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Carrier Furnace Review & Buying Guide
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15,000+
Carrier
4.6
Average Rating By Homeowner
$5,500
Average Price Including Installation
Carrier Furnaces At a Glance
Strengths
Room for Improvement
Carrier Furnace Review
Discover a complete, up-to-date Carrier furnace review and buying guide for 2025, featuring the brand’s top models, efficiency and AFUE ratings, standout features, warranty information, and more. Easily request a free quote today!
This detailed overview covers everything you need to know to make a well-informed choice when purchasing a new Carrier furnace.
We’ll explore the Carrier gas furnace lineup available in both Canada and the U.S., with a focus on their high-efficiency options. This all-inclusive guide includes pricing, technical specifications, features, warranty details, model comparisons, HVAC add-ons, and expert insights.
Plus, we’ll share real customer feedback to give you an honest perspective on how Carrier furnaces perform in everyday use.
When it’s time to upgrade your heating system, this guide will help you determine if a Carrier furnace matches your home’s needs — highlighting the models with the efficiency, features, and warranty that fit your budget and comfort goals.
Also Read: The Best Furnaces for Canadians
The Bottom Line
Carrier is one of the oldest furnace brands worldwide, bringing decades of manufacturing expertise. However, in 2017, they shifted much of their production—especially air conditioning units—from the United States to Mexico.
While this change isn’t inherently negative, it does represent a significant adjustment in their manufacturing supply chain.
Carrier offers furnace models suited for nearly every home, provided your budget allows. Their heating systems come loaded with various features—some highly practical, others less so—and some require additional purchases to unlock.
As a premium brand, Carrier produces furnaces known for high energy efficiency and advanced technology. However, you should expect to pay a premium price and keep in mind that their warranty coverage is fairly standard relative to the cost.
Comfort Series Furnaces
Average price: $4,800 to $5,800
Models
Comfort 96 59SC6: Carrier’s entry-level furnace is a single-stage, multi-speed model with a 97% AFUE. It features a secondary heat exchanger, hot surface ignition, ECM blower motor, and quiet operation, but lacks the advanced technologies found in higher-tier models.
Ideal For
This single-stage furnace is best suited for small to medium homes in milder climates without extended deep freezes. It’s Carrier’s most affordable option, offering solid efficiency without the bells and whistles of mid-range or premium models.
Performance Series Furnaces
Average price: $5,300 to $6,300
Models
Performance™ Series 97 – 59TP7: A two-stage, variable-speed furnace with 97% AFUE. It delivers quiet, consistent heating through a variable-speed ECM motor and well-insulated cabinet. Built for durability, it’s a great choice for homeowners seeking better comfort and performance without the top-tier price.
Performance 96 59TP6: Two-stage, variable-speed furnace with 96.7% AFUE and InteliSense Technology, providing real-time updates and remote diagnostics for easy maintenance and software updates.
Performance 96 59SP6: Single-stage, variable-speed furnace with 97% AFUE. Features a fully insulated cabinet and quieter variable-speed blower compared to single-stage models.
Ideal For
Homeowners with small to medium homes looking for a reliable, efficient furnace from a trusted brand, and willing to invest in a mid-tier model with advanced diagnostics and quiet operation.
Infinity Series Furnaces
Average price: $5,800 to $6,800
Models
Infinity® Series 97 – 59TN7: Two-stage, variable-speed furnace with 96.7% AFUE. Compatible with Carrier’s Infinity System Control for communicating functionality, superior temperature control, energy efficiency, and system diagnostics. Includes a fully insulated cabinet, ECM blower, and ENERGY STAR certification.
Infinity® 96 59TN6: Two-stage, variable-speed furnace with 96.7% AFUE. When paired with the Infinity System Control, it offers advanced communicating features for enhanced efficiency and climate control.
Infinity® 98 59MN7: Modulating, variable-speed furnace with an impressive 98.5% AFUE. Equipped with Greenspeed Intelligence when used with Carrier’s Infinity System Control smart thermostat for optimal comfort and efficiency.
