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Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews Armstrong offers a full line of gas furnaces from 80% AFUE all the way up to 97% AFUE. They also offer a high-efficiency line of gas furnaces models. Their furnace uses staging to increase efficiency and staging range from 75% for low-fire to 100% for high-fire. A modulating gas furnace is also available.
The Armstrong brand also uses variable-speed motors in their higher efficiency gas furnaces premium brand models. For a lower-end economical model, Armstrong offers economy model gas furnaces. Furthermore, Armstrong uses single staging with an aluminized heat exchanger that has a 20-year limited warranty.
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Armstrong Top Model AFUE
- Armstrong Warranties as Compared to Other Brands 85%
- Armstrong Quality as Compared to Other Brands 90%
- Consumer Opinion based on Field Experience 85%
- Armstrong Efficiency Compared to Other Brands 90%
- Overall Armstrong Opinion from a Technical Perspective 92%
Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer Ratings - Features
Additional features in various Armstrong gas furnaces include:
- Control system to ensure safe operation of the gas furnace
- Designed for quiet operation in Armstrong gas furnaces
- Energy Star rated for select Armstrong gas furnaces
- Diagnostic abilities for better gas furnace troubleshooting
Armstrong offers a modulating gas furnace which is great for efficiency. However, it must be installed properly. Additionally, the proper setup also ensures added efficiency. It is also beneficial if you are replacing the furnace to get a matching condenser.
Whether it is a heat pump or an air conditioner a matching condenser will give you added efficiency. That is essential to getting the best out of the system year-round. Lastly, make sure you register the warranty as soon as possible after installation.
Armstrong Gas Furnace Model Comparison Guide
Armstrong Gas Furnace Model Comparison Matrix | ||
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A97MV (Premium Model) | A962E (Mid-Range Model) | A951S (Economy Model) |
Efficiency up to 97% AFUE Rating | AFUE Rating up to 96% | AFUE Rating Up to 95% with baseline models starting at 80% AFUE |
Ten-Year Parts Limited Warranty | 10-Year Parts Limited Warranty | 10-Year Parts Limited Warranty |
Efficient and quiet ECM variable-speed induced draft blower motor | Constant torque ECM blower motor | Multi-speed PSC blower motor |
Modulating gas valve | Two-Stage Heating | Single-stage Heating |
Armstrong uses a stainless steel primary and secondary heat exchanger | Stainless steel primary and secondary heat exchanger | Removable heat exchanger with Aluminized steel primary and stainless steel secondary construction |
Inducer motor information is not indicated. We recommend a variable-speed inducer motor for modulating purposes. | 2-speed induced draft motor | Single-speed draft inducer |
Armstrong uses a heavy-duty stainless-steel tubular heat exchanger with stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger | Heavy-duty stainless-steel tubular heat exchanger with stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger | Heavy-duty stainless-steel tubular heat exchanger with stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger |
Armstrong has a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the stainless steel heat exchanger | Limited Lifetime Warranty on the stainless steel heat exchanger | Limited Lifetime Warranty on the stainless steel heat exchanger |
Meets ENERGY STAR Gas Furnace qualifications | Select models in the model group are Energy Star qualified. | N/A |
Communicating control enabled or conventional control | Conventional control with two-stage thermostat or single-stage thermostat | Conventional control |
Armstrong has self diagnostics saves last 10 fault codes regardless of power interruption | Self diagnostics saves last 10 fault codes regardless of power interruption | Self diagnostics saves last 5 fault codes regardless of power interruption |
Benefits of Modulating to Two-stage to Single-stage | Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews
Of course, the modulating gas furnace is all the rage for high-efficiency gas furnaces now. However, with two-stage gas furnaces, you can achieve similar efficiency levels for AFUE between the two types of gas furnaces.
The key difference, despite similar efficiency levels, is the temperature swing or comfort level between a two-stage and modulating gas furnace. This can be a factor for you when purchasing a new gas furnace especially when it comes to pricing the new gas furnace system. See the chart below for more details.

