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Is a High Efficiency Furnace Worth It?
If you’ve currently got an old and failing furnace in your home, it may be time to bite the bullet and upgrade.
You’ll doubtless hear a lot about high-efficiency furnaces (sometimes called “condensing furnaces”) and how they can save you money year after year. That’s true but there are also a couple of drawbacks to be aware of with these types of furnaces.
Let’s take a closer look so that you can make the right decision on a new furnace for your home.
Main reasons to replace your old furnace
If you’ve currently got an old and failing furnace in your home, it may be time to bite the bullet and upgrade.
You’ll doubtless hear a lot about high-efficiency furnaces (sometimes called “condensing furnaces”) and how they can save you money year after year. That’s true, but there are also a couple of drawbacks to be aware of with these types of furnaces.
Let’s take a closer look so that you can make the right decision on a new furnace for your home.
Possible downsides to a high-efficiency furnace
High efficiency furnaces have many benefits — but let’s take a quick look at the downsides…
The benefits come at an initial cost. Highly energy-efficient furnaces are priced higher than their standard counterparts though you can offset this expense with the knowledge that as soon as it’s installed, it’s saving you money every month.
Expect to pay around 25 to 40 percent more upfront, depending on the spec.
Beware: “High efficiency” doesn’t tell you everything
The high efficiency designation on a furnace only means that it meets the required percentage of heat produced by the unit used to heat your home.
It doesn’t tell you if the furnace is a single-stage, dual-stage or modulating furnace. These are very different when it comes to energy efficiency.
- Single stage: this is the most basic type of furnace, where the heat is either off or on full blast, depending on the thermostat settings.
- Dual stage: this offers a full blast heating stage and a lower stage for moderate heating that uses less energy.
- Modulating: this type varies the amount of heat produced according to conditions inside the home, using the least amount of energy possible to create a comfortable environment.
Furthermore, if your high efficiency furnace is equipped with a variable-speed blower, it can increase or decrease the fan speed according to the conditions. This also affects energy consumption and the comfort level in your home.
The question is: will a new single-stage 95 percent energy efficient furnace be more cost-effective than a two-stage 80 percent efficient model with a variable speed blower?
Speak to one of our HVAC professionals if you’re not sure.Common high efficiency furnace problems
Before you opt for a high efficiency furnace, let’s briefly consider a few of the most common problems associated with them:
- An obstructed intake air vent: this will cause a weak flame.
- Improper exhaust gas recirculation: this may short-circuit the system and cause a weak flame.
- Clogged condensate drain or flue vent: this means that the flame will not ignite at all.
- Faulty pressure switch: this may also prevent the furnace from starting up.
- Water pooling around the furnace: this is usually due to the furnace not draining properly or a malfunctioning pump.
- Poor airflow or frequent cycling: this is often due to dirty air filters.
If you experience any of these problems, you’ll need a qualified HVAC contractor experienced in heating system repairs to avoid discomfort in your home or, worse, damage to your property.
Whether you’re having problems with an existing furnace or considering an upgrade, speak to an HVAC professional from Alpha Plumbing. All work is covered by our one-year guarantee for parts and labour.
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✔ Dispatch & Diagnosis
Call 403-470-5785 to talk to our friendly Customer Care Rep. Our Certified Technicians will diagnose your issue quickly and efficiently, after you welcome them into your home.
✔ Options
We will put together best practice options for getting your issue, or scope of work completed. Flat Rate quotes will be given to keep budgeting simple and eliminate surprise charges.
✔ Approval
You pick which option best suits your budget and requirements.
✔ We Get To Work
Alpha Tech’s get busy completing your work using industry leading materials and practices.
✔ Job Completion
Alpha Plumbing Technicians take pride in leaving a spotless work area and proudly showing off our clean work! We are always happy to answer your questions and offer helpful maintenance tips.
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A note about DIY Plumbing Projects
Some homeowners choose DIY installations, repairs & servicing that could lead to even more costly repairs after a botched job.
DIY is not advisable unless you have considerable experience in managing your own plumbing projects as there are many important safety concerns to bear in mind before tearing your plumbing system apart yourself. Call us today to get the help you need.