About The Author: Travis Baugh is a Digital Brand Marketing Manager for Bryant, where he creates clear, helpful content to guide homeowners through heating, cooling, and indoor air quality decisions. His goal is to empower readers with the knowledge they need to choose the right comfort solutions for their home—confidently and comfortably.
Natural Gas Furnaces
Natural gas furnaces offer a reliable and efficient way to heat your home. Whether you're upgrading an existing system or exploring new options, understanding the benefits of natural gas furnaces is essential. In this article, we will cover how they work, their energy efficiency, and their environmental impact. Additionally, we will provide tips on how to maintain your furnace and address common issues that may arise.
Understanding Natural Gas Furnaces
Natural gas furnaces are an excellent choice for efficient and effective home heating. These systems use natural gas to generate warmth, offering numerous advantages and impressive energy efficiency.
So, how do natural gas furnaces work? Natural gas is delivered to the furnace through a pipeline, where it is ignited by a pilot light or electronic ignition system. The gas burner heats the air, which is circulated through your home's ductwork by a blower. This continuous cycle ensures your home remains cozy and comfortable, even during the coldest winter months.
One key advantage of natural gas furnaces is their ability to provide consistent heat. Unlike electric heating systems, natural gas furnaces can generate higher temperature outputs, allowing your home to warm up quickly. Additionally, natural gas is a reliable and widely available energy source, ensuring uninterrupted heating even during power outages.
Another significant benefit is their energy efficiency. Advanced technologies and features in these furnaces maximize heat output while minimizing energy waste. Some natural gas furnaces are equipped with variable speed blowers, which adjust the airflow to match your home's heating needs. This helps reduce energy consumption and lower heating bills.
Choosing the Right Natural Gas Furnace
Selecting the right natural gas furnace involves several important factors. Understanding these will help you make a decision that meets your heating needs effectively.
“Energy efficiency, size of the home, warranty coverage, budget, and compatibility with existing ductwork system are all important things to consider when looking for a new natural gas furnace,” Melissa Frause, owner of Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning in Woodinville, WA, said.
Size and Capacity Requirements
One of the first considerations is the sizing and capacity requirements of the furnace. A furnace that is too small may struggle to heat your home adequately, while one that is too large can waste energy and increase utility bills. Your local Bryant dealer can help decide the furnace size you need based on factors such as your home’s square footage and insulation, as well as your local climate.
Efficiency (AFUE Rating)
The AFUE rating tells you how efficiently a furnace converts fuel into heat. A higher AFUE rating means greater efficiency, which translates to lower operating costs. Modern high-efficiency furnaces typically have AFUE ratings of 90% or higher, with some models reaching up to 98%. A higher AFUE rating can be especially beneficial in colder climates where your furnace will run more frequently.
Budget and Installation Costs
Consider your budget when choosing a furnace, taking into account how much is a new furnace. High efficiency furnaces or advanced models like modulating furnaces will have a higher upfront cost, but the long-term energy savings may justify the investment.
Factor in the cost of furnace installation, which can vary depending on the complexity of the job. Professional installation ensures the furnace operates at peak efficiency and adheres to safety standards.
Energy Savings and Incentives
Check if there are any local, state, or federal rebates or tax credits available for installing high-efficiency furnaces. Many programs encourage the installation of energy-efficient appliances, which can help offset some of the initial cost.
Type Of Natural Gas Furnace
Next, explore the different types of natural gas furnaces available. There are three main types: single-stage, two-stage, and modulating furnaces.
- Single-stage furnace: A single-stage furnace operates at a fixed, high setting when it turns on. It either runs at full capacity or it is off—there are no intermediate settings. Because they only run at full capacity, single-stage furnaces tend to have less precise temperature control and can lead to temperature fluctuations. While generally less expensive upfront, the system often cycles on and off more frequently, which may result in higher heating bills and less consistent comfort.
- Two-stage furnaces: A 2-stage furnace has two settings: low and high. It usually operates on the lower setting to maintain a consistent temperature and only switches to the higher setting when there is a greater demand for heat (e.g., when temperatures drop significantly).
- Modulating Furnaces: A modulating furnace adjusts its output in very small increments based on the heating needs of your home. This type of furnace can modulate between a range of outputs, providing the most precise temperature control.
Modulating furnaces provide the highest level of comfort by maintaining an even, consistent temperature without significant fluctuations. Because they only produce as much heat as needed, they are the most energy-efficient, often leading to the lowest heating bills. Modulating furnaces are the most expensive upfront due to their advanced technology and features.
When considering the types of natural gas furnaces, evaluate your specific heating needs, budget, and energy efficiency goals. Bryant offers a range of natural gas furnaces known for their reliability, performance, and energy efficiency, making them an excellent choice for homeowners.
“A homeowner should never have to figure it all out on their own,” Frause said. “A sales representative will assess each customer’s home to ensure they are offered the best options for their specific home design, budget, and comfort needs.”
