Do you have an older heating system that seems to be running pretty reliably but you’re still thinking it might be time for a replacement? Maybe you’ve been going back and forth about why you should or shouldn’t upgrade. Here are three great reasons why maybe you should:
1. Efficiency
The single most important reason to upgrade your heating equipment before another Ohio winter is efficiency. If your heating system is 10 years old or more, it just may not be working as efficiently as the modern furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers that are now available. Some super-efficient furnaces, for instance, now have an AFUE (annual fuel utilization equivalency, which is the government’s metric for rating fuel efficiency) of nearly 100%, whereas a furnace built 20 years ago might have an AFUE of 72%. AFUE 72 means 72% of the fuel is used to heat the home, while 28% goes up the flue.
Efficient furnaces often include modulating or multi-stage gas valves that allow the furnace to perform at a low-fire setting until more fuel is needed, at which point it ramps up to the second stage.
Installing a more efficient furnace, boiler, or heat pump also adds value to the home.
2. Comfort
Newer furnaces often provide a much higher level of comfort than older furnaces. For instance, a two-stage furnace emits quiet, even heat at the low stage, rather than the sudden blast of high heat associated with single-stage furnaces. Two-stage furnaces transition gently to the second, high stage of heating. These furnaces are often installed with a variable speed ECM (electronically commutated motor) blower, which operates at a quieter, lower speed. These ECM motors can also save up to 80% in the electrical power consumed by your furnace
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Homes in the United States produce on average 60 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year. Installing an efficient furnace, heat pump, or boiler helps homeowners reduce the carbon footprint of the home by reducing the amount of energy used to heat the home.
To learn more about upgrading a heating system, contact P,K. Wadsworth. We’ve served the Greater Cleveland area for more than 75 years.