Gas Furnace Pricing, Efficiency, and Return On Investment (ROI) Factors
Pricing Versus Efficiency Return On Investment | ||
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Efficiency | Pricing Range for Initial Purchase and Subsequent Repairs outside of Warranty | ROI (Return On Investment) |
95% AFUE Plus | $$$$$ | 5 to 7 years depending on efficiency %* |
90% to 95% AFUE | $$$ | 7 to 10 years depending on efficiency %* |
80% to 90% | $ | Over 10 years* |
*Many factors depend on ROI such as house insulation, personal usage preferences, ductwork integrity, and other essential efficiency factors. The furnace AFUE rating is a high factor in the return. |
Warranties | Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews
Armstrong has a lifetime limited warranty on their heat exchangers. This is good for you the consumer although always read the fine print with any warranty. Most people do not know that many HVAC warranties only cover the part and not labor. If the gas furnace is out of warranty then you pay for the part and the labor. Except for the heat exchanger on any Armstrong gas furnace.
That’s a plus for you because heat exchangers stand up to a lot of heat and corrosive moisture. Always register the warranty soon after installation. This is a requirement for many manufacturers. Additionally, find out what the exclusion clauses are such as owner transfer.
Armstrong Gas Furnace Buyers Guide
Ah, dealing with contractors. Something everyone cannot wait to do. It means, usually, you are going to have to shell out some money to someone you hardly know. So, how do you handle it? Well, we’ve written a buyer’s advice article to help you through the process. It offers excellent advice that will save you lots of frustration and, hopefully, money. Here are a few excerpts from our HVAC consumer buyers guide:
- What’s the best way to find a good contractor? What’s the best way to vet any contractor? You want someone who is reliable, skilled, and is going to do a top-notch quality job for you.
- How many bids should you get from HVAC contractors? What should come with the bid and is absolutely necessary for them to properly size your HVAC system?
- Has the entire system been evaluated? If not, maybe you are buying very efficient HVAC equipment but you’ll never see that efficiency. Why? Because many duct systems are undersized or leaky. Why do you want to pay a lot of money for a new HVAC system and hook it up to leaking ductwork?
Learn these things and more on our HVAC Consumer Buyers Guide page. Go ahead, it’s free.
Comfort Sync™ | Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews
Armstrong has a thermostat control that has many features including an app for Android or Apple smartphones. You can also use a PC to access the thermostat control. That allows you the ability to have remote access for monitoring and control. Leave for vacation and forget to set back the thermostat; no problem, just open the app on your smartphone and take care of it. Additionally, other features include:
- Live weather reports on the thermostat interface
- Easy programming and scheduling
- Alerts for problems and reminders for maintenance
- Touchscreen interface
- Zoning control
Zoning control does require modification to your ductwork. Motorized dampers must be installed to make it work. Additionally, you need to have mid-range to premium range equipment to make it work. Additional sensors are mounted in the zones and communicate with the thermostat. Each zone can have a different setpoint so everyone can be comfortable at their own temperature. See the video below for more details.
About Armstrong | Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews
Founded in 1928 in Columbus, Ohio, Armstrong was started by Lennox. They are a large manufacturer of air conditioning and heating products. Lennox sold Armstrong. They later reacquired Armstrong. Lennox now officially owns Armstrong, again.
Armstrong manufactures air conditioning and heating equipment in Orangeburg, South Carolina. They have a state-of-the-art facility designed to produce quality air conditioning and heating products. Additionally, Armstrong runs tests on every gas furnace before it leaves the factory.
Armstrong Gas Furnace Consumer Ratings
Lastly, leave your review for your Armstrong gas furnace below. This helps other people make better, more informed buying decisions when purchasing a new gas furnace.
Other Armstrong Reviews
Armstrong Air Conditioner Reviews – Consumer Ratings | Armstrong Heat Pump Reviews – Consumer Ratings | Armstrong Package Unit Reviews - Consumer Ratings
Furthermore, for more about Armstrong and their latest models and efficiency ratings please see the Armstrong website.
Is Armstrong a Good Furnace Brand?
Yes, Armstrong builds a good product with their furnaces. Additionally, they have good quality control for their equipment before it leaves the factory. When purchasing a gas furnace or any HVAC system the thing to remember is the quality of the contractor over the brand. A badly installed gas furnace, no matter the brand, will give you frustration and not be efficient as a gas furnace that is correctly installed. The installation and all the details of the installation are up to the contractor. Therefore, you want a quality contractor doing the work.
How long should an Armstrong gas furnace last?
