Why It's Time to Switch to a High-Efficiency Furnace
Furnaces available today are much more efficient than the systems used a few years ago. They utilize new technology and are built with features that have recently emerged in the heating industry. The furnaces, therefore, exact more heat while consuming only enough energy to do the job.
What Makes a High-Efficiency Furnace Better?
If you’ve never seen a high-efficiency furnace in action, chances are you don’t know what these powerful units are fully capable of. Here’s everything that makes a high-efficiency furnace a vast improvement over the traditional furnace:
- Electronic Ignition. Furnaces manufactured a decade ago used gas-powered pilot lights to fire. However, you can now choose to convert your gas furnace to high-efficiency models that use electronic ignition. Electronic ignition is used only when the furnace is needed in place of having a small flame burning throughout the day.
- Variable-speed blower. The variable-speed fan works in different capacities depending on how much energy is needed at that time. When the blower detects that more airflow is required, for processes such as when the filter begins to clog, a faster speed is used. When less airflow is needed, a lesser rate is used, which conserves energy.
- Two-stage heating. This can cause significant energy bill cuts when used in tropical or desert climates. Two-stage heating means that when it is hot, the system switches on the lower stage, which consumes less energy. The higher step is only used when it is too cold, and more heat is required to run the furnace.
- Sealed combustion. High-efficiency furnaces draw air from outside the home as opposed to the old systems that used air from around the house to work correctly. This improves safety levels and conserves energy in your home.
- Second heat exchanger. Instead of venting out hot exhaust gases, high-efficiency systems have a condensing furnace to extract heat from the exhaust. This allows the furnaces to run with less fuel.
These upgrades make all the difference in the high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of these furnaces. The rating signifies the percentage of fuel that the system reuses as usable energy. High-efficiency fuels give a rating of about 90-97 percent. This means that only less than 10% of the energy is released as exhaust.
What Makes a High-Efficiency Furnace Better?
Buying a furnace that is energy efficient can benefit the homeowner in the following ways:
i.) Increased Energy Saving
When a furnace gets to the end of its life, the homeowner has the option to repair, replace, or upgrade it. While upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace might seem like an unnecessary expense, it might save the homeowner up to 30% on heating bills annually. Expect installation to accommodate the CVC vent pipe and drain lines. However, the furnace will be a great investment in the long run.
ii.) Durability
High-efficiency furnaces are built to endure high chemical build up. The system is also designed to remove excess moisture from the inside. These capabilities together with its economic on-and-off cycling program increase the lifetime of the furnace. With proper maintenance, the furnace can serve you for decades. It is still essential to have a reasonable warranty to accompany the furnace. It could save you the cost of some unexpected repairs.
iii.) Government Rebates
Using a high-efficiency furnace can make a homeowner eligible for government rebates. In BC, for instance, the FortisBC gives homeowners up to $700 in rebates for upgrading to a system with electronically commutated motor. This rebate, together with the cuts on energy bills, can be a big boost to the homeowner’s budget.
iv.) Better Airflow
The variable-speed motors heat air uniformly throughout the house. This means you will breathe healthier air free of dust, mold, and other impurities that may cause allergies, irritation, and compromised comfort.
v.) High Performance
The new technology utilized in the high-efficiency systems use advanced valves to absorb motor sounds. This reduces the noise of the unit and gives consistent heating within the house.
vi.) Improved Safety
Because these energy efficient furnaces do not have to run for long like regular furnaces, the airflow is regulated efficiently, and the combustion process becomes safer. Some systems have vents that remove all the exhaust air from a home’s environment. This improves indoor air quality.
vii.) Increased Home Resale Value
Aside from the immediate energy that a high-efficiency furnace offers to homeowners, it also substantially increases the home’s value. Homeowners can, therefore, upgrade their furnaces as a way to make their houses more attractive to buyers. The reduced cost of operation for the home may attract more buyers.
What Goes Into Installing a High-Efficiency Furnace
Although installing a high-efficiency furnace might seem enough, there is more that needs to be done. Regular inspection, cleaning, and repair are necessary to make the furnace run at optimum efficiency.
Get in touch with a reliable maintenance company, like CE Plumbing and Heating. Our maintenance team will monitor the airflow to ensure that carbon monoxide does not leak into the home.
What Goes Into Installing a High-Efficiency Furnace
As a homeowner, upgrading to the new high-efficiency furnaces is a smart decision. You’ll reduce your impact on the environment, save money, collect a government rebate, and make your home more valuable.
Call CE Plumbing & Heating to install your own high-efficiency unit today. We’ll guide you through our entire process, from purchase to installation and maintenance. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about these units as well. Contact us today for more information!
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