High-Efficiency Gas Furnace

A standard gas forced air furnace wastes about 20 cents of every fuel dollar. Older furnaces can waste even more (35% +). By taking advantage of the latest technology and installing a new high-efficiency furnace you can save energy dollars and improve comfort.

Most new high-efficiency furnaces have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 90% or higher. The AFUE indicates the percentage of fuel turned into heat. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the unit and more energy dollars you can save. High-efficiency furnaces tend to be more expensive than the standard type; however, the additional cost may be offset by the increased energy savings.

Some of the recent developments in high-efficiency furnaces are:

• Electronic spark ignitions or "hot surface" ignitions eliminate the need for continuously burning pilot lights, which waste fuel and increase operating costs.
• Condensing furnaces (most 90% furnaces are of this type) draw enough heat out of the combustion gases that moisture in the gas condenses releasing additional usable heat. Exhaust gases from a condensing furnace are cool enough that they are vented through a wall with plastic piping.
• Pulse no longer available.
• Automatic vent dampers close the flue pipe when the burners are off and reduce the amount of inside air drawn up the chimney.