Natural Gas Furnace Maintenance
Regular maintenance is crucial for the optimal performance and longevity of your natural gas furnace. Replace the air filter regularly, typically every three months. A clogged filter can restrict airflow and reduce heating efficiency. Here are some tasks your local Bryant dealer can perform during a regularly scheduled furnace maintenance appointment to keep your furnace running smoothly and efficiently. Learn more about furnace maintenance.
- Cleaning the blower assembly and fan blades to remove dust or debris that may have accumulated, maintaining proper airflow throughout the system.
- Inspecting the burner flames regularly. The flames should be blue with a small, steady yellow tip. Yellow or flickering flames may indicate a combustion issue.
- Checking and cleaning the outdoor vent pipe to ensure it is free from obstructions like leaves or debris. Blocked vents can cause the furnace to shut down or operate inefficiently.
Natural Gas Furnace Troubleshooting
Despite regular maintenance, natural gas furnaces can encounter common issues. Here are some furnace troubleshooting solutions:
- If the furnace is not producing heat, check the thermostat settings and ensure it is set to the desired temperature. Also, check if the circuit breaker for the furnace is tripped.
- If the furnace cycles on and off frequently, it may be due to a dirty or faulty flame sensor. Your local Bryant dealer can clean or replace the sensor to help resolve this issue.
- If you hear unusual noises such as rattling or banging, it could indicate a problem with the blower motor or other components. Contact your local Bryant dealer for further furnace inspection and furnace repair.
Why Choose A Bryant Evolution Natural Gas Furnace
- Maximize Winter Heating Bill Savings: Bryant furnaces can help you maximize winter energy bill savings with up to 98.5% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).
- Maintain Consistent Comfort: Evolution Systems automatically adjust to conditions, reducing temperature and humidity fluctuations.
- Easy-to-use Control: Manage your entire home’s comfort with full-color touch screen, mobile app1 or voice commands.2
- Customizable: Tailor your system to your lifestyle with occupancy sensing, zoning and remote-access technology.
- Monitor system health: Receive reminders for furnace filter changes and furnace tune-up. Your system can also automatically alert your dealer if it needs furnace service.
- Rest easy with a long warranty: Bryant Evolution furnaces come with a ten-year furnace parts limited warranty and lifetime heat exchanger warranty when registered on time.3 Red Shield™ 10-year furnace unit replacement warranty (heat exchanger failure only) upon timely registration.4
![a bryant dealer finishes installing natural gas furnace]( "a bryant dealer finishes installing natural gas furnace")
Talk To A Bryant Dealer To Find The Best Natural Gas Furnace For You
By choosing a natural gas furnace, you can enjoy reliable, efficient, and cost-effective heating. Bryant offers a range of natural gas furnaces designed for optimal comfort and performance. Connect with your local Bryant dealer to find the perfect natural gas furnace for your home.
Explore Bryant Furnaces
Choose a Bryant furnace for reliable, efficient heating that keeps your home comfortable throughout the winter. Known for their durability and advanced technology, Bryant furnaces offer quiet operation, precise temperature control, and energy-saving features like variable-speed motors and two-stage heating. With a range of models to suit different home sizes and needs, Bryant furnaces are built to last and come with industry-leading warranties, providing peace of mind and long-term value for your home heating system.
“Bryant’s equipment continues to improve in energy efficiency rankings, noise level reductions, and overall quality of performance, keeping our customers satisfied,” Frause said. “Not only is Bryant equipment the best of the best, but they back it with their own limited warranty to protect the lifespan of a customer’s purchase should any parts need replaced within 10 years of their equipment registration.”
1 When connected to the Internet through a Wi-Fi® network
2 Voice command requires using Amazon™ Alexa™ smart skills.
3 The limited warranty period is five years and 20 years on the heat exchanger on parts if not registered within 90 days. Jurisdictions where warranty benefits are not conditioned on registration will automatically
receive a 10-year parts limited warranty and lifetime heat exchanger warranty. See warranty certificate at bryant.com for complete details and restrictions.
4 Unit replacement limited warranty is not available to subsequent owners. The limited warranty period is five years if not registered within 90 days except in jurisdictions where warranty benefits cannot be
conditioned on registration will automatically receive a 10-year unit replacement limited warranty. See limited warranty certificate at Bryant.com for complete details and restrictions.
Natural Gas Furnace FAQs
You should consider replacing a natural gas furnace every 15 to 20 years, or sooner if it becomes inefficient, unreliable, or costly to repair.
The average cost of a new natural gas furnace ranges from $3,800 to $12,000 installed, depending on the brand, efficiency rating, and installation complexity.
A well-maintained natural gas furnace typically lasts 15 to 20 years, though lifespan depends on your local climate, usage rates, and maintenance history.
Learn More About Furnaces
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- Discover what is a heat pump vs furnace
- Explore what is a furnace
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- Find out how long does a furnace last
- Explore the value in getting a furnace humidifier
- Explore types of furnaces
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- Discover the differences between a furnace vs boiler
- Find out how to fix a furnace blowing cold air
- Learn about the importance of furnace cleaning
- Explore down flow furnaces
