The reasons for replacing your furnace are numerous. Old furnaces can be costly because they often perform poorly and lose heat and energy. Sometimes older furnaces or furnaces that are not performing properly are very noisy and interrupt your ability to relax at home. A furnace often breaks because its equipment is poorly maintained. Repairs to your furnace can sometimes be very costly and so it makes more sense to replace the furnace completely. When you are shopping for a new furnace a major factor to consider is energy efficiency. Not only will you waste money using an inefficient furniture it also a waste of energy which is bad for the environment. You can save money in the long run by purchasing a new, energy efficient furnace. When you are shopping for a new furnace you should purchase a high efficiency furnace with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 94% or more in order to save the most money on your heating expenses..
Since there are so many furnace options finding the right furnace can be tough. Furnaces are large expenses for your home and it is important that they function properly. If you are shopping for a new furnace consider the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnace. A conventional furnace has an AFUE of 60-65% which is low compared to the 94% AFUE of a high efficiency furnace. If you have a conventional furnace you are wasting approximately 35 - 40% of energy for every dollar you spend due to inefficiency. In between a conventional and high efficiency furnace when it comes to performance you will find the mid efficiency furnace. In comparison to a conventional furnace a mid efficiency furnace saves 20-23% in heating costs due to its AFUE rating of 80%. You can save 30-38% in heating costs with a high efficiency furnace in comparison to a conventional furnace. You can save on heating costs with a high efficiency furnace and also contribute to the environment by reducing the amount of energy your home wastes. High efficiency furnaces are a great way to reduce your heating costs.
When it comes to mid efficiency and high efficiency furnaces there are three basic types you can choose from - single stage, two stage and modulating. Single stage furnaces run at full capacity whenever heat is needed. Single stage furnaces are not the most energy efficient options because they will run at full capacity even when your home only needs your furnace to run at 50%. Single stage furnaces run at full capacity until you shut them off. For those of you who want to maintain a certain temperature in your home you will not find the single stage furnace ideal. A two stage furnace is better than a single stage furnace when it comes to energy efficiency. A two stage furnace will run at 65% capacity in its first stage, and then automatically kick into full capacity when required. When heating your home a two stage furnace is more efficient. Eliminating problems with jumps in temperature, a two stage furnace will make your home more comfortable. Heating your home at a constant temperature will reduce temperature jumps..
A great option when it comes to mid-high efficiency furnaces is a modulating furnace because it provides up to 65 stages of heat output, which is a great option for energy efficiency. A modulating furnace uses variable speed by way of an ECM (electronically commutated motor), which will make your furnace quieter, operate longer and reduce operating costs. Since they operate for a fraction of the cost of a regular furnace a modulating furnace will help you save significant amounts of money on heating your home. Reducing energy consumption by 80% is one of the great benefits of a modulating furnace. You can improve your air conditioning efficiency by up to 16% with a variable speed blower furnace as well as experience a quieter furnace. A great benefit of an ECM variable speed blower is that you can gain humidity control in your home through your furnace. An ECM blower motor will modulate heat by providing longer operating cycles for the furnace, which will help to improve temperature stability and increase your home's comfort level. Air satification causes hot air to rise and cold air to drop which can be a heating issue in many homes. You can prevent air satification in your home by using a blower motor in your furnace.
The best way to ensure your furnace will run smoothly and have a long life span is to conduct regular maintenance on it. Don`t wait until your furnace breaks before you take care of it, fixing a furnace is expensive and costs more than regular maintenance. Consider your furnace a key house investment and protect it with regular maintenance. The additional risk of a broken furnace is that other parts of your home can be affected, like your pipes which can freeze and burst. Regular furnace maintenance will decrease your energy use, reduce your heating bills and make your home more comfortable. Ensuring your filters and coils are clean is a part of regular furnace maintenance. Ensure your furnace`s fans, burners and pumps perform well in addition to checking that filters and coils are clean.Some maintenance plans will save you money in the long run by providing additional warranty coverage. The best time to conduct maintenance on your furnace is pre-season. Regular maintenance will ensure that your furnace performs to your manufacturers specifications for efficiency.