According to Money Magazine, the average air conditioner and furnace system will last 13 years. This is in line with my opinion. If the gas furnace is properly installed and maintained you can get up to 20 years out of a gas furnace no matter the brand. Other than some basic repairs for common failures, the most common major failure for a gas furnace is the heat exchanger. This is why we stress the importance of a good warranty, especially for the heat exchanger.

Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer Ratings
See our other helpful HVAC calculators placed throughout the site:
I have had an Armstrong high-efficiency gas furnace for 25+ years. I just bought a new furnace because 25 years is a good long time to have a furnace an Armstrong that gave me zero problems and good heat and air conditioning so in April 2023 I bought a whole new furnace and air conditioning system and I’m getting ready to have it put in. and it is an armstrong, 96% I like the fact that they have a stainless steel primary heat exchanger and obviously a secondary stainless steel heat exchanger all the other manufactures don’t seem to carry that those heat exchangers can rust from moisture condensation I think you have a much better chance with the stainless steel longer life , that’s my opinion
Hi…
Im an absentee landlord … i buy old houses and fix them up and rent them cheap to low income people who cant afford much
I prase all of my very old and very reliable gas furnsces … ive been told by lots and lots of prfessionals in the industry …
NOT TO EVER REPLACE ANY OF THEM …
They may burn a bit more gas … but they all work … and on the coldest nights my houses are warm
I was working in Toronto back in the 80’s and next door … from my place of enployment was a furnace engineer designing then a new energy efficient furnace
I was told that the guy knew he was building a defective product … he wanted the money he was going to make on replacement parts …
Particularly the igniter he knew was defective
So when you talk about furnace problems … im thinking id never install any new furnace because of all the replacement parts they all seem to require … SO IM TOLD …
IM here looking at Armstrong furnace reviews to see if the one i recently aquired for … FREE… would be suitable for a replacement should one of mine die
Im highly skeptical about your quality … and i really dont think you can honestly say its always the instalation contractors fault
Its horrible the garbage that is sold to unwitting consumers
Someday i hope that changes
It is a complex subject that can be discussed to no end. Most HVAC equipment will last you approximately 13 to 20 years provided it is properly installed and maintained. Given technological advances and the cost of utilities, it is very important to get the best efficiency as possible. Personally, I had a home that had a steam boiler in the basement that was 50 years old. Aside from replacing a thermocouple from time to time, it was super reliable. I installed a heat pump in that home. It cost 150.00 per month to heat the home with the heat pump. If I used the boiler it cost over $700.00. I know it’s not an apple to apple comparison but efficiency is a lot today.
It’s simple, make sure you get a good quality contractor who stands behind their products and installs it correctly. Then budget for replacement every 13 years along with maintenance of the equipment. In the long run, you will save.
Have a high efficiency Armstrong furnace installed in 2002 and has been nothing but a source of aggravation ever since. Have had parts replaced several times. Frequently the temperature drops and it will not come back on. Try turning the thermostat down, shut ut off, turn It back on, and sometimes that works however frequently doesn’t. Eventually it starts up. Temp has dropped 4 degrees within a relatively short period of time tonight; it will not come on. Changed the batteries and that did not help. This is junk! It is in a crawl space so I can’t get to it. It is extremely noisy. At times it sounds like it may explode. The dealer I bought it from was a jerk and didn’t want to be bothered with service or repairs. I would never purchase this brand again nor recommend it to anyone!
I would say all your problems are contractor related. There are procedures that need to be followed for horizontal installation. Most likely these were not followed and your contractor should be reported to Armstrong.
Armstrong Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer Ratings
Reviewed by Admin Transfer September 05, 2011
armstrong gas furnaces and heat pumps
Reviewed by Mark Miller June 15, 2010
armstrong gas furnaces and heat pumps
I have been installing armstrong equipment for 10 years. I am very pleased with the quality,reliability and performance.I have never had a customer complain about anything pertaining to the looks,efficiency,sound and overall quality. Once it is installed I never hear from them except for routine maintenance.
The most important aspect of any installation is do it right the first time.
Proper evacuation of the system is utmost importance. Flow nitrogen when brazing the lines and pressure test. Evacuate down to 300 microns is a must. Determine proper air flow on air handler/furnace. Make sure the system works as intended.Separate any capillary tubes that may be touching each other, use silicone to keep them separated. Fill out operating check log sheet it’s a must.I only use thermostatic expansion valves for good refrigerant control even on seer 13 units. Sell yourself as a professional. Educate the customer it will pay off.