Tempstar Furnace Reviews – (2022) Ultimate Guide

The winter is almost here, and people have begun their search for the best heating options. It’s not an easy one, though, as there are so many options and limited time. Fortunately, they can find a good heating solution by opting for a model from Tempstar. 

Tempstar is one of the best furnace brands out there. It has several options to consider that are explored later in this guide of the best Tempstar furnace reviews. 

If you want to learn more about them, keep on reading:

Who is Tempstar? 

Tempstar is a brand owned by International Comfort Products (ICP), which ultimately is a part of United Technologies Corp. It came into existence in the 1980s and has since been dominating the market with its top-notch quality heating systems. 

There are several reasons why it is such an acclaimed and sought-out brand, one of the major ones being that it has kept the quality and performance of its units up. Its units are well-thought, innovatively designed, and a total success, given how reliable they are. This is why, for many, Tempstar is their first choice. 

What Makes Tempstar Furnaces Stand Out From the Competition?

There are a plethora of furnace brands, models, and types in the market, which leaves one to wonder, what is so special about a Tempstar furnace. Well, a few aspects make it stand out from the competition and make it a worthy investment. Let’s take a look at them:

Performance

One of its biggest attractions is the highly efficient performance. It is equipped with a heating cabinet that ensures the heat moves up to the ductwork. Furthermore, many of its units are also dual-fuel capable with a heat pump that ensures efficient heating.

Warranty

Tempstar offers one of the best warranties on the market. Their heat exchangers are warranted for life, whereas a ten-year limited warranty covers their parts upon registration. This makes their products highly reliable. 

Construction

Their units are constructed with the best quality materials. This high-quality, sturdy design not only provides improved performance but is also responsible for the quiet operation.  

Review of the Best Tempstar Furnaces

There’s a wide range of Tempstar furnaces to choose from, and it may get a little intimidating at first, especially for beginners. Keeping this in mind, we have compiled and reviewed some of the best ones in the market for you to take a look at. Let’s jump right into it: 

Types of Furnaces by Tempstar

In terms of fuel, Tempstar furnaces can be broadly divided into two categories, namely oil and gas furnaces. These then have a further division that we’ve later discussed in this section.

Gas Furnace

Gas furnaces operate by using propane or natural gas as fuel. These gases are essentially burned to produce heat. Tempstar has three series of gas furnaces. These are the Ion series, which is the most premium out of the three, the Quiet Comfort series that features standard gas furnaces, and lastly, the Performance series that is the most economical out of the three. 

Oil Furnace

As the name suggests, these furnaces work by drawing in oil as fuel. The oil is converted to a fine spray, mixed with air, and then burned to produce heat. Tempstar has two series of il furnaces. These are the Quiet Comfort series, which contains standard furnaces, and the Performance series that have more economical options. 

Tempstar has a wide range of furnaces, and they can be further sub-categorized based upon their heating. This will help you narrow down your options as each category has its pros and cons. Let’s take a look at them:

Single-Stage Heating

Furnaces with single-stage heating have a single valve setting. They tend to be on the more affordable end of the price spectrum. This makes them widely accessible. However, one drawback of this type of furnace is that it tends to have a noisy operation from the blower motor.

Two-Stage Heating

These tend to have two valve settings. Such units normally operate on the first setting, but as the temperature lowers further, they can increase heat production as needed. These are much quieter than single-stage furnaces. 

Modulating Heating

Modulating heating is also called variable heating, and it is considered by many as the best out of all the staged heating furnaces. They could heat at 40% to 100% capacity as needed according to the situation. The downside to these is they are the most expensive furnace out of all three types. 

Comparison Overview 

Tempstar is a popular brand, and people often wonder how it compares to some other brands. To answer this, we have put Tempstar furnaces against units from some popular brands to decide how similar or different they are. Let’s take a look at them:

Amana vs Tempstar Furnaces

Here’s a complete round-up of how these two compare with each other:

Similarity

There isn’t a great difference in terms of performance, warranty, and features between the two; in fact, they are quite similar. Tempstar has a little edge as it is more expensive, but both brands manufacture highly efficient heating units. 

Difference

Amana is slightly on the affordable end of the price spectrum as compared to Tempstar. 

Plus, in order to install a Tempstar unit, one needs to have a NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certificate and not just be factory-trained. Meanwhile, any certified installer can install an Amana furnace. 

Tempstar vs Carrier Furnace

People are always comparing the two in different aspects. Let’s take an in-depth look at what makes them similar or different.

Similarity

They tend to offer similar warranty service. Both brands warrant their product for ten years. 

Difference

The obvious difference between the two is that of the price. Carrier is on the more expensive end of the spectrum and is a few hundred dollars more than Tempstar furnaces. 

Tempstar vs Lennox Furnace

The two are often compared. Let’s see how they fare against each other:

Similarity

The designs of the top models of both brands are pretty similar. They both have a high SEER rating, ten-year warranty, and two-stage heating system. 

Difference

Lennox is on the more expensive end of the spectrum once the installation price is included, whereas Tempstar is more affordable. 

Tempstar Furnace Troubleshooting 

People have a lot of queries about the operation of their furnaces or the troubles they encounter during that. There are some common problems that can arise, and these tend to have quick fixes as well. 

For example, people often complain about their furnace being too noisy, which can be due to several reasons, such as loose screws that attach the blower assembly to the design. Another complaint is about the furnace, not heating, which can be due to a failed igniter. Similarly, other problems can arise, as well. 

Let’s troubleshoot some of them to help you get a better-performing furnace:

Why Does My Tempstar Gas Furnace Shut Off at Different Times?

