Why Shouldn't You Consider A Standard Efficiency Furnace?
If you're replacing your old furnace, your choices will usually come down to standard or high-efficiency models. Standard efficiency furnaces must meet the minimum 80% AFUE standard and typically cluster around this number. On the other hand, high-efficiency furnaces come with various AFUE ratings, although they'll generally be well above the standard efficiency models.
Standard efficiency furnaces have one clear advantage: cost. However, high-efficient furnaces offer numerous additional benefits. If buying a higher-efficiency furnace fits within your budget, it's often the better option. Below are just three reasons higher efficiency models are the right choice if saving on upfront costs isn't your primary concern.
1. Fuel Usage
A standard-efficiency furnace will cost less to purchase, but the lower efficiency means you'll spend more on operating costs over the unit's lifetime. The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) tells you how much of your fuel costs go directly into heating your home, with the rest going to waste. A standard-efficiency furnace converts only 80% of its fuel into usable heat.
Upgrading to a higher efficiency model will mean saving money each month, and those savings will directly offset the higher purchase and installation costs. Even if you're concerned about your bottom line, it's worth doing the math on how much money you'll save. You may discover that a high-efficiency model is a drastically better financial decision.
2. Comfort Issues
Standard efficiency furnaces are generally single-stage units that come on full-blast to provide heat and then shut down once the thermostat reaches its target setpoint. This process can lead to wild swings in temperature, especially if you live in an older home with poor insulation. The furnace will rapidly heat your rooms, and then the temperature will begin to cool quickly once the furnace shuts down.
High-efficiency models come in dual-stage and variable-speed versions. These furnaces can adjust heating for conditions, helping to maintain a more comfortable home without temperature swings. Adjustable heat output has the added benefit of providing more efficient heating for your home since the furnace doesn't need to run at full power on warmer days.
3. Safety
High-efficiency furnaces often use sealed combustion chambers. These chambers help to contain heat from combustion, but they can also prevent dangerous exhaust fumes from leaking into your home. Heat exchanger or exhaust issues on a standard-efficiency furnace can cause flame rollout, ultimately leading to the possibility of carbon monoxide escaping from the furnace.
While all modern furnaces are incredibly safe to operate, high-efficiency furnaces have added safety benefits that further solidify their advantages over standard-efficiency models.
For more information, contact a company like Neil Slattery Plumbing Heating and Cooling.