Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer RatingsCarrier Gas Furnace Reviews – Carrier offers three different gas furnace Models of various efficiencies and sizes for their gas furnaces. Carrier’s economy model gas furnace is the Comfort Series with AFUE ratings ranging from 80% AFUE to 96.5% AFUE.

Next, is the Performance Series ranging from 80% AFUE to 96.7% AFUE. Furthermore, Carriers’ top models are the Infinity Series ranging from 80% AFUE to 98.5% AFUE. Lastly, depending on the model the capacities range from 38,000 BTUs to 154,000 BTUs.

Carrier Model Series/Categories

  1. Infinity® Series are the Premium systems
  2. Performance™ Series are the Mid-Range systems
  3. Comfort™ Series are the Economy systems

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Carriers Top Rated AFUE (up to)

  • Carrier Warranties as Compared to Other Brands 90% 90%
  • Carrier Quality as Compared to Other Brands 95% 95%
  • Consumer Opinion based on Field Experience 90% 90%
  • Carrier Efficiency Compared to Other Brands 93% 93%
  • Overall Carrier Opinion from a Technical Perspective 85% 85%

 

Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer Ratings - Differences

There are differences between the economic models the top models. Top models have variable speed blowers and more sophisticated controls than the economical models. The top models have communication features with the ability to hook up a laptop.

Furthermore, this is for diagnostic tuning and troubleshooting while the lower models do not have this capability. Diagnostic abilities offer better gas furnace troubleshooting. Furthermore, all Carrier model gas furnaces are convertible from Natural Gas to LP Gas. Lastly, the cabinet construction from model to model uses the same materials and paint.

Carrier Gas Furnace Model Comparison Guide

Carrier Gas Furnace Model Comparison
Infinity® Series (Premium Model)Performance Series (Mid-Range Model)Comfort Series (Economy Model)
Premium model AFUE Ratings range from 80 to 96.7AFUE Ratings range from 80 to 96.7AFUE Ratings range from 80 to 95.5
Lifetime heat exchanger limited warranty*20-year heat exchanger limited warranty*Lifetime heat exchanger limited warranty*
Variable Speed ECM BlowerECM Variable Speed blower (select models)Fixed-speed blower motor
Modulating and 2-Stage2-Stage Heat (select models)Single-stage operation
Premium models have a Fully Insulated Cabinet for sound and heat loss reduction.Fully insulated cabinetFully insulated cabinet
Premium models have a Two-speed inducer motorTwo-speed inducer motor (select models)Fixed-speed inducer motor
Premium models use Stainless steel fin-and-tube design secondary heat exchangerStainless steel fin-and-tube design secondary heat exchanger (select models)Stainless steel fin-and-tube design secondary heat exchange (select models)
Ten-year parts limited warranty10-year parts limited warranty10-year parts limited warranty
Select sizes meet ENERGY STAR® Gas Furnace qualificationsMeets ENERGY STAR® Gas Furnace qualifications for select modelsN/A
Carrier Gas Furnace Model Comparison Guide - Additionally, for newly installed gas furnaces, precision tuning, and adjustment recommended for the startup. Check for tax rebates and energy credits from your government and local power provider for higher AFUE Energy Star Furnaces.

Energy Efficiency and Gas Furnace AFUE

Just because you spend extra money to buy a high AFUE gas furnace does not mean you will have true energy efficiency. There are many factors to getting true energy efficiency. Among these factors are:

  1. Proper installation of the gas furnace
  2. Ductwork Integrity
  3. Home Insulation including energy-efficient doors and windows
  4. Home humidity levels

For more information see our article on Gas Furnace Efficiency Factors

Carrier offers the Infinity series for its top-of-the-line systems. The Performance Series for their mid-level systems, and the Comfort Series for their builder’s grade systems. All the series Carrier furnace systems have available efficiency ranges from 80% AFUE all the up to over 96% AFUE. Carrier Infinity gas furnaces come with all the bells and whistles to add premium efficiency and comfort.

