Is your furnace on the fritz? It may be time to consider upgrading to a high-efficiency model. With all of the new models and efficiency features available, however, choosing the right furnace can be confusing. In order to help simplify your decision, we’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide.
Weighing the costs — Just as with other energy-efficient HVAC products, a high-efficiency furnace can initially require a costly investment. You shouldn’t let this discourage you, though, as these types of heating systems will pay you back above the price that you paid for it. Newer furnaces are designed to promote energy conservation which translates to significant savings on your monthly utility bill. And when you take care of your furnace by scheduling annual preventive maintenance, you can rest assured that your unit will work to keep you comfortable and save you money for many years.
Understanding efficiency ratings —Every furnace you consider has been assigned an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating so that you can easily compare its energy consumption with similar models. The AFUE rating is a measurement of a furnace’s ability to convert the energy from its fuel into heat for your home as compared to the amount of energy that it consumes. Some newer high-efficiency models have AFUEs of up to 98 percent, meaning that the furnace is able to efficiently convert 98 percent of its fuel energy into usable heat.
Considering efficiency features — Many high-efficiency models make use of variable speed blowers that significantly reduce electrical consumption and can help the furnace to run quieter. Other high-efficiency features include the ability to maximize fuel economy through controlling the amount of air that mixes with the fuel in a process called sealed combustion, as well as two-stage gas valves that heat up quickly and then back off to a lower speed setting in order to reduce energy costs.
For advice on selecting a high efficiency furnace, contact the professionals at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve been serving the metropolitan Detroit area since 1945.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about high-efficiency furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.
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