Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace Review

This review includes models 58CVA and 58CVX Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnaces

The Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace offers efficiencies up to 80% AFUE as claimed by Carrier in the Carrier literature for the Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace. This very close to the minimum efficiency rating that HVAC manufacturers have to meet according to DOE requirements for HVAC manufacturers. In other words, 80%  heat this gas furnaces makes will end up in the home while the 20% will end up vented to the outside through the flue. This is if ideal conditions are met and the gas furnace is installed correctly. This make the Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace an economy gas furnace for people who are budget shopping for a furnace that will not cost a lot for purchase or installation. In the long run they will lose money in gas bills versus spending a little more money now for a higher efficiency gas furnace that will eventually pay for itself over time in gas utility savings.

Features of the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace as listed by Carrier in their literature include:

• 5 year parts warranty and a 20 year warranty on the heat exchanger. This is typical for economical gas furnaces produced by other manufacturers.


• ComfortHeat^TM technology - this feature according to Carrier prevents temperature swings by predicting temperatures. Most HVAC manufacturers have a similar feature and many thermostats do the same by using anticipators


• IdealHumidity^TM is another feature listed by Carrier for the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace. This is definitely a good feature and requires a variable speed blower motor for the summer and humidifier for the winter. Carrier does not mention that this model comes with a humidifier so make sure you ask if a humidifier comes with the furnace. Humidifiers will save you money in the winter. See the High Performance HVAC humidifiers page for more information about this.


• ComfortFan^TM technology - there is no information available form the Carrier literature about this feature.


• Carrier lists that the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace is quiet which is important to many people. Carrier does not list decibel levels in their literature except to make the claim that the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace uses technology that makes it quiet.


• Direct Ignition which is a typical feature for many gas furnace manufacturers and is included with the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace


• High efficiency air filtration cabinet is listed as another feature for the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace. Questions about this feature: Does this mean you get an electronic air cleaner with this furnace or does this mean you have to buy expensive replacement filters periodically?


• Infinity communications with the Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace. This is a feature that allows detailed control of the gas furnace including 70 diagnostic parameters via a laptop or PDA device with special Infinity software.

The Carrier Infinity^TM 80 Gas Furnace is a good economical gas furnace for those on a bidget however I encourage people to reconsider higher efficiency models of gas furnaces when looking at replacing their gas furnaces simply because the price of fuels for everything is constantly rising. By installing a higher efficient gas furnace the operating costs in the future will be lower. Because of the lower operating cost the payback for the extra installation costs for a higher efficiency gas furnace will be sooner rather than later. I would by this gas furnace only if I absolutely could not afford a higher efficient model gas furnace and I would buy it knowing when gas prices got higher it would be better for me to replace it with a higher efficient gas furnace or boiler within the next ten years.