Ideal For
Best suited for medium to large homes in cold climates and buyers with a larger budget. These top-tier furnaces deliver quiet, efficient heating and long-term energy savings, making them a worthwhile investment.
Recently Discontinued Carrier Furnaces
- Comfort 95 – 59SC5
- Comfort 92 – 59SC2
- Performance Boost 90 – 59SP5
- Performance 90 – 59SP2
Carrier Furnace Model Series Overview
The following Carrier furnace models are ranked using a proprietary grading system that evaluates multiple criteria—such as efficiency, features, warranty, and value—to help you easily compare models within the Carrier lineup and across other brands. Remember, a lower grade doesn’t necessarily mean a model is bad—it might simply have fewer features or a shorter warranty relative to more premium options.
| Model | Efficiency (AFUE) | ENERGY STAR® | Overall Grade | Warranty Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infinity® Series Greenspeed® 98 - 59MN7 | 98.5% | Yes | A+ | A- |
| Infinity® Series 96 - 59TN6 | 96.7% | Yes | A | A- |
| Infinity® Series 80 Ultra-Low NOx - 58CU0 | 80% | No | A- | A- |
| Infinity® Series 80 - 58TN | 80% | No | B | A- |
| Infinity® Series 95 Ultra-Low NOx - 59CU5 | 95% | Yes | A- | A- |
| Performance™ Series 96 - 59TP6 | 96.5% | Yes | A | A- |
| Performance™ Series 96 - 59SP6 | 96.7% | Yes | A | A- |
| Performance™ Series 80 - 58TP0 | 80% | No | B | A- |
| Performance™ Series 80 Low NOx - 58TP1 | 80% | No | B | A- |
| Performance™ Series 80 - 58SP0 | 80% | No | B- | A- |
| Performance™ Series 80 Low NOx - 58SP1 | 80% | No | B- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 96 - 59SC6 | 97% | Yes | A- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 92 - 59SC2 | 92.1% | Yes | A- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 80 - 58SB0 | 80% | Yes | B- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 80 Low NOx - 58SB1 | 80% | Yes | B- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 80 - 58SC0 | 80% | No | B- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 80 Low NOx - 58SC1 | 80% | No | B- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 80 Ultra-Low NOx - 58SU0 | 80% | No | B- | A- |
| Comfort™ Series 80 Ultra-Low NOx - 59SU5 | 95% | Yes | A- | A- |
| Performance™ Series 80 Oil - OVL | 87.5% | Yes | B+ | A- |
This overview can help you quickly evaluate which Carrier furnace model aligns best with your efficiency, budget, and feature needs.
Exclusive Features from Carrier
ComfortFan™
What Carrier says: ComfortFan lets you choose your furnace’s fan speed when running in “Constant ON” mode, giving you more control over air circulation—especially helpful during colder months. It also adjusts fan speed when used with SmartEvap™ to better manage humidity.
What it means: You can set how fast your furnace’s fan runs using Carrier’s Infinity System Control thermostat (or a compatible one). This lets you keep air moving continuously, boosting comfort and saving energy.
Is it worth it? Yes, fan control can improve comfort and efficiency. However, you need additional equipment like the Infinity thermostat to access this feature. It’s also not unique—brands like Bryant and Napoleon offer similar fan-speed controls.
Infinity System Control
What Carrier says: This intuitive control system helps optimize comfort and reduce energy costs. With Wi-Fi access, you can adjust settings anytime, anywhere.
What it means: It’s Carrier’s smart thermostat. You can control temperature, humidity, and airflow from your smartphone or let the system auto-adjust based on real-time conditions.
Is it worth it? Smart thermostats do improve comfort and save energy. However, this one only works with premium Infinity models. Many other brands also offer their own smart thermostats (like Lennox’s iComfort, Trane’s ComfortLink II, or Rheem’s EcoNet).
SmartEvap™
What Carrier says: SmartEvap reduces indoor humidity by up to 10% by pausing the blower fan to allow moisture to evaporate before air recirculates.
