York
Over 130 years of history
York was founded in York, Pennsylvania, in 1874 and has since become one of the most recognizable names in the heating, ventilation and cooling industry. It is now owned by Johnson Controls, which also owned Armstrong for some time. As a major global player in the HVAC industry, York has a full line of gas and oil furnaces with efficiencies ranging from 80 percent for the oil furnaces up to as high as 95 percent for the gas furnaces. York also offers air conditioning systems, heat pumps, and packaged heating and cooling systems as an all-in-one option.
In a move not yet being replicated by any of the other major manufacturers, York has begun offering a branded "Affinity" series of home heating and cooling equipment. The unique feature of this equipment is the option not only to customize the colors of the condenser units (the large, boxy contraptions sitting out behind your home) but also to decorate them.
Customers can select a decal from a collection of logos or icons (representing universities and other organizations) to decorate their new home comfort equipment. Although not exactly an innovation in home comfort technology, some homeowners may be very interested in the ability to customize their heating and cooling equipment to make a clear personal statement rather than staring at a large, square chunk of metal in the backyard.
York's line of furnaces is not necessarily as technologically advanced as some of the other manufacturers' lines, and as of this writing, it doesn't come close to Trane and Carrier in the top end of the high-efficiency category, although the differences are minimal (maximum 95 percent AFUE as opposed to 97 percent plus). As a brand, York's repair record is a bit poorer than Carrier's and Trane's but significantly better overall than either Goodman's or Lennox's.
The bottom line here is that if you're on a tight budget for home heating and you can find a deal on a York furnace, you should go for it. Even the 80-percent-efficiency models will be reasonable if you live in a moderate climate, but you should definitely make sure to keep it properly maintained to prevent any more repair bills than necessary. Just bear in mind that you're not going to get the absolute best performance, nor the absolute best efficiency. If that's important to you, consider spending more, and consider a different manufacturer.
