Edmonton Furnace Replacement
WHAT IS A HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE?
According to the Department of Energy, heating your home typically represents about 45% of your utility bill. That’s a lot! And, that’s why there is so much interest in high Edmonton furnace replacement and efficiency furnaces and heating systems. When it comes to furnaces, “efficiency” refers to how effectively they can convert heating energy from a fuel source into warm, comfortable heat for your home. Today’s highest efficiency furnaces can provide comfort with up to 98.5% AFUE efficiency.
The AFUE of a furnace is determined by measuring the amount of heat in British Thermal Units (BTU) compared to the amount of fuel used during the same time period. The Department of Energy requires all manufactures to display a furnace’s efficiency on a yellow Energy Guide sticker on the unit, and most manufacturers will list the AFUE for each model they sell on their web sites and in printed materials. Efficiency standards are continually evolving, so today’s mid or high efficiency furnaces may be the future minimum efficiency model.
BENEFITS:
Having an efficient heating system can offer great appeal to homeowners interested in having the most recent technology available, while potentially reducing energy costs and environmental impact. Because these Edmonton furnace replacement models models do such a great job at converting fuel into heat, less heating fuel is needed for comfort, resulting in less emissions.
ARE HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACES WORTH UPGRADING TO?
Depending upon its age and condition, replacing your old furnace with a new, high efficiency on might make a lot of sense. Your older heating system may be operating at 56 – 70% AFUE efficiency, which is quite a bit less than today’s minimum efficiency standard of 80% AFUE. Today’s high efficiency models are available in the 90 – 98.5% AFUE range. Because heating your home is most likely the largest single expense attached to your utility bill, upgrading to a high efficiency gas furnace might be a great idea.
A higher efficiency gas Edmonton furnace replacement can save you money on energy bills over the life of your furnace. A new system with new product warranties should offer higher reliability and fewer costly service calls compared to an older system for the first several years. Your older system, by comparison, will continue to operate at lower energy efficiency, potentially offer fewer comfort-enhancing features, and is more likely to falter during a cold snap, leaving you inconvenienced, uncomfortable, and potentially looking at a high repair bill.
Of course, as you consider your options, you’ll want to look into the cost of a new furnace, have a reputable HVAC contractor estimate energy costs compared to your older system, and also factor in potential service costs for repairing an aging system.