What it means: This technology works with your air conditioner. It briefly delays the blower to give moisture time to drain off the coils, reducing indoor humidity during the summer.
Is it worth it? Yes, especially if humidity is a concern in your home. While not exclusive—Trane’s Comfort-R and Bryant’s Perfect Humidity offer similar solutions—Carrier stands out by offering it directly in its furnace lineup.
Ideal Humidity
What Carrier says: Ideal Humidity senses indoor moisture and automatically adjusts system performance to keep levels balanced.
What it means: When indoor humidity is high, your system will tweak fan speed and compressor operation to remove excess moisture.
Is it worth it? It can be—but it requires a compatible smart thermostat, a multi-speed furnace or fan coil, and an advanced air conditioner or heat pump. Without all three, the benefits are limited.
Hybrid Heat®
What Carrier says: Hybrid Heat helps keep energy bills stable by switching between gas and electric heating automatically.
What it means: If you pair a gas furnace with a heat pump, the system will alternate between gas and electric depending on efficiency and outdoor temperature.
Is it worth it? Yes, dual fuel systems can save money. But this setup isn’t unique—brands like Lennox, Tempstar, and Armstrong also offer it. Plus, it requires a compatible furnace, heat pump, and smart thermostat.
Greenspeed® Intelligence
What Carrier says: Greenspeed pairs a variable-speed furnace with Carrier’s Infinity System Control to deliver ultra-quiet, energy-efficient, and responsive heating.
What it means: The furnace runs at varying speeds for maximum efficiency and comfort, while the smart thermostat allows precise control and remote access.
Is it worth it? It’s a powerful combo, but not unique. Most brands now offer variable-speed furnaces and smart thermostats. However, Carrier adds remote diagnostics and wireless updates for added convenience.
PowerHeat™
What Carrier says: This hot surface ignition system eliminates the need for a pilot light, making the furnace more efficient and reliable.
What it means: Instead of wasting gas with a constantly burning pilot light, PowerHeat uses an electronic ignitor to start the furnace only when needed.
Is it worth it? Absolutely—hot surface ignition is the modern standard. Many brands use this tech (though Carrier gave it a branded name). It’s more reliable and efficient than traditional pilot lights.
Comfort Heat Technology
What Carrier says: This feature fine-tunes the operation of the furnace to deliver steady, efficient, and even heating.
What it means: The furnace runs at lower settings longer, avoiding temperature swings and saving energy. It ramps up only when needed.
Is it worth it? Yes—but it’s not unique. This is standard for any two-stage or modulating furnace, which are common across many manufacturers.
InteliSense Technology
What Carrier says: InteliSense offers smart diagnostics by sharing real-time data with your technician and thermostat, making service faster and easier.
What it means: Sensors inside the furnace send performance data to an ecobee smart thermostat, which technicians can access remotely to detect and fix issues.
Is it worth it? It’s useful for reducing downtime and maintenance costs. However, it’s currently only available on Performance series models and still requires compatible equipment to work fully.
Carrier Furnace Warranty Overview
What Carrier Offers
Carrier provides the same warranty coverage across its entry-level, mid-range, and premium furnace models. The standard warranty includes:
- Lifetime limited warranty on the heat exchanger
- 10-year limited parts warranty
✅ Tip: To get the full warranty coverage, registration is required within 90 days of installation.
What Happens If You Don’t Register
Failing to register your Carrier furnace within 90 days will reduce your coverage to:
- 5-year limited parts warranty
- 20-year limited heat exchanger warranty
Other Warranty Conditions
- Installation must be done by a licensed HVAC professional
- Regular maintenance (as outlined in the owner’s manual) is required
- Warranty only applies to the original homeowner at the installation address
- Non-transferable unless specifically stated otherwise
How Carrier's Warranty Compares
While Carrier is known as a premium brand, its warranty is industry standard—not better—despite the higher cost of their units.
