perhaps your friends and followers would appreciate a link to it, so they can check out this furnace brand too. And if you have comments or questions, please share them here!

This Amana furnace buyers guide is a comprehensive review you can use to compare this brand with the other furnace lines we’ve reviewed including Goodman, Trane, and Rheem.

Started in 1934 in Amana, Iowa by George Foerstner to manufacture beverage coolers, Amana quickly became one of America’s most innovative companies. After decades as an independent producer of HVAC equipment, appliances and other household goods, Amana was purchased by the Goodman Company in 1997. This was to change Goodman’s reputation as a manufacturer of cheap, unreliable goods. Then, in 2014, HVAC giant Daikin purchased Goodman and its Amana brand. Today, Amana and Goodman product lineups are very similar, as these product pages for Amana and Goodman show. The chief difference is that top Amana furnaces come with premium parts.

Amana Furnace Brand Overview

HVAC professionals generally agree that Amana is among the top ten furnace brands for quality and dependability. Like the catalogs of all the best gas furnace brands, Amana furnaces can be categorized with two approaches:

• Efficiency: 80% AFUE furnaces and 90%-plus AFUE furnaces;
• Performance: Single-stage, two-stage and modulating/variable-capacity furnaces.

Note: AFUE is the annualized fuel utilization efficiency rating. This means the percentage of heat that the burner creates and passes through into the home’s ductwork. The broad spectrum of furnace options allows you to choose the right model for cost-effective heating in your climate and/or the level of comfort control you expect.

Amana Furnace Technical Specifications

Let’s dig deeper into the Amana furnace product lineup:

• The seven Amana 80% AFUE gas furnaces waste 20% of the heat created. But this is because they have a single heat exchanger;
• These 80% furnaces are available in single-stage and two-stage models. The top pick is the two-stage Amana AMVC8/ADVC8 with a multispeed blower fan;
• Single-stage furnaces run at full capacity whenever heating. So they are loud and have the tendency to heat past the thermostat set point;
• Two-stage models like top pick AMVC96 run on low capacity most of the time to heat more quietly with evener temperatures. But they can run at 100% capacity when you want a quick rise in temperatures;
• The eight Amana furnace models with 90% AFUE efficiency and higher, including top pick AMVM97, have a secondary heat exchanger. This one transfers more heat out of the combustion gases as they are vented;
• In addition to single-stage and two-stage models, Amana makes high-efficiency furnaces with modulating gas valves. These vary the heat created in increments of about 1%. This is to deliver precise and efficient heating;
• Blower options include multi-speed fans and variable-speed fans. The fans sync with the gas valve to improve heating comfort;
• Amana furnaces are made in a wide range of capacity models. They range from about 40,000 Btu/hour to about 140,000 Btu/hour;
• Amana furnace models are available in upflow/horizontal and downflow/horizontal configuration to meet your installation requirements.

Pros and Cons of Amana Furnaces

These Amana furnace advantages and disadvantages can be compared with those from the other brands we’ve reviewed. Meanwhile, you can consider the best choice for your home or light-commercial setting.

Amana Furnace PROs:

• Amana consistently ranks among the top furnace lines for reliability in a group that includes American Standard, Trane, Carrier, Bryant, Lennox, Rheem and Ruud;
• The tubular stainless steel primary heat exchanger on the AMVM97, ACVM97, AMVC96, AMEH8 and other top models is known for its durability;
• Continuous fan mode on most models offers better air circulation and filtration and increased de-humidification when the system is in air conditioning mode;
• The ComfortNet Communications system and thermostat available with top Amana HVAC systems is designed to coordinate components to deliver the most comfortable and efficient heating and cooling;
• The 16 Amana furnace models give you good options for your climate, budget and heating needs;
• Amana makes complete HVAC systems including furnaces, heat pumps, ACs and thermostats;
• Any brand of thermostat can be used to control an Amana furnace;
• The Amana warranty on top models is one of the best in the industry. It has a heat exchanger coverage that provides for an entire new furnace if the heat exchanger fails and 10-year general parts coverage;
• Amana’s five Energy Star certified gas furnaces qualify homeowners for utility credits and/or rebates from many energy providers;
• Amana is a national brand. So, installation, maintenance and repair are available across the US. Moreover, you can easily obtain repair parts;
• While using a certified Amana repair technician ensures proper maintenance and repair, any HVAC technician can repair Amana furnace models;
• Registering an Amana furnace online to ensure full warranty coverage takes just a few minutes.

Amana Furnace CONs:

• You must register your furnace with Amana within 60 days to get full warranty coverage;
• The ComfortNet Communications system costs an extra $400+;
• Most Amana furnaces are sold through the brand’s network of dealers with costs that include installation. So comparing prices without getting in-home written estimates is difficult;
• The most affordable Amana furnace models have a lifetime heat exchanger replacement warranty. But it doesn’t cover labor costs, which can be as much as a new furnace.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing an Amana Furnace

Amana is a top-tier brand in terms of quality and durability, and its prices are higher than bargain brands. If long-term durability is important, an Amana furnace is a good choice. For lower costs for a short-term furnace, consider brands like Goodman, Payne, and Aire-Flo.

Your climate is a consideration for cost-effective equipment and heating. In short, the colder your climate is, the more it makes sense to spend the extra money on an efficient furnace. So the additional cost will recoup through lower energy bills in three to ten years, depending on your climate and the furnace. If your goal is green heating, then choosing the most efficient furnace you can afford makes sense in a cold climate. But in a warm climate, a heat pump is a more efficient way to heat than a furnace.

Make sure your furnace contractor properly sizes your furnace. If your home’s insulation now requires more or if you installed more efficient windows since you’ve purchased the last furnace, your new furnace should be a smaller unit because your home doesn’t require as much heat.

Final Thoughts on Amana Furnaces

To ensure the best pricing for your new furnace, get estimates in writing  from several HVAC companies that understand they are competing for the sale. The quality of the installation is so important. Therefore, also check the level of training and experience the installers have before hiring a company.

Have you owned an Amana furnace? If so, do you recommend this brand? Feel free to share your comments for the benefit of other readers. And if this Amana furnace review guide has been helpful, perhaps your friends and followers on social media would appreciate it too.

Image: depositphotos.com.