Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Life of furnace? and American Standard brand?

Two questions...

1) What's a reasonable life expectancy of a gas furnace?


2) Is American Standard a reliable brand? specically Freedom® 80 Single-Stage Gas Furnace

Thanks

Old furnace back in the days could last 30 to 40 years.

Furnace now days. 15 to 20 years IF taken cared of, and installed as it should be as per the install maual, and sized for the home and duct work.

Anybrand will be a good brand as long it's done right. American Standard is an Trane ownded company so everything is the same but the name on the door.

Have you thought about upgrading into the comfort of Two stage, or quietness of Variable speed?

Old furnace back in the days could last 30 to 40 years.

Furnace now days. 15 to 20 years IF taken cared of, and installed as it should be as per the install maual, and sized for the home and duct work.

Anybrand will be a good brand as long it's done right. American Standard is an Trane ownded company so everything is the same but the name on the door.

Have you thought about upgrading into the comfort of Two stage, or quietness of Variable speed?

Funny you should mention it. I am currently looking at the American Standard Freedom 80 two-stage with the AS AccuClean filter and AS Allegiance A/C and AS Comfort Control 602 thermostat, installed, for $8850 plus tax.
What do you think?

I honestly couldn't tell you if it's a good price or not since it varies alot from state to state.

Any ductwork needing to be done?

Have you gotten a couple other bids to compair to?

modelsforu
For sure get 3 bid for the same job.

No additional ductwork needed. The first estimator recommmended the 80% over the 90% for my application and heating bills. He also said that when I get additional bids (I am getting 3-4 bids) don't mention the 80% and see if they mention it. He said he wasn't trying to sell me the most expensive package, only what I needed.

As a home inspector in SE Mi. most of the 78% to 80% efficient natural gas furnaces seem to last 20 to 25 years before their heat exchanger cracks. A cracked heat exchanger in an older furnace ussually results in the replacement of the entire furnace. I had a young client at an inspection to whom I said 20 to 25 years and he looked toward his father as asked if I was right? The father said 21.6 years in MI. was the average life expectency. The father apparently was a big "muck y de muck" at the local utlity company, (V.P. of something).

I do not see much difference in the makes and models of furnaces that use similar technilogy, but I am sure the sales person will take difference with this statement.

Heh! can someone put spell chack in this reply screen!!!