Looking at replacing Furnace (2 Stage/Variable Speed ECM?)

[kdeinv]

Hello,

I live in the Atlanta area and are considering replacing my 20 year old Trane Furnace and AC in the near future.

My current furnace is a single stage and has a single speed blower and I have not had to replace anything on it in 20 years except the igniter. I am planning on only getting an 80% AFUE furnace due to the additional costs associated with venting and draining a higher efficiency furnace as my furnace and water heater are in a basement. Also my Utility bills are not that high.

The concern I have is with the new types of blower motors used in the variable speed furnaces and the reliability of them. I guess my old trane single speed has the Older PSC motor design which appears to be more reliable than the ECM motors I have seen discussed.

I guess if you have a 10 year parts labor warranty then it would be a non-issue however if the older technology blower motors are more reliable I would like to stick with that versus the variable speed blower motors that tend to fail in a shorter period of time.

Does everyone concur with this? Also can you get a 2 stage furnace with an older single speed blower motor (PSC)?

Just trying to narrow down my choice to the most reliable 80% AFUE furnace:

1 Stage versus 2 Stage and whether to have a one speed PSC Blower motor or variable speed blower motor:

Also are there more reliable variable speed motors than others? X13, etc?

Thanks in advance for any discussion on this topic

[beenthere]

X13 is not a variable speed motor. Variable speed motors are very reliable. How ever they are often installed on under size duct systems, which can harm them.

[George2]

I agree with Beenthere............ECM motors are the most reliable motors. I would rather have a ECM motor than a 90+% furnace. But, again as B.T. said, the ductwork needs to be okay or the motor won't save $ as expected.

Remember, the blower runs year round. Also, it's nice to keep the air moving for comfort and IAQ.

Make sure to ask for a hi-eff. air cleaner.

[catmanacman]

trane makes a xl 80 furnace . it s 2 stage heat with a psc motor . the reliability of a psc motor is best in my opinion although they use more electricity than the ecm motors if the duct is sized right

[carmon]

Psc motors are a thing of the past in my area.

[jtrammel]

PSC motors and single stage furnaces are quickly becoming a thing of the past. The brand we sell (York) doesn't have many furnaces that are 1 stage they are mostly all 2 stage or modulating with x13 or ECM motors

[tedkidd]

How much do you spend on energy each year?