Furnaces

Points to Consider When Purchasing A New Gas Furnace
Why should I choose a variable speed furnace for my home?
Higher Efficiencies Mean Lower Heating Bills

Installing A New Gas Furnace?  Some Points to Consider...

Do you know what to ask when it's time to replace or upgrade your gas furnace? Most homeowners don't since it's something they may do only once or twice in their lifetime.

Size: The size of a gas furnace refers to its heating capacity, not its physical dimensions. The capacity of a heating system is measured in Btu's (British thermal units) per hour. In general, a unit that's too small will lack the ability to give you the comfort you want. A unit that's too large will cost more to buy and operate. A qualified heating contractor is the best person to recommend the correct size for your new furnace.

Venting: The heating contractor can also tell you if any changes are needed in the venting of the furnace. In most cases, the new furnace is placed in the same location as the old and uses the same venting system. However, many of today's high efficiency gas furnaces can be vented out a side wall in the same manner as gas clothes dryers.

Efficiency: The efficiency of a gas furnace is indicated by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE rating. The Federal government requires that all new furnaces have a minimum efficiency level of 78% AFUE. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace. The more efficient the furnace, the lower the heating bill.
Cost: In general, higher efficiency units will cost more than lower efficiency units. However, these savings could easily pay for the extra cost of moving up in efficiency. Trane and Amana all have various models in different levels of efficiency. In addition to different efficiencies, furnaces also come in single stage, two stage and variable speed models. These differences offer various levels of comfort and energy savings beyond the basic types of furnaces.

Price:  Final cost can also be affected by a number of installation factors such as the correction of venting or ductwork problems, and the difficulty of removing the old furnace or installing the new furnace in the desired location. Additionally, in many cases upgrades to current building codes is required when installing a new furnace.

Contractor: Perhaps the most important step in replacing or upgrading your home's heating system is choosing the right contractor to do the job. The reason: no matter how well-made a furnace is, the comfort, reliability and energy efficiency it provides is in the hands of the contractor installing it.

Contractors affiliated with a nationally known manufacturer are usually a good choice because they've been factory trained in installation and service. They can also help you determine your comfort needs, make the right equipment choices and give you the best value for your money

Why should I choose a variable speed furnace for my home?

There are many reasons for choosing a variable speed furnace, but the main reason is comfort. The term "variable speed" refers to the furnace's fan motor, which moves at different speeds to precisely control the flow of heated and cooled air throughout your home. Better airflow control means a better balance of temperature and humidity.

More Comfort and Efficiency, with less noise

More Comfort. Variable speed home comfort systems like the Trane XV95 or Trane XV80 gas furnaces precisely regulate airflow to provide better control of temperature, humidity, and air distribution.

More Efficiency. Compared to a conventional single speed furnace, a Trane variable speed furnace performs better and uses about two thirds less electricity because of the type of motor (runs off DC poser vs. AC). This has the added benefit of improving efficiency while running your air conditioner. During cooling operation, variable speed technology typically results in an efficiency gain of 1 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The higher the SEER, The lower your utility bills.

Less Sound. A variable speed furnace also ensures quieter operation. The furnace slowly ramps up to speed, so there's no sudden "kick" or blast of air at startup. It also ramps down and “milks” all of the heat out of the heat exchanger when the burners stop.

Better Indoor Air Quality

Cleaner Air. When the furnace is not heating or cooling and the fan can be in constant operation (indicated by the "fan" setting on your thermostat), a Trane variable speed furnace will continue to slowly and inexpensively circulate air throughout your home. This allows your filters to capture more contaminants (because air is constantly passing through them), so you can breathe easier.

Enhanced Humidity Control. When air is dry, the fan can circulate moist air throughout the house improving comfort levels. Further, warm moist air feels better than warm dry air so it is not uncommon for you to be able to lower the temperature in the home a few degrees when a humidifier is in use.

Calculate Your Energy Savings

The variable speed motor will typically use only about 75 watts of power per hour, compared to a conventional blower that uses about 400 watts. Thus, over the course of one year, you can expect to save money on your electric bill with a variable speed motor. The electrical costs of operating the fan in the furnace can cost you about $200 per year for both the heating and cooling seasons. With a variable speed fan, that cost can be cut down to $50 or less. Our consultants can show you the savings for your specific application.

How it works:

For any furnace, providing maximum comfort means achieving the proper amount of airflow. This is true for both heating and cooling operations. Unlike conventional single speed motors, a variable speed motor runs at a wide range of speeds. Using intelligent technology, it continually monitors incoming data from your heating and cooling system, and it automatically makes the adjustments necessary to meet your comfort needs. The motor varies the amount of air circulated, compensating for factors like dirty filters by increasing speed. Put simply, it delivers just the right amount of air necessary to provide the desired level of heating and cooling comfort.

Higher Efficiencies Mean Lower Heating Bills

In case you don't know it, there's a whole new generation of high efficiency gas furnaces out there that can help you cut your heating bills significantly.

With efficiency ratings up to 96%, these new furnaces are designed to increase the amount of heat obtained from every Btu of fuel you consume. Put simply, with an 80% efficient furnace you will send $.20 of every dollar up the flue pipe, with a 95% efficient furnace only $.05 is wasted.

If your present furnace is ten years old or more, it's probably in the 60-70% AFUE range. In effect, that means you're wasting 30 to 40 cents out of every dollar you spend for heat. By replacing an old, low efficiency unit with a new high efficiency model, more of the fuel you pay for is turned into heat.