The economy models are less complicated and not so efficient. Top-tier Carrier models are modulating gas furnaces. I always advise people if you buy higher-end equipment. Additionally, to get an extended warranty that includes labor. Lastly, make sure you hire a certified HVAC contractor for the installation.

Modulating Versus Two-stage Versus Single-stage

modulating versus staging comfort
How long do Carrier gas furnaces last?
An article I read at Money magazine stated, according to their data, that the average homeowner can expect to replace their HVAC systems every 13 years. As a professional in the HVAC industry, I agree with that assessment. Qualifying that, if the furnace is installed correctly and it is maintained periodically, you can get a good 20 years out of the HVAC systems.
Is Carrier a good furnace brand?

Yes, Carrier makes a quality product including their gas furnaces. The engineering is top-notch as well as their quality control at the Carrier factory. Most problems with any furnace brands occur during installation.

Improper installation can lead to premature failure, bad efficiency, constant repairs, and serious frustration. That is why it is crucial to hire a quality contractor for the installation. Quality contractor over the brand.

What Brand of Furnace is the Best?

In my opinion, Carrier does make a good reliable furnace. The Carrier brand is long established and mostly respected. Carrier has decent warranties and ultra-efficient furnaces. The downside is that Carrier is on the expensive side of most furnace brands.

Compared to some other brands you’ll spend more for installation and repairs. What is the best furnace brand? The best furnace brand is the brand that is installed correctly by a reliable, quality contractor.

Pricing, Efficiency, and Return On Investment | Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews

Gas Furnace Pricing, Efficiency, and Return On Investment (ROI) Factors

Pricing Versus Efficiency Return On Investment
EfficiencyPricing Range for Initial Purchase and Subsequent Repairs outside of WarrantyROI (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 | Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews

Finally, ensure you register the warranty within the time frame given by Carrier. Furthermore, most HVAC manufacturer warranties only cover parts and not labor. Make certain to read the bottom line before the purchase especially for warranties.

If they have an extended parts and labor warranty, no matter the brand, we recommend purchasing it. Lastly, pay close attention to the heat exchanger warranties. Furthermore, Carrier has a decent heat exchanger warranty but it does not cover labor unless it is available for separate purchase.

Check our category index for review(s) we have done for specific Carrier gas furnaces. Additionally, we always encourage everyone to submit a review of their HVAC equipment. This is easily done by selecting the “Write Review” button above this review. It helps others when they are making a decision to purchase new equipment.

Carrier Gas Furnace Buyers Guide

When purchasing a new gas furnace you will have to deal with a contractor. This goes with selecting a brand and model that is affordable. The total cost of the furnace should be for installation and the price of the furnace.

To help you navigate this process we have an HVAC consumer buyers guide. We recommend you read that page on our site in addition to reading some of the relevant articles in the Buyers Advice category. Here is a cursory list of a few of the items of advice in our buyer’s guide article:

  1. Quality contractor over brand. The quality of the contractor should your primary consideration when purchasing a gas furnace. Find out why on our Buyers Advice page.
  2. Always get a minimum of three bids from three separate contractors that you have vetted. The lowest bid is not always the best bid.
  3. Make sure the contractors, as a part of their bid, do load calculations for sizing the HVAC equipment. Finally, never use a rule of thumb or guess to figure out the size.

About Carrier

Finally, Carrier is owned by United Technologies which is the same parent corporation as Bryant, Heil, and Tempstar. The founder, Willis Carrier, is considered the father of air conditioning.

See our other Carrier Reviews
Carrier Air Conditioner Reviews – Consumer Ratings | Carrier Heat Pump Reviews – Consumer Ratings | Carrier Package Unit Reviews - Consumer Ratings | Carrier HVAC Reviews

For more information on Carrier and their latest models and efficiency ratings please see the Carrier website.

Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews Model Comparison Chart

Carrier Gas Furnace Comparison Chart

Gas Furnace Reviews - Consumer Ratings

Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer Ratings

Carrier Gas Furnace Reviews Video