When buying a new furnace, it’s best to look at the big picture — not just the upfront cost, but think about how much operating a certain heating system will cost you in the long run. Wise homeowners expect no less than an outstanding performance from their furnaces. They will love to know that investing in a condensing furnace isn’t just about energy-efficiency — it has a lot more to offer.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your premier heating company in St. Louis Park MN. We are an authorized distributor of the full line of Lennox high-efficiency heating systems, which are known for their quiet operation, consistent heating, and energy-efficiency.
What are condensing furnaces?
Condensing furnaces are heating systems that have a secondary heat exchanger that condenses hot exhaust gases to extract heat that is otherwise released up the chimney. This process makes a condensing furnace highly efficient as the hot exhaust gases are cooled to the point where they can safely leave your home inside a pipe installed through a sidewall.
These furnaces utilize the latest technology in home comfort and advanced components to reach annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of as high as 98 percent. This means 98 percent of the fuel is converted into usable heat, only 2 percent of it is released outside your home. If you are still dealing with a low-efficiency (65-70 percent AFUE) furnace, you will surely appreciate the more or less 30 percent increase in fuel efficiency when you upgrade to a condensing furnace.
What makes a condensing furnace so efficient?
Conventional furnaces have either single-stage or two-stage blowers. A single-stage furnace only operates with one setting (high), so whenever it’s running, it does so at full power, without considering the outside temperature. This means a single-stage furnace isn’t efficient enough to help you lower your heating costs.
A two-stage furnace, on the other hand, has two levels of heat output — high and low. For the most part, the furnace runs on the low setting and only switches to high when it’s too cold outside and you need more heating for your home. A two-stage furnace runs on high about 25 percent of the time, meaning, it runs at a low setting, which is a more economical way to heat your home. This setup provides more consistent heat throughout your home so it reduces air fluctuations, also known as “cold spots” in your home. Also, this type of furnace is much quieter compared to a single-stage system as it mostly runs on a “low” setting.
But if you’re looking for a system that offers better efficiency levels, choose a condensing furnace, which features a variable-speed motor. The term “variable” means that the furnace’s indoor blower motor operates at different speeds to control the distribution of heated air more precisely. This technology enables your furnace to constantly monitor and adjust its blower settings to consider different factors such as the location of the furnace, dirty filters, and your ductwork layout.
Compared to a single-stage or a two-stage furnace, a variable-speed furnace allows you to have greater comfort and significant energy savings. If you have an HVAC-zoned home, going for a variable-speed furnace allows you to set the thermostat on different settings for specific areas of your home.
Other Features of Condensing Furnaces
When it comes to operational sound, nothing beats a variable-speed furnace. Most of the time, it runs on a lower setting, which means the required amount of heated air is lower. Certain high-efficiency models incorporate sound-absorbing materials to provide excellent sound dampening and ensure the furnace runs virtually unheard.
Condensing furnaces also utilize sealed combustion, which provides safer and more efficient fuel combustion than regular units. They use a direct-vent air intake, which employs outside air only for fuel combustion. By comparison, traditional furnaces use conventional fuel combustion techniques, which use air from inside your home, wasting heated air and can lead to depressurization. When your home does get depressurized, the sealed exhaust system in a condensing furnace prevents circulating deadly exhaust gases.
Ask the Experts in Condensing Furnaces
Do you want to know more about condensing furnaces? Reach out to Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. We have an array of Lennox condensing furnaces, which are some of the most efficient and quietest in the industry. We are your trusted Fridley furnace installation company.