As a homeowner needing a new furnace, you have three basic types of furnaces to choose from with regard to heating output and/or fan speed – the single-stage furnace, the two-stage furnace, and the variable-speed furnace. They vary in burner operation and blower speed, rather than size or capacity. We explain each of these below to help you make an informed decision.
Single-Stage Furnace
Single stage furnaces operate with the gas burner only producing heat at a high setting. They continually produce the same amount of heat in your space, regardless of the size and temperature of the home. These are designed to heat your home under the coldest conditions. This furnace has simple features, such as an on/off control with no frills or fancy, hard-to-understand settings.
Two-Stage Furnace
A two-stage furnace is designed to run the burner one or two settings, low or high. The low setting runs at about 65 percent of the high setting, so it will not use more energy and fuel than needed. Yet, in situations where the temperature outside drops and the lower stage is no longer enough to heat your home, the high-output stage will kick in, giving more heat as needed. Typically, in normal climate conditions, the two-stage furnace will only need to run on high about 25 percent of the time.
Variable-Speed Furnace
A variable speed furnace has a blower motor that can adjust its speed according to real-time temperature needs in your home. Most of the time, it will run at a slower, more continuous level, providing improved air distribution, less energy use, and improved air filtration and humidity control.
Choosing your new furnace based on your heating needs will ensure a more efficient heat source for your home, which in turn keeps your costs down. It pays to take the time to do a little research so you can make an informed decision when you purchase.
For more information concerning types of furnaces for your home, and other issues related to creating a comfortable home atmosphere, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. We’ve been serving the Dayton-Springfield area for three generations, and are glad to further serve you in whatever way we can.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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