Did you know that more than 50 percent of your home’s energy costs are from your heating and cooling? That’s why it’s so important to maintain an energy-efficient HVAC system.
Furnace efficiency standards were last updated to an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 80% in 2015. This rating system measures how effective your furnace is at natural gas into heat. An AFUE rating of 80% means your furnace wastes about 20% of the fuel it uses while producing heat.
In 2022, President Biden revealed new energy-efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces that would greatly decrease emissions, save customers money and encourage sustainability.
These revised standards are anticipated to:
Starting in 2029, the updated rule would mandate all new gas furnaces to feature AFUE ratings of 95%. This means furnaces would turn nearly 100% of the gas into usable heat.
So what does all of this mean for your existing furnace in 2023? For the time being, not much, as the proposed rule wouldn’t go into effect until 2029 at the earliest and doesn’t affect furnaces that are already in use.
But if you are considering furnace replacement in soon, highly energy-efficient furnaces are already available. Find out how these furnaces can lower your monthly energy bills.
A condensing furnace is a type of heating system that uses a secondary heat exchanger to trap wasted heat from the furnace’s exhaust gases. This decreases the quantity of energy wasted, improves energy efficiency and lowers CO2 emissions. It also will take less natural gas to generate the same amount of heat compared to other types of furnaces.
The main difference between a condensing furnace and a non-condensing furnace is that the former uses a secondary heat exchanger to gather any wasted heat from its exhaust gases, while the latter does not.
The life span of a condensing furnace is dependent on the brand, model and other factors. In most cases, a condensing furnace will last between 10-20 years with proper maintenance and regular service. If you don’t schedule routine maintenance, the unit may have a significantly shorter life span.
Usually, condensing furnaces are more cost most to install than non-condensing furnaces. This is on account of their increased efficiency and the extra components needed to capture any wasted heat from its exhaust gases. However, the added energy savings can help offset the price of purchase. So in the long run, it may be worth investing in a condensing furnace.
A variable-speed furnace can vary its fan speed based on the heating needs of your home. It operates at a slower speed until it notices a drop in temperature and then ramps up to produce more heat. This [precise fan is a lot more efficient than conventional furnaces, as it only utilizes the minimum amount of energy required to heat your home, resulting in more savings on your utility bill.
Many variable-speed furnaces are condensing furnaces, although a few are available in non-condensing models with lower AFUE ratings. In order for a furnace to be classified as a condensing furnace, it must offer an AFUE rating of 90% or higher.
A variable-speed furnace doesn’t operate all the time. Instead, it runs at different speeds based on the temperature in your Portland home as well as the amount of energy it requires to maintain that temperature.
When sufficient energy is needed to maintain your set temperature level, the furnace will switch to a higher speed to manage the higher demand. Doing this will ensure more efficient heating in your home while also offering quieter operation.
A heating system with two settings of operating – high and low – is called a two-stage furnace. On the low stage, the furnace performs at a reduced capacity to help maintain the preferred temperature for your home more efficiently. During the high stage, the furnace will instead run at maximum capacity to satisfy demands for more heat. With a two-stage furnace, you can maintain improved energy efficiency and steady temperatures everywhere in your home.
While two-stage furnaces are highly efficient, not all all types are condensing furnaces.
A two-stage furnace does not stay on indefinitely. In the low stage of operation, the furnace operates at reduced capacity in order to maintain a planned temperature more efficiently within your home. When more energy is needed to maintain the set temperature, the furnace shifts to its high stage and operates at full capacity. As a result, two-stage furnaces are powerful enough to help reduce energy costs without operating continuously.
Two-stage furnaces have two stages of functionality, low and high. During the low stage, the furnace performs at reduced capacity to help sustain a desired temperature within your home. When more warmth or cooling is desired, the furnace will shift to its high stage and operate at peak capacity.
Variable-speed furnaces, meanwhile, can operate at a variety of speeds in order to sustain a desired temperature more consistently at home. As such, variable-speed furnaces offer greater savings on your utility bills .
One-stage furnaces have a single stage of operation and operate either at full power or not at all. In other words, the furnace runs constantly in order to maintain a desired comfort level at home.
Two-stage furnaces, on the other hand, have two stages of operation, low and high. During the low stage, the furnace runs at reduced capacity in order to maintain the desired temperature more efficiently. When more warmth or cooling is needed, the furnace will shift to its high stage and operate at peak capacity.
It takes experience and dedication to stay up to date about furnace technology advancements. That’s why Three Rivers Heating and Cooling experts are here to help with a no-cost, no-pressure estimate for furnace installation. We’ll assess your home, your heating requirements and your budget before helping you find the right solution. Call us at (503) 739-5400 to get started today!
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