Furnace Inspection / Replacement

[a1jatt]

Can someone please recomend the best mid efficient furnance brand and the reliable and reputed installing dealer / technician ? Money is not the biggest concern, but it must be reliable and safe.

What does the furnance inspection involve, specifically the heat exchanger inspection? Like other trades, are only the certified tech allowed to conduct the inspections or the onus is on the consumer to make sure the inspectors is certified? What certificiation to look for? Are these duct cleaning amigos (for example advanpro.ca) somewhat trained/certified ?

Thanks in advance,
-AJ

[nusneak]

If your furnace is over 5 years old parts/service for it are probably going to be more expensive then you would want to spend on an older furnace.

If your furnace is over 5 years old, or 5' tall, I'd say get a new one. Your heating bill should be reduced quite a bit.
If you get a high efficient furnace 90-95% of the money you spend on gas will heat your home.

Price out a furnace from a few bigger places.
If you don't want your house fucked up, I would not go with the cheapest company.

I core holes for furnace companies, and some of them have TERRIBLE installers that basically wreck peoples houses. You would not believe the shit I have seen!
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080820/calgary_house_blast_080820/20080820?hub=Canada
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3140/sspx0207xc6.th.jpg (http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sspx0207xc6.jpg)

PM me if you want my opinion on companies to avoid, I'm not going to post it up here.