|
|
 At
Manwill Plumbing and Heating L.C., it is our belief that the proper installation
of your furnace is the most important thing that assures your comfort
and safety! Our clean, friendly, customer service-oriented technicians
are highly trained using the most up-to-date installation and service
techniques available. Trust us for your next purchase. Visit our
showroom or call for a free estimate!
What's
new in furnaces?
Today's modern furnaces
have a lot more to offer than that old beast of a furnace found in many
basements. The days of "one size fits all" or the old "rule of thumb"
sizing methods have proven to be very inefficient, causing higher operating
costs plus a sacrifice to personal comfort. Today's "high tech" furnaces
require less space, operate much more efficiently and are much easier to
maintain.
We now have higher
efficiency ratings, various heating capacities, several blower options,
multi-stage and variable-stage furnaces. The list of options grows every year. Each style, size and efficiency
has a place in today's market.
The key to your comfort is to determine which furnace is right for you
and your home. The sales engineers at Manwill
Plumbing and Heating L.C. are trained to help you make the
right decision. We can explain each furnace and help determine which furnace
is best for the comfort of you and your family!
We have comprised
a brief description of the various options available. These options are
available through most furnace manufacturers.
Efficiencies:
You'll
find all furnaces now have an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency)
rating, which is an efficiency rating using percentage points. The more
heat a furnace can transfer to the home, the higher the rating. A furnace
that burns gas at a rate of 80,000 Btu per hour and transfers 64,000
Btu's of that heat into the house, will be rated at 80 percent efficient (64,000
divided by 80,000 equals .80). The most common efficiency ratings
today will be both 80 percent and 90 percent + efficient. Many older furnaces had efficiency
ratings below 65 percent. The higher the AFUE rating the lower
your operating cost. Our expert staff can help you choose the right efficiency
for your house.
 Single
Stage / Two Stage furnace:
Probably the greatest advance in home heating comfort is the two-stage
furnace. To understand the two-stage furnace, we must first understand
what is meant by stages. Furnace stages are sometimes confused with blower
speeds. Even though the blower changes speeds, the stages really relates
to the burn rate of gas, or BTU's. For example, a furnace with
a maximum burner capacity of 100,000 Btu, with a single-stage furnace,
every time the furnace turns on, it will burn at 100 percent of the maximum burn
rate, 100,000 Btu's, just like your old furnace, it's either "on" or
"off,"
nothing in-between. The single-stage furnace generally creates a wide
"temperature swing" within a heating cycle. A temperature swing is when
the furnace may turn on at 70 degrees and shut off at 73 degrees, a 3-degree temperature swing. If
feel your home gets too cold
before the furnace turns on and too warm when it shuts off, you have too
wide of temperature swing.
With a two-stage
furnace, there is an "in-between." The same furnace with a maximum burner
capacity of 100,000 Btu will first turn on at approximately 60 percent of maximum
capacity, 60,000 Btu, the first stage. The lower burner rate, and
a lower blower speed allow the house to warm up a little slower, which
creates better air circulation and a more even temperature throughout the
house with a lower temperature swing. When the outdoor temperature
really gets cold and your home requires more heat, the furnace will automatically
turn up to the second stage, in this case 100,000 Btu, providing
even more heat and a higher air flow to properly heat your house on those
cold winter days. It's estimated that a two-stage furnace will run on
the first stage over 80 percent of the time.
Compare a two-stage
furnace to the gas pedal on your car. For better economy and comfort,
you seldom push the gas pedal all the way to the floor, usually just enough
gas for the power you need. Think of this as the first stage. When passing
another car, climbing a hill, or whenever you need to push the gas pedal all the way to the floor, think of this as
second stage. This makes it easier to understand. The first stage in milder
temperatures and the second stage for those few times when our outdoor
temperature really gets chilly. Two-stage furnaces are available in both
80 percent and 90 percent + AFUE.
Variable-Speed Furnace:
Variable-speed furnaces have the same features as a two stage furnace
with the added benefit of a variable speed blower motor. Variable-speed
furnaces utilize a DC voltage (direct current) motor versus an AC voltage
(alternating current) motor. DC motors are much more economical to operate
and also quieter. A typical DC motor can run 24 hours a day, 30 days a
month for less than $10.00. This is very beneficial to those in need of
constant air circulation. An example would be a home where room temperatures
vary from one room to another. A constant blower will help mix the cooler
air from one room with the warmer air from another room, creating more
even temperatures throughout the house. Another
example is a condition where the customer needs better air filtration
or humidification. The constant blower can work in conjunction with a
humidifier or electronic air filter to constantly be cleaning the air
and maintain a constant moisture level in the house.
Note: humidifiers
and air filters are accessories designed for all furnaces, not limited
to just variable-speed furnaces.
Heat
Exchanger:
Sometimes called
a combustion chamber. This furnace component is what transfers the heat
from the furnace flame and exhaust gases, to the room air as the blower
pushes air through the heat exchanger. Heat Exchangers are made of several
different metals. Two of the most common are aluminized steel and stainless
steel. Some manufacturers use a tubular heat exchanger while others may
use a pressed metal serpentine design. Both are designed to keep the heat
in the air stream longer, allowing a higher percentage of heat to transfer
to the room air. A good heat exchanger is vital to the life expectancy
of the furnace as well as your safety. A faulty heat exchanger may allow
carbon monoxide gas to enter your house, a potentially fatal condition.
Most manufacturers have extended warranties on their heat exchangers, anywhere
from 15 years to a limited lifetime warranty. (picture of igniter)
 Electronic
Ignition:
So long to the old gas pilot light! Furnaces today have electronic devices
that light the gas when the furnace calls for heat, and completely shut
off when the furnace is sitting idle. No more worries about the pilot
light blowing out on those windy nights.
Blower
Motors:
No
more furnace belts. The blower wheel mounts directly onto the blower
shaft.
The benefits now include higher air flows, multi-speed blowers, quieter,
smaller and more compact blowers. Many blower motors now have sealed bearings.
This means never having to oil the motor again!
|