One of the most common reasons why the furnace may start and shut off afterward is a defective or dirty flame sensor monitor which fails to detect a flame, enabling the control board to shut off voltage. Another reason for this scenario could be a defective control board. 

How to Light Automatic Pilot on a Tempstar Furnace

In order to do so, first, turn the furnace off and switch the electricity off. Then, unscrew the burner compartment door to remove it. Next, switch off the gas valve. Wait a few minutes to let the ambient gas clear out, which actually minimizes the risk of explosion. 

Then, turn the gas control valve back ON. Screw the compartment door back in and restore the power connection to the furnace. Finally, you can set the thermostat to the desired heat and temperature setting.  

How to Adjust Your Blower Motor on a Tempstar Furnace

Firstly, turn the power off. Then, switch off the breaker to the air handler. Next, determine the speed you want to opt for where black is the highest, orange is the medium, and red is the lowest speed setting. Go ahead and unscrew the air handle access panels and locate the control board. 

There will be a terminal marked heat on the control board to which there is a seed tap wire attached. Slide this tap wire off and replace it with the corresponding color wire. You will then put the removed wire in place of the replacement wire tab. Lastly, screw the panels back together and turn the power on. 

Why Will My Tempstar Furnace Blower Not Stop Running?

There are several reasons that cause the blower to keep running. Firstly, it may be due to the wrong thermostat fan setting. Moreover, it can also be due to a defective thermostat wire or a defected fan limit switch. 

How to Reset Tempstar Furnace

To reset the furnace, firstly, turn the power off. Make sure the furnace isn’t receiving any power by turning the light switch off. Next, lift the blower cover by removing the screws to access the motor. Before proceeding to the next step, check if the motor housing is hot; if it is, then let it cool down first. 

Finally, you will be able to see a small red or yellow button, which is the reset button. Press the button, put the cover back on, and connect the power supply. 

Tempstar Furnace Flash Codes 

The different LED flashes are representative of error codes. A few examples would be a Heartbeat LED pattern, which indicates that the control is locked and will be auto-set in one hour.

Two flashes indicate that the pressure switch didn’t open. Three flashes mean that the pressure switch either hasn’t closed or has been reopened, etc. All of these have easy fixes. 

Tempstar Furnace Maintenance 

The maintenance of any furnace is crucial for its health. A poorly maintained and cared-for furnace will not last long. To prevent that, we have for you the step-by-step breakdown of how to maintain your furnace:

1. Firstly, when working with gas furnaces, it’s important to be safe. Therefore, turn the power off to the appliance and turn the gas valve on. Plus, make sure there isn’t anything combustible around you.
   
   
2. The first thing to take care of is your filters. It’s crucial to have clean filters. Simply slide the filter out of the furnace and replace it with a new clean filter to make it ready for the heating season.
   
   
3. Next, you need to make sure there is no dust and dirt buildup in the gas burner area and the blower assembly. Clean these two spots easily using a vacuum cleaner. Make sure to clean around the ports of the gas furnace.
   
   
4. It’s important to keep the wiring of the furnace in check as well. All wiring should be functional. Look out for any broken or bare wirings.
   
   
5. The vent assembly should also be properly checked for moisture, rust, or any holes that may become a reason for leakage. There shouldn’t be any separation of joints in the flue assembly.
   
   
6. After you’ve checked and corrected all these things, your furnace is ready for the heating season!

How Do You Start a Tempstar Furnace?

First, remove the door from the furnace and make sure the gas valve is turned off. You will be able to see a knob with three options, namely, on, off, and pilot. Go ahead and turn the knob to the pilot setting to let the air bubbles escape. 

Next, press the knob in to release the gas and any air bubbles. Keep it pressed for 30 seconds to a minute and light the pilot light flame. Slowly release the knob so the flame remains on, and then slowly turn it to reflect the on button.  

How to Clean a Heat Exchanger on a Tempstar Furnace

To clean it, take the cover off and remove the draft hood to expose the heat exchanger tubes. Mostly, dust deposits on the baffles of the heat exchanger. Cleaning this is pretty simple and straightforward. You will need to take the baffles out and use a skinny brush to clean in the tubes. Then, clean the baffles as well and assemble it back together. 

Where is the Filter Located on a Tempstar Furnace?

They are either located at the entrance of the blower chamber or at the return duct. 

How Do You Change a Filter in a Tempstar Furnace?

To change the filter, first open or slide the door panel to get access to the furnace. You will be able to find the filter where the cool air enters the furnace, which is the cold air entrance duct or the entrance to the blower chamber. 

Then, slide out the old filter to replace it with the new one. While doing so, make sure the airflow arrows on the filter are pointing the right way. Then, replace the panel or door. The filter may need replacement every month during the cold season. 

How to Check Condensate Pump in Tempstar Furnace And AC

To check the condensate pump, find a free intake port, and then insert some water in it. If it hasn’t turned on, it’s better to unplug it and check if the pump gets power. If there is none, you may have to reset the GFCI switch. 

If the pump was turned on after you poured in the water, you would need to verify if it is draining the water out. It shouldn’t be draining out water like a drizzle; instead, it should be flowing out without any struggle. This is the easiest method to check the condensate pump. 

Conclusion

Buying the right furnace is on top of everyone’s shopping list for the upcoming winter. Therefore, to help you find the best product for your buck, this post provides you with all the information you need on Tempstar furnaces. This includes incredible product recommendations and more. 

Tempstar dominates the market with its incredible furnaces and is a great option to consider. Hopefully, this post provided you with all the information you were looking for 

People Also Ask

When it comes to buying the right furnace, people tend to have a lot of questions. We took the liberty of answering the most frequently asked questions to clarify any confusions you may have. Let’s take a look at them: