If you want a super-efficient furnace, then you need a furnace that is designed with efficiency in mind. A conventional furnace will cost you less money than a highly efficient furnace—but that is only in terms of initial cost. If you get a highly efficient furnace, then you will save money on your monthly heating costs. How do you know if you are buying a highly efficient furnace? Look for a second heat exchanger, an electronic-ignition system, and a multi-speed motor.
The Second Heat Exchanger
A conventional furnace will use one heat exchanger to extract heat from the exhaust gases generated by your furnace. This one exchanger will leave some heat in the gases so that they will rise up a vent pipe, which means this leftover heat is simply wasted. A highly efficient furnace will have a second heat exchanger to extract even more heat from your exhaust gases. This system extracts so much heat, in fact, that the gases condense back to liquid and must be drained from your system with a drain pipe.
Electronic Ignition
Older furnaces use a constantly burning flame, known as a pilot light, to ignite gases. This flame can blow out if there is a draft in your home, and even though you are not burning a lot of gas with a pilot light, it still adds up. Modern furnaces will use an electronic-ignition system to eliminate waste and to provide a more reliable ignition system.
Multi-Speed Motor
A conventional furnace will come roaring to life every time your thermostat sends the signal for more heat. The motor will then run full blast until your home reaches your target temperature and then it will shut off. This is akin to gunning your car between stoplights. For better efficiency, you should look for a furnace that has a multi-speed motor. This allows your furnace to run at slower speeds to maintain a more even temperature. Not only will this help to save gas, it will also decrease noise.
A gas furnace is an effective way to heat your home, but if you have an old furnace, you may be faced with high costs. If you choose a furnace with the right features, you can achieve efficiency levels of up to 97%. If you replace an older, 60% efficient furnace with a highly efficient model, you will improve your system efficiency by 37%. In which case, simple math shows that for every $1,000 you spend on heating your home, you save $370. Thus, while a highly efficient furnace might be more expensive to install than a conventional model, you will save money over the long run.
For more information, visit Blue Ridge Services.
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