Remember Me
forgot your password?

Furnace Buying Tips

Choosing a furnace for your home is not difficult. The following list are features that you may want to look for when buying your furnace.

1. What type of furnace do you want? Will it be Gas or Electric?

The Gas Furnace

The gas furnace is always more affordable to use than the electric furnace where gas is readily available. On the downside, burning fuel generates fumes. In well-maintained gas furnaces, the fumes generated are enclosed in the exchanger and then exit the house through an exhaust vent.

Remember, a gas furnace must be checked by a qualified professional at least once a year. The professional would check the furnace for holes, leaks or cracks. A break or crack in the furnace lets carbon monoxide seep into your house or place of business.

The Electric Furnace

The electric furnace has a higher cost than a gas furnace. On the upside, since electric furnaces do not use flames, it does not generate any carbon monoxide. The electric furnace is cleaner and safer than a gas furnace.

2. The Quality of the Furnace

The quality of the furnace determines how long and how well it will perform. Choosing a brand of furnace that has a history of quality and reliability can be less costly in the long run. Ask your contractor about which brand will be optimal for your needs. A free estimate for the purchase and installation are available in some companies.

3. The Efficiency of the Furnace

The efficiency of gas furnaces are determined by the AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The AFUE ratings identifies how efficiently is the fuel being consumed. In most cases, a higher AFUE rating means it takes less fuel to heat your home.

Gas furnaces with higher ratings cost more than those with lower ratings but may save you more money down the road. A minimum rating of 78% is established by the government in 1992. Many furnaces have an efficiency rating of about 60% prior to 1992.

a. The Mid-Efficiency Furnaces

The mid-efficiency furnaces are also called ‘induces draft furnaces' or ‘non-condensing furnaces'. The mid-efficiency furnace offers the bare minimum of 78% efficiency up to about 80%.

b. The High-Efficiency Furnaces

The high-efficiency furnaces are also known as ‘condensing furnaces' or ‘sealed combustion furnaces'. The high-efficiency furnaces has an AFUE rating as high as 96%. Some furnaces use a two-stage valve and an efficient variable-speed motor to raise comfort and effectiveness.

4. The Comfort features of furnaces

Several furnaces provide features that increases comfort and efficiency.

a. The features of the two-speed furnace

The furnace can function at low speed for most of the time. It allows for a more quieter operation for a longer amount of time compared to a ‘single-speed furnace'. The longer run periods allow for fewer start/stop cycles, less drafts, and very little temperature variance.

The temperature swing is limited to about two degrees compared to the four degree variance of the single-speed units. The two-speed unit gives better circulation which prevents warmer air from rising and the cooler air from settling down. The two-speed unit gives a more consistent temperature in the house.

b. The features of variable-capacity furnaces

Furnaces with variable capacity provide a combination of efficiency and comfort. The variable-capacity has a motor that regulates your needs by automatically adjusting air volume and speed. The var-cap furnace provides the most efficient heating and cooling.

A fan comes with the var-cap furnace. The fan will reduce your cost during summer. If the fan is used throughout summer, the central air conditioning unit increases in efficiency.

5. The furnace noise level

Unfortunately, all furnaces do not come with a standard rating system for sound unlike heat pumps and air conditioners. Although, two-speed units and var-cap units generally operate at a low noise levels.

The two-speed and var-cap furnaces run for longer periods and lower sounds than the standard unit. Certain var-cap units has features that prevent ‘creaking' of the ducts due to expansion and contraction caused by changing temperature. The temperature differential is reduced so that the creaking noise is also almost eliminated.

John Morris
For more great furnace information and resources check out:
http://www.furnaceadvisor.info
Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Home and Family Articles
  • More from John Morris

Free Energy Home Generator - Magnetic Energy from Magniwork

By: Watson Fru N | 29/12/2009
Are you searching for a free energy home generator? Do you want to generate totally free energy to power your home or office? Well there are so many ways through which you can get alternative energy. However, one of the best and effective alternative energy source is: Magnetic Energy from Magniwork.

