Introduction
When shopping for a new furnace, it’s important to know what you want. For example, you might want a high efficiency furnace but aren’t sure if it is right for you. Luckily, we can help. In this blog post, we will discuss what a high efficiency furnace is, its cost, how it differs from standard furnaces, whether it’s the right heating choice for you, and more. We hope this blog post helps, and if you have any questions, leave a comment below!
What Is a High Efficiency Furnace?
A high efficiency furnace is a furnace that is 90% efficient or more. It uses less energy and is more efficient than the average furnace. The more efficient a furnace is, the less your heating costs will likely be.
To get into specifics, a high efficiency furnace is defined as a furnace that has a AFUE rating of 90% to 98.5%. According to Carrier, AFUE, annual fuel utilization efficiency, is “a standard measurement of how efficiently a furnace converts energy from the fuel it uses into warm air for your home.” AFUE efficiency determines the energy efficiency of a heating system.
A high efficiency furnace requires specialized ventilation and runs more often. Most high efficiency furnaces are natural gas furnaces that require ventilation systems anyway, but high efficiency models take it a step further.
Why Are High Efficiency Furnaces So Efficient?
One reason why high efficiency furnaces are so efficient is because they have two heat exchangers. An HVAC heat exchanger transfers heat from one source of air to another without requiring the sources to interact. First, the primary heat exchanger captures heat from fuel and transfers it to another air source. Then, the secondary heat exchanger takes what remains in the primary heat exchanger—also known as exhaust gases or combustion air—and tries to extract as much heat as possible from it.
Furnaces are always most efficient when they are first brand new, and high efficiency furnaces are no different. However, during their lifespan, they will release less waste than the average furnace. They are also quieter than mid-efficiency furnaces. There is no such thing as a 100% high efficiency furnace, but there are 96% ones. A 96% high efficiency furnace will save you more money than an 80% efficiency furnace in the long run. The higher the percentage of efficiency the furnace has, the more likely it is a high efficiency furnace.

What is the Cost of a High Efficiency Furnace?
As a rule of thumb, the higher the efficiency of a furnace, the more it will cost:
- According to Home Advisor, the average high efficiency furnace can cost between $2,000 to $12,000 in 2025, not including the cost of labor. Be prepared to spend at least $6,000 to be on the safe side. The price of one depends on the size of it and the brand you decide to go with.
- To put the cost of a high efficiency furnace into perspective, the average gas furnace in 2025 costs between $2,614 to $6,311. This does not include the cost of labor and is only an estimate.
With a high efficiency furnace, you will spend more money at first to purchase it and have it installed. However, it will lower the cost of your utility bills. It will likely pay for itself over the years and work better than an average furnace. How much money you save with it depends on your heating bills and the efficiency of your previous furnace. For example, if your furnace was 85% efficient and you buy a 90% efficient furnace, then you will only notice a 5% difference. The furnace will still be better, but the chances of you noticing will be lower. That is true with any furnace and not just a high efficiency one.

What Makes a High Efficiency Furnace Different?
A high efficiency furnace, as mentioned in the “What is a High Efficiency Furnace” section, is more efficient than the standard efficiency furnace. However, what exactly does that mean? We covered some reasons why it is different, but we didn’t cover those reasons in depth. We thought it might be important to revisit them one more time:
It Runs More Often
A high efficiency furnace runs more often than the average furnace. The reason why it runs more often is so it can make better use of energy. Even though it runs more often, it is quieter than your average furnace. You are less likely to notice it.
It Uses Less Electricity
A high efficiency furnace runs more often than the average furnace. It runs more often to make better use of energy. Even though it runs more often, it is quieter than your average furnace. You are less likely to notice it.
It Focuses More on Efficiency Than Durability
One downside to a high efficiency furnace is that by focusing more on efficiency, it sacrifices durability. However, if you take care of your furnace you are less likely to notice this. Change your filter as recommended and get yearly checkups on your HVAC system and your furnace should last 15 years or more. You can read more about how to take care of your furnace here.
It is Environmentally Friendly
High efficiency furnaces are more environmentally friendly because they use less energy. They also lower your carbon footprint by releasing less carbon dioxide into the air, as they burn fewer fossil fuels.
Those are the main points that cover what makes a high efficiency furnace different from a standard one. They are becoming more popular over standard furnaces due to the advantages they offer. While a more efficient furnace may be pricey, it has more to offer than a standard model.

Should You Get a High Efficiency Furnace?
The million-dollar question: Should you get a high efficiency furnace? It depends on your situation. If you live in a climate where you don’t use your furnace often, then a high efficiency furnace is probably not the right choice for you. A high efficiency furnace will only save you money on your utility bills if you use your furnace frequently. If you don’t use your furnace often, the extra cost of it may not be worth it. However, if you live in a colder climate, you might find that a more efficient furnace is worth it. Over time, it will help lower your utility bills. While the savings may not be significant at first, they will gradually add up.
At the end of the day, you should consider how often you use your furnace and if a high efficiency unit is right for you. A high efficiency furnace has more pros than cons, but its price tag is not something to scoff at.
Conclusion
We hope this helped to answer your questions about high efficiency furnaces. Do you live in Jefferson County or the surrounding areas and need a new high efficiency furnace installed? Give us a call! Furnace installation is one of our specialities and we would be happy to help you. Our phone number is 636-475-9384.