Many competitors offer unit replacement warranties, meaning they’ll replace the entire furnace if the heat exchanger fails during the warranty period. These brands include:
- York
- Trane
- Lennox
- Amana
- Goodman
- Napoleon
- Rheem
- Ruud
- Tempstar
- Heil
- Comfortmaker
- KeepRite
- American Standard
- Luxaire
- Coleman
- Daikin
- Armstrong
Carrier Add-Ons & Accessories
Carrier offers a variety of accessories to improve comfort, air quality, and system efficiency. While not every home needs these upgrades, they’re available for homes with specific climate or air quality concerns.
Smart Thermostats
Carrier’s Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats offer programmable settings and smart features, including learning capabilities and zoning control.
Models Include:
- Infinity System Control – for premium Infinity systems
- Infinity Zoning Panel – controls up to 8 zones
- Comfort Series Three-Zone System – for Performance/Comfort furnaces
- Room Sensors – detect humidity and temperature, control fan speed and comfort levels in each zone
All smart thermostats and sensors come with a 10-year warranty.
Conventional Thermostats
Carrier also offers programmable and non-programmable thermostats for their Performance and Comfort product lines. Options include:
- Touch-and-go models
- Humidity control thermostats
- Heat pump-specific thermostats
Alternative Smart Options: Carrier recommends using ecobee, Nest, or Honeywell smart thermostats for non-Infinity systems.
Air Monitor & CO Detector
- Carrier Air Monitor – Portable device detects fine particles, VOCs, humidity, and temperature. Connects to the Carrier Home app for real-time monitoring and tips.
- Carbon Monoxide Detector – Essential for homes with gas appliances; helps ensure indoor air safety.
Air Purifiers
- Infinity Air Purifier – MERV 15, removes 95% of particles (1.0–3.0 microns) and 99% of select pathogens
- Comfort Series Air Purifier – MERV 10, removes 63% of particles (1.0–3.0 microns)
- Available in whole-home or return air cabinet styles
Humidifiers
For dry climates or winter comfort, Carrier offers whole-home humidifiers:
- Steam Humidifiers – Adds up to 34 gallons/day, ideal for large homes
- Fan-Powered Models – Up to 18 gallons/day
- Bypass Models – Up to 17 gallons/day, suitable for small to medium homes
Dehumidifiers
Too much humidity can damage furniture, increase AC use, and cause mold growth. Carrier’s whole-home dehumidifiers include:
- Two capacity options
- Larger model removes up to 95 pints/day
- Includes a MERV 8 filter
- Backed by a 5-year warranty
UV Lamps
Germicidal UV lamps help control mold and bacteria buildup on indoor AC coils, boosting both air quality and system efficiency. Available in single and dual bulb models.
HRVs and ERVs
Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) improve airflow and indoor air quality without added heating or cooling costs.
- HRVs – Best for cold climates
- ERVs – Ideal for warm, humid areas
- Both come with pre-filters to trap dust and pollutants
Air Scrubbers
Originally designed for commercial use, Carrier now offers residential-sized air scrubbers with HEPA filtration capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns. Ideal for homes with serious air quality issues.
About Carrier
Founded in 1902 by Willis Haviland Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier is a global leader in heating and cooling. It is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a division of United Technologies.
In 2011, Carrier’s commercial facility became the first industrial HVAC plant to achieve LEED® Gold Certification, underlining their commitment to sustainability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Carrier furnace cost?
Carrier furnaces are premium-priced, typically ranging from $4,000 to $8,000+ in Canada. More affordable brands with similar efficiency can cost up to $6,500.
Which Carrier furnace should I choose?
- Infinity Series: Top-tier, most efficient, premium features
- Performance Series: Mid-range balance of price and efficiency
- Comfort Series: Budget-friendly, reliable, and simpler systems
For best results, consult a certified HVAC professional to properly size your furnace.
How long do Carrier furnaces last?
With proper maintenance, most Carrier furnaces can last 15 to 20+ years. The lifetime heat exchanger warranty indicates long-term durability.
Are Carrier furnaces any good?
Yes, Carrier furnaces are high-quality, reliable, and efficient, backed by over a century of innovation. However, they do carry a premium price tag, and many competitors offer similar performance for less.
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