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 Alberta 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 Distinct Heating & Cooling has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Calgary 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.
  • 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 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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This calculator does not guarantee actual costs or savings and is only to be used for educational purposes.

Customize to Your Home

Adjust these settings for a more accurate calculation:

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Average Annual Heating Hours***


Historical Comparison

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** Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration
*** Data from 2002 EPA study

** Data for Canadian cities from nrcan.gc.ca
*** Data from weatherdatadepot.com

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 Distinct Heating & Cooling, 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 Calgary home to find additional ways to lower your energy use.

Be sure to ask about our convenient financing options 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. Have your furnace professionally maintained on a consistent basis. Doing so can rejuvenate your equipment, increase your comfort, and lower your operating costs.

Call Us Today

Our entire team at Distinct Heating & Cooling 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 Calgary office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at (403) 477-3810 or request service online today.

Learn More About Our Furnace Models:

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YORK TM9E Furnace

Feature Highlights:

  • Easily applied in upflow, horizontal left or right, or downflow installation with minimal conversion necessary.
  • Compact, easy to install, ideal height 33 in. tall cabinet.
  • Blower-off delay for cooling SEER improvement.
  • Easy access to controls to connect power/control wiring.
  • Built-in, high level self diagnostics with fault code displays
  • standard on integrated control module for reliable operation.
  • Low unit current requirement for easy replacement application.
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YORK YP9C Furnace

Feature Highlights:

  • 98% efficient (AFUE)
  • Fully modulating gas valve for precision comfort control and efficiency
  • Variable speed blower motor operates quietly and efficiently while reducing electrical consumption
  • 10-year parts and labour warranty
  • Lifetime heat exchanger warranty
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YORK TM9V Furnace

Feature Highlights:

  • 96% efficient (AFUE)
  • 2-stage gas valve operation
  • Variable speed blower motor operates quietly and efficiently while reducing electrical consumption
  • 10-year parts and labour warranty
  • Lifetime heat exchanger warranty
Lifebreath.-Clean-Air-Furnace-300x300.webp

LifeBreath Clean Air Furnace

Feature Highlights:

  • Achieves a 90% Combined Annual Efficiency rating
  • Eliminates the need for gas or oil flames, fumes, or flue gases
  • Routine maintenance can be performed simply and quickly
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iFlow IFLH-18000W Hydronic Air Handler

Feature Highlights:

  • 5 Year Parts
  • 10 Year Heat Exchanger
  • Highest performance at 98% efficiency
  • Cost-effective & extremely quiet variable speed ECM fan motor & constant CFM
  • Smart home compatible, with built-in Wifi & an app available for iOS & Android phones

Need Furnace Service?

Contact the experts at Distinct Heating & Cooling.

Call us at (403) 477-3810!

“New Furnace and AC
Thanks to Distinct Heating & Cooling team. This is the second home we have had a new system installed and didn't hesitate to go with Nate's team again. Our installers Kristian and Jaden were excellent. On time, courteous clean and most important, excellent workmanship. They made time to answer my questions and explain the new features to me. Thanks”
- Lorne B.

“Had a new furnace and humidifier put in 14 years ago by Distinct during a home renovation…we have used them for our annual servicing ever since. Always reliable and timely, Ed is my go to Technician. Shows up with a smile and takes his time to service the F&H and then will take the time to go thru what he did. Highly recommend them, especially when Ed is showing up at your door.”

- Mary P.

“As every year we had our furnace check by Distinct Heating & Cooling. The technician – Aidan Burlando – was right on time and performed his task very professionally. Excellent Service. Thank you!”

- Adrian P.