Are you thinking about upgrading your furnace but not quite sure where to begin?
We understand. Furnaces are more efficient than ever, with a plethora of features designed to keep you comfortable. They come in different sizes and shapes, some more powerful than others. They also have different price points based on their efficiency ratings.
The thermostat is the brains of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. But it’s the furnace that provides all the muscle, teaming up with your ductwork to send warm air throughout your North Carolina home.
And always remember, a happy home is a warm one! It would only take a few cold days in a row with no indoor heat for all the pipes in your home to freeze.
What matters most is to pick the right furnace that fits your budget and the size of your home. Our team at Scott Brothers Heating & Air has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Boone, NC, for creating healthy homes. Give us a call today—we can schedule a free consultation to help with your next home improvement project.
Choosing the Right Furnace by Fuel Type
Your first decision is easy: choosing the fuel type.
The most common source is natural gas. Your local utility company supplies fuel to your home through an underground gas line. The price of natural gas is relatively stable, so you don’t have to worry about cost fluctuations. Plus, you never need to worry about storage.
- If you have access to a natural gas line, we strongly recommend a gas furnace. These furnaces have proven their value over the years for providing steady comfort on the coldest of days.
- Oil furnaces are a popular alternative in the United States, particularly in parts of the Northeast that do not have easy access to natural gas. These types of furnaces last longer than gas furnaces but do not operate as efficiently. Oil prices fluctuate more than natural gas prices, making it harder to gauge your monthly expenses. Plus, you will need a storage tank for the oil.
- Electric furnaces tend to last longer than gas furnaces and cost less to install. On the other hand, they are more expensive to operate and take longer to heat your home. Anyone living in a cold climate would enjoy more comfort with a gas or oil furnace.
Choosing the Right Furnace Speed
Furnaces run at different speeds. The operating speed you choose will impact your comfort, budget, and indoor air quality (IAQ).
Single-stage furnaces have just two settings, on or off. Your furnace switches on and continues to run to reach the desired temperature. Once it reaches the temperature, the furnace turns off. Single-stage furnaces are the most affordable models and easiest to install. But they are the least efficient and tend to create hot and cold spots in larger homes.
Two-stage furnaces run at full speed and half speed. This allows your furnace to heat your home more evenly, producing a more consistent temperature from room to room. In addition to producing better heating, the half-speed setting is much quieter.
Variable-speed furnaces are the gold standard of the heating world. These models adjust their speeds to provide precise comfort. They run longer at slower speeds, improving efficiencies while lowering your energy bills. Because they do not frequently cycle on and off, these systems tend to have fewer breakdowns.
Variable-speed furnaces are much more adept in maintaining your indoor air quality, catching harmful particles, and eliminating excess moisture that causes mold growth. Larger homes benefit tremendously from variable-speed furnaces.
Choosing an Efficient Furnace
The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating on your furnace indicates how much energy it converts. An energy-efficient furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 can convert 95 percent of the energy it consumes into heat.
The higher the AFUE rating, the more money you save on monthly utility bills. Energy-efficient furnaces emit fewer greenhouse gases and make less noise when they operate. If you want to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, the perfect place to start is with your heating and cooling equipment!
How Much Money Can a New Furnace Save You?
Our AFUE energy savings calculator can help determine how much you could save on your utility bills. Enter your current unit’s AFUE value and compare it to a newer, more efficient system.
AFUE Energy Savings Calculator
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Customize to Your Home
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** Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration
*** Data from 2002 EPA study
** Data for Canadian cities from nrcan.gc.ca
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Furnace Installation or Replacement
Don’t invest in a quality HVAC system and then hire a substandard contractor to install it. You will never enjoy the full benefits of a system installed incorrectly.
At Scott Brothers Heating & Air, we specialize in installing equipment the right way. We take our time to ensure everything is measured correctly. Our team will also conduct a thorough energy audit of your home to find additional ways to lower your energy use.
Be sure to ask about our convenient financing options (subject to approved credit) designed to make it easy for you to create your dream home.
Furnace Repairs
Odd-sounding noises, a spike in energy bills, or constant cycling—these signs indicate a problem with your furnace. Don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a costly problem. Give us a call today if you detect a problem with your HVAC system. We promise never to replace a part unless necessary—or if we can demonstrate significant cost savings.
Furnace Maintenance
Want to get the most value from your HVAC system? Develop a preventative maintenance plan. Doing so can rejuvenate your equipment, increase your comfort, and lower your operating costs.
Call Us Today
Our entire team at Scott Brothers Heating & Air values the trust you placed in our company—we promise to work extra hard to keep your business. Let us install your next furnace. Give our Boone, NC, office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at 336-877-1702 or request service online today.
“As always, Andy was efficient, personable, and knowledgeable.”
“Last week Jacob diagnosed my problem as a bad inducer motor and Shea promptly order the new part and assured me that she would schedule the repair as son as they got the new part in. On Monday, 11/10/2025, the coldest day of the year so far, Jacob arrive and promptly made the repair and my furnace is up and running. I can't say enough about the professionalism and understanding that Jacob displayed. It was like dealing with family or a close friend.
I highly recommend Scott Brothers and Jacob.
Thank You Scott Brothers, you have earned a new loyal customer !!”
“My Gas Furnace stopped igniting on a Saturday morning and after calling several companies Scott Brothers was the only one that agreed to come out within 1 day, other companies where anywhere between 1and 3 WEEKS !! Jacob arrived within the scheduled time period (also texted me when he was on the way) and diagnosed the issue quickly (bad inducer motor). Shea contacted me within an hour with an estimate for repair and scheduled the repair right away. Everyone I spoke to at Scott Brothers were extremely professional and understanding that I was getting COLD, lol.
I highly recommend Scott Brothers for your cooling and heating needs!!”
“Delany Thomas repaired our heating system and got us back running. We live 200 miles from our mountain house and had to do everything by phone. Delany and I spoke by phone about the issue he found and he promptly fixed our problem. Delany was professional, kept me in touch with what he found with our system and provided me with contact information should I experience any other problems. Delany is not only professional in his line of work but goes the extra mile to make sure I was satisfied. A great experience and I highly recommend Scott Brothers!
Also, the office person I talked with is great and I appreciate her getting us scheduled quickly”
“Jacob is a standup guy. He arrive on time, introduced himself, and identified the issue quickly. Highly recommend Jacob!”
“Andy always performs the assigned tasks and then some. He goes beyond to make sure everything is in perfect working order.”
“Thank you. As always excellent service keeping everything running properly .”
“Great communication! Andy was proactive, knowledgeable and personable. Highly recommended!”