Is Ducane the same as Armstrong Air?
Ducane is one of the brands built by Allied Air Enterprises, the Lennox International division based in South Carolina that also makes Armstrong Air. The equipment is value-priced and plain, with fewer premium features than Lennox, and it shares a lot of hardware with its Allied Air siblings. If you own an Armstrong Air, our Armstrong Air service page will look familiar.
One naming note: Ducane gas grills are a different business. The ducane.com address now forwards to Weber, which confuses people trying to look up a furnace. Ducane HVAC literature and warranty registration sit with Allied Air.
How do you tell which blower a Ducane furnace has?
Ducane's current furnaces come in two blower styles, and the model number tells you which one you have. The V models, such as the 97G2VK and 80G2VK, use a variable-speed blower. The E models, such as the 96G1EK and 92G1EK, use a constant-torque motor. Ducane's furnace range runs from 80% AFUE models that vent into a metal flue up to 97% condensing models that vent through PVC.
That difference matters on a service call. A constant-torque motor holds a set torque on each speed tap; a variable-speed motor adjusts itself to keep the airflow on target. They fail differently and they're tested differently, and neither is cheap, so we check the motor, its module and the control signal before replacing anything. National cost guides such as HomeGuide put a typical variable-speed (ECM) blower motor replacement at $800–$2,300; our post on blower motor replacement cost explains the spread. The rest of a Ducane no-heat call looks like any furnace: pressure switches, inducer motors, igniters and flame sensors, covered on our furnace repair page.
Newer Ducane systems and the refrigerant change
Most of Ducane's current air conditioners and heat pumps are listed as compliant with the 2025 low-GWP refrigerant rules. Under EPA's rule, residential systems manufactured from 2025 on use lower-GWP refrigerants such as R-454B or R-32, and Ducane's current furnaces list a refrigerant detection system to go with them.
In practice that adds one more part to the checklist. If a newer Ducane won't cool and nothing obvious is wrong at the condenser, we check the refrigerant sensor and its wiring before assuming a bad board. Older Ducane systems on R-410A are unaffected: they can still be repaired and recharged, and pre-2025 R-410A equipment can still be installed. Our AC repair page covers how we handle leaks, which is the more common reason a Ducane stops cooling.
Can a Ducane heat pump handle a Minnesota winter?
Ducane sells a real cold-weather option. It lists the 7SHP15V's variable-capacity compressor as heating down to 0°F, and the 7HP19V as variable-speed and dual-fuel compatible. That covers a lot of a Minnesota heating season, but not the coldest nights, when design temperatures run well below zero. We pair these heat pumps with a gas furnace or electric backup heat, set the switch-over point for your house, and let the heat pump do the shoulder-season work. Our guide to cold-climate heat pumps in Minnesota shows how output falls off as it gets colder.
Registering, replacing and booking
Ducane's terms give you 60 days from installation to register, or 60 days from closing on a new home. Miss it and the equipment defaults to a 5-year limited parts warranty and a 20-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger. Registration extends coverage on qualifying equipment, so do it the week the equipment goes in.
When a Ducane is past saving, we quote the replacement with a Manual J load calculation rather than copying the old nameplate. Installed furnaces run $4,500–$9,500 and heat pumps $7,500–$14,500, depending on the equipment and the house.
Call 612-429-3465 from 7am to 9pm, seven days a week. No-heat calls get priority. A service call is a $79 trip charge, waived when you approve the repair, and the price is written and fixed before we start.
Ducane questions
Who makes Ducane furnaces?
Ducane heating and cooling equipment comes from Allied Air Enterprises, which is part of Lennox International. Allied Air also builds Armstrong Air, so the two brands share engineering and many parts. Ducane gas grills are a separate business; the ducane.com address now forwards to Weber, so look for the HVAC brand under Allied Air instead.
How long do I have to register a new Ducane?
Ducane's current terms say equipment must be registered within 60 days of installation, or within 60 days of closing on a newly built home. Unregistered equipment defaults to a 5-year limited parts warranty and a 20-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger. Registration extends coverage on qualifying equipment, so do it right after the install.
Is a Ducane as good as a Lennox?
They're different price points from the same parent. Lennox is the premium brand with more high-end features. Ducane is the value line with simpler equipment. A properly sized and installed Ducane heats a Minnesota house fine; what you give up is mostly refinement. If you plan to stay for decades, compare both before you decide.
My new Ducane AC uses a different refrigerant. Can it still be repaired normally?
Yes. Newer Ducane condensers are built for lower-GWP refrigerants under the EPA's rules for equipment made from 2025 on. They're repaired with the same leak searches and recharges, using the right refrigerant and tools. Existing R-410A Ducane systems can also still be repaired and recharged. Nothing about the change makes your older system illegal to service.
Sources
- HomeGuide cost guides (2026 editions) homeguide.com
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency epa.gov