The Perfect BBQ: Grill, Cheap Patio Furniture and Food

By: Kasan Groupe | 29/12/2009
I remember those warm summer nights when my parents would throw amazing barbecue bashes for all of their friends. Everything was planned out perfectly and everyone left happier and heavier. Well now I’m old enough to throw my own parties and I’ve decided to follow in my parents’ steps. There are many components to the perfect barbecue, but the three most important are a blazing hot grill, some comfortable cheap patio furniture and loads of mouth-watering food.

Can I Find Arrest Records Free To Lookup Peoples Past

By: James Nash | 29/12/2009
Today we live in dangerous times and therefore for personal safety and safety of our family we have to check people’s past now and then. Luckily for us, this isn’t hard process as it used to be, because we can find all the records that we need on the internet.

Free Reverse Lookup Email-Reverse Look Up Email

By: Franck Lin | 29/12/2009
How to do a reverse lookup or trace a person's name with their e-mail address? How to trace an email? As we have naturally stepped into the twenty-first century, performing an email search is now made simple thanks to updated techniques available to all.The use of free reverse lookup email service will help you track the origins of emails that you receive from unknown sources.

Little Changes Can Make Big Differences

By: Paula Adams | 29/12/2009
There are many things you can do to spruce up your bathroom. Make some small changes and see a big difference.

Learning All About Candles - Different Types & How To Make Them

By: Steve Jackson | 29/12/2009
Candles have been used and have been found in homes for many years, but the candles of today are very different. For a start they come in a variety of different colors, shapes and sizes, with a whole range of different smells, and are often made from different candle wax than in the past. Learn how you can make your own, and find out some useful tips about candles too.

Daimer unveils XTreme Power XPH-5800TU

By: Toni Tsocheva | 29/12/2009
Daimer Industries has announced an increase to its XTreme Power XPH-5800TU carpet extractors.

Wales praised for excellent cleaning services

By: Toni Tsocheva | 29/12/2009
Local cleaning companies can provide throrough anti-stain treatments around the home.

Does Laser Hair Removal Really Work?

By: John Morris | 03/12/2006 | Health
Laser hair removal might not be many people's first choice of hair removal methods, however, it is definitely one that should be given some serious thought. With virtually no pain and extremely long lasting results, it is definitely one of the best around.

Three Easy Ways To Pay Your Way Through College

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Finance
Education today is more expensive than it has ever been. In order to even be able to consider taking some post-secondary education you need to have the financial backing to do so...

Foreclosure Houses Search These For Your First Home

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Finance
Many people are flocking to the foreclosure home market. In it, you are able to buy homes that are quite inexpensive, fix them up, and sell them for a profit or use them for yourself...

Helping Yourself Through Depression

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Health
Those dealing with depression often assume their problem is one of personal weakness and may try to will themselves out of their condition. These efforts, inevitably, are doomed to fail...

Digital Image Format Decides Picture Quality And Storage Space

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Technology
The format that you save your images in can make a huge difference in their final quality as well as limiting what sizes you can print them off at later...

Foreclosure Home Investing

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Finance
Many people have set their sights upon foreclosure home investing because it is so very profitable. There are hundreds of people in every state that buy foreclosed homes and sell them for profits...

Is Consolidating Your Student Loan A Good Idea?

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Finance
Some students leave college and you expect them to heave a sigh of relief because at long last the long hurdle is over. No more sleepless nights studying for lessons, no more academic books to read, no more exams to take and most of all no more tuition fees to be paid...

How To Get Rid Of Anxiety And Panic Through Self-Awareness

By: John Morris | 28/10/2006 | Health
1. Self-awareness We can evolve and develop self awareness as a result. Once you gain self-awareness, you will start to see things in fuller light. Self-awareness is an amazing process, since you have balance and an honest point of view of whom you are, including what type of personality you possess...

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.11, 1, w3)