Standard-efficiency furnaces convert roughly 80% of the energy from gas into heat. High-efficiency furnaces convert 90-97% (depending on the model) of the energy from gas into heat. So basically: high-efficiency furnaces use less fuel.
A furnace with an AFUE rating of 95% will require significantly less fuel (natural gas) to heat your home than a unit with an 80% AFUE rating. While higher-efficiency furnaces tend to cost more upfront, they allow homeowners to save money on heating costs every year.
High-efficiency models have a modulating gas valve, which allows the furnace to operate at different capacities according to your needs. The stages of the furnace matter because models with a 95% AFUE rating may only have a single stage, whereas standard efficiency heaters have two stages.
Even a slightly undersized furnace will accomplish the job the majority of the time. Taking things down a few sizes will more than likely solve some of your common heating problems like too high of a utility bill while half of your house is blazing and the other half is an icebox.
How many square feet will an 80000 BTU furnace heat? A furnace with 80,000 BTU capacity can effectively warm up a typical home measuring 2,000 square feet.
In our expert opinion, if you are planning to live in your home for 5+ years, the 95% furnace is the clear winner, as you may already recoup savings in energy costs within the first 3-5 years of operation that offset a higher purchase price.
That depends entirely on the make and model furnace that you choose. Many, but not all, high-efficiency furnaces have thermostats built in. One safe assumption to make is that if you're replacing your furnace then your thermostat probably needs to be updated as well.
Replacing a 20-year-old gas furnace is typically a wise investment. In a country with diverse climates and heating needs, the benefits of a modern, energy-efficient furnace are manifold.
A furnace that receives regular maintenance can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs can extend the life of a furnace even longer.
However, two-stage furnaces are much more efficient than single-stage furnaces. This efficiency means they experience less strain than single-stage furnaces, which consistently operate at a high energy level. Over time, a single-stage furnace that operates at a high level may wear down and need expensive repairs.
While high-efficiency furnaces with an AFUE of 96% or more cost between $2,000 and $6,000, standard-efficiency units with an AFUE of 80% to 89% are priced from $500 to $1,500. Upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace with a higher AFUE rating can lead to significant energy cost savings.
Known as the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit, this program allows you to earn a tax credit of up to $3,200 a year. The program started on January 1, 2023, and will run until December 31, 2032, which means you may be eligible if you upgrade or replace any HVAC unit within the next decade.
High-efficiency furnaces offer 90% AFUE and higher, with 95% AFUE a common percentage for a new gas-powered furnace. An 80% AFUE is considered a standard efficiency.
Better efficiency
All else being equal, a 95% furnace will operate more efficiently than an 80% furnace. Compared to the standard unit, an additional 15% of the heat produced during the combustion process is used to heat the home. That's a good thing.
Turn Off Power to the HVAC System
The first step in how to install a thermostat is making sure the power is turned off to your existing thermostat. Turn off the power for your heating and air conditioning system at the main service panel. Its circuit breaker should be clearly labeled.
Without cold air returns, your system would struggle to pull in the air it needs. This could lead to inefficiencies, higher energy costs and potentially uneven temperatures throughout your home.
Now it's time to calculate the amount of time it'll take to get your investment back. For this step, take the total cost of a new furnace, and divide it by the energy savