Tips For Selecting A New Gas Furnace Type

Posted on: 10 September 2015

Gas furnaces are popular with homeowners due to the low cost and relative efficiency of the units. If you're in the market for a new gas furnace, the wide variety of available types might seem intimidating. But there are really only two key considerations when shopping for a new gas furnace: whether you want conventional or condensing and the number of stages you want in the furnace.

Here is a quick guide to making those shopping decisions. If you are still uncertain or would rather leave the choice in professional hands, call your furnace repair and installation technician.

Conventional vs. Condensing

The two primary types of gas furnaces are conventional and condensing. A conventional furnace was the primary type of furnace before technologies improved. The conventional units waste energy due to the process rapidly using up and expelling the gases before the unit can really get the most energy possible from the process.  So conventional furnaces are less efficient in general than condensing.

Why would someone consider conventional? You can sometimes get those units for a cheaper price due to the falling popularity. Other than that, you should consider going with a condensing unit.

A condensing unit has a dual exchange system that strips heat out of the combusted gas until all that is left is liquid condensate. So your furnace will be more efficient and won't have to work as hard to warm your home.

Number of Stages

The number of stages in a gas furnace essentially refers to how many different settings the furnace has for operation. A single stage furnace, for example, is only fully on or fully off – there aren't any settings in the middle. So if you live in an area that frequently has moderately cold temperatures, you might not appreciate having to turn the furnace on full heat every time. But this might be exactly what those in colder regions need in their homes. It all comes down to personal preference.

Other staged furnaces available includes a two stage furnace, which includes off, mid-heat, and fully on as settings. Then you move up to a variable speed furnace, which actually works a bit differently than the other stage types.

The "variable speed" refers not to number of settings available on the furnace but rather to the number of speeds at which the internal fan can operate. These fan speed variations are what allow this type of furnace to be set anywhere on the spectrum from off to mid to high heat and everything in-between.  

For professional furnace services, consider contacting a company such as Cydcom Services Ltd. – Heating & Air Conditioning Furnace Installation.

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