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 �€œmilks�€ 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.
