Carrier Comfort 58SB Gas Furnace Review

According to the Chicago Tribune, the average useful life of a furnace is about 20 years. Many furnaces that are 20 years old or more operate at efficiencies at or below 70 percent, which is low by industry standards.

An inefficient furnace causes a host of problems:

• Uneven temperatures. Rooms that used to be comfortable in the winter are chillier
• You’re spending more and more money on repairs
• Registers that once had good airflow now emit less heat
• Your fuel bills spike

Whatever the reason, the reality is that your furnace will need to be replaced. The problem becomes where to turn for a suitable replacement. At Fire & Ice, we’ve sold and installed thousands of gas furnaces, and have a good idea of the range and prices.

One furnace we recommend is the Carrier Comfort 58SB. For the right home, and for the right homeowner, it can be a perfect solution. We’ll take a close look at its specifications, benefits, and cost.

By the end of this article, you should have a better idea if it’s right for you.

What Are the Features of the Carrier Comfort 58SB Gas Furnace?

If you don’t want to spend top dollar on a gas furnace, but still want a new unit that’s energy-efficient and reliable, we have an answer. The Carrier Comfort 58SB is an affordable gas furnace for those homeowners who are content with their gas bills and overall heating comfort.

It is a fixed-speed, single-stage gas furnace. (Fixed speed means that the air is moved with the same force from the beginning of the cycle to the end.)

What Is a Single-Stage Furnace?

The classic furnace unit has two settings: ON or OFF. This is a single-stage furnace because it has only one heat setting. Two-stage furnaces will have a secondary setting that’s usually 60 or 70% of the maximum heating output. Modulating (occasionally called variable-speed) furnaces have multiple heating stages, from 100% capacity to as low as around 40%.

One benefit of Carrier Comfort 58SB is that it comes equipped with an ECM motor, which is more efficient compared to an older furnace. (ECM stands for electronically commutated motor.) An ECM motor is far more efficient than the PSC (a permanent split capacitor motor), which many older furnaces are equipped with. The new motor lowers the electrical consumption of the furnace while it’s working to move air through the system.

The furnace has a fully-insulated cabinet for quiet induced-draft operation. The PowerHeat hot surface ignition is one of the most robust and durable ignition systems available. It eliminates the need for a pilot light, reduces gas usage, and promotes more consistent operation. Aluminized steel heat exchangers also contribute to lasting durability.

The 58SB can be installed with any compatible electric heat pump to be used like a dual-fuel system that automatically switches between electric and gas heating for increased energy savings. If you combine a Comfort 58SB gas furnace, a Carrier heat pump, and a compatible thermostat, Carrier’s Hybrid Heat system automatically switches between electric and gas heating to optimize the efficiency of each fuel source. It’s a great way to help manage utility costs.

What Are the Specs of the Carrier Comfort 58SB Gas Furnace?

• 80% AFUE heating efficiency
• Single-stage operation
• Fixed-speed blower motor
• Low NOx (nitrogen oxides) models available (example: the 58SB1)
• 10-year parts limited warranty upon timely registration
• 20-year heat exchanger limited warranty
• Hybrid Heat compatible
• Fixed-speed constant torque ECM blower motor
• Pilot-free, hot surface PowerHeat ignition ensures reliable start-up
• Aluminized steel clamshell-style primary heat exchanger
• Recommended controls: Performance Edge relative humidity or ComfortZone II thermostats
• 30,000-154,000 Btu/h
• Flexible installation: upflow, downflow, or horizontal
• Versatile venting for tight-fit applications
• Convertible to liquid propane (LP)
• 20-gauge, galvanized steel with appliance finish
• Baked on urethane base coat and polyester topcoat paint in taupe metallic
• Dimensions in upflow position: 33.25″H x width varies by size: 14.25-24.5″ x 29″D

How Furnaces’ Efficiency Is Measured

AFUE measures a gas furnace’s efficiency in converting fuel to energy. A furnace that has an 80 percent AFUE rating can turn 80 percent of the energy it consumes into heat. The other 20 percent used during the heating process is exhausted as waste (mostly carbon monoxide).

What is a good AFUE?

A higher AFUE rating means greater energy efficiency. The minimum standard AFUE for new furnaces is 78 percent. A mid-efficiency furnace usually has an AFUE rating between 80 and 85 percent, while a high-efficiency unit has a rating between 90 and 97 percent. The Comfort 958SB 80% rating isn’t in the range of high efficiency, but it will likely provide more efficiency than your current furnace.

What HVAC Equipment Pairs Well with the Carrier Comfort 58SB Gas Furnace?

When used in conjunction with the right air conditioning system, the Carrier Comfort 58SB boosts SEER ratings, resulting in terrific cost savings throughout the year. (SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is the ratio of the cooling output of an air conditioner over a typical cooling season.)

Air conditioners that will prove to be the best fit are from the Carrier Comfort series: the Comfort 13 Central Air Conditioner, and the Comfort 14 Coastal Air Conditioner.

Who’s the Right Fit for the Carrier Comfort 58SB Gas Furnace?

The best fit for this furnace is a homeowner who is budget-conscious, is content with the comfort of their home, and doesn’t have high gas bills.

It is one of the more basic gas furnaces Carrier makes. If you have a ranch home that’s not super long, or another type of smaller house, it will provide plenty of heat in the winter.

This would be a modern replacement for what homeowners already have if you’ve never upgraded your furnace in the past. A 20- or 25-year-old furnace has an efficiency rating of about 70% or lower. The Carrier Comfort 58SB is far more efficient. This furnace’s rating of 80% should help you see a substantial decrease in your gas bills.

Some homeowners care only about getting a furnace without spending a fortune. Their furnace is broken; they don’t want to be cold; they don’t have an HVAC savings account. They want something affordable, efficient, and reliable. This furnace fits that bill.

This is also a good model for those people who are certain that they’re going to sell their house within a year or so. Investing in a more expensive unit will save on gas bills, but you aren’t likely to justify spending more for a furnace upfront.

Other Gas Furnace Options

If you’re uncomfortable in the winter because of dry air, or are plagued by hot and cold spots in the house, this isn’t a good match for you. You would be better off looking at a Carrier furnace with a two-stage or variable-speed gas valve.

You might want to consider the next step up: the Carrier 59TP6, which is a two-stage, variable-speed furnace. The two stages allow you to have more control of how much fuel the furnace is using, and can supply a little bit of heat or a lot, depending on the house’s temperature.

If you want to look at Trane furnaces, the next step up would be an S9X2, which is a two-stage, fixed-speed furnace with an ECM motor.

Buying a Gas Furnace in Columbus, Ohio

By now, you should know the Carrier Comfort 58SB’s features and whether or not it might be the right furnace for you. It’s time to take the next steps toward finding your perfect system.

If you’re in our service area, contact us to schedule your free, no-pressure estimate. You’ll get the exact pricing and a variety of recommendations to match your budget and comfort needs, and we offer next-day installation.

Our service area is below.

Meanwhile, here are some related articles we hope you will find informative:

• How Much Does a New Furnace Replacement Cost?
• HVAC Buyer’s Guide
• The Complete Guide to Home Furnaces