Time for a new furnace. What kind?

dodge man · Sep 2, 2014

We have been having AC problems all summer. I got someone to come look at the system today and the evaporator is leaking. He says it can be fixed but our furnace and AC unit is 25 years old. Its probably just going to start having more problems. Its LP, 90% efficient. I've been pretty happy with the fuel usage but the tech that worked on it today says with LP prices being up and down a heat pump might be the way to go with a LP furnace for when it gets really cold.

Its not a regular thing for us to be below zero for days at a time but its not uncommon either, so I'm leaning away from a heat pump. Geo thermal is also an option but the layout of our property may make that awkward, we don't have a lot of open ground near the house. I could go with an outdoor wood furnace but I'm pretty sure I don't want to mess with it. For an idea of our climate, I'm about straight west of Peoria Il, we have plenty of cold days here.

Just looking for ideas on what to go with, I'm leaning on just replacing it with a similar furnace.

BethelHntr · Sep 2, 2014

Trane or American standard (same company) is the best you can buy imo.

KennyG · Sep 2, 2014

In your area, I think you're correct, heat pumps need to be geothermal to make much sense. New gas furnaces will be 92 - 95% and tend to be very reliable, so you will probably be happy with that option.

kcflhrc · Sep 2, 2014

I put in a heat pump with propane backup last fall, works great. I purchased a HEIL, 10 year warranty, as most are.

dodge man · Sep 2, 2014

We have a Trane now, I haven't had a tech yet say anything good about Trane.

murphy1244 · Sep 2, 2014

I like Arco air, Good buy for the money.

fordmantpw · Sep 2, 2014

My vote is geothermal. After the rebates, you probably won't be much more than going with another system (maybe $2k). Go vertical with your loop and the ground layout won't be an issue. We love our geothermal, and it is going in our new home as well. We are in central MO, so we are just west of you and (I would imagine) have a similar climate.

mikehaugen · Sep 2, 2014

If you really wanted to do geothermal, I don't see why the layout would bee a big deal as long as you have the acreage. People lump the loops in a rectangular sort of array because it may require a little less trenching. What matters is the length of pipe you have underground. No reason you couldn't stretch it out, maybe a trench between buildings to get you to an open area. In fact a narrow trench with a single linear pipe requires less total piping, though more trenching, than coiled tubing. I guess the downside would be trying to run loops in parallel would be tricky. The point is, if you have enough land, I don't think layout is that crucial.

I am no expert, what I am saying just comes from the research I have done... maybe I am missing something?

bobmisi · Sep 2, 2014

The new P series heat pumps from Mitsubishi are good to -17 below zero and are rated as a primary heat source. I;m putting one in my new garage which gas 1300 square feet of living pace above it. They are propane fueled.

dodge man · Sep 2, 2014

I met the guy that is going to do an estimate for us for a new system. He is going to look at the geo thermal option also. He says its not hard to do and they can go vertical if need be. There is also the option of fixing our current system. We need a new evaporator inside. The problem is our furnace being as old as it is its getting harder to get parts for it and LP is harder on the heat exchanger so it may go out at any time also. He said if you are going to go with a high end heat pump you might as well go geo thermal.

We have had a lot of problems with the old furnace also. It seems like every couple of years either the ignitor or the flame sensor goes out. It took them about two weeks to fix a problem last year. I'm guessing at this point, we have lived there for 17 years, we have spent about $2000 to $3000 on the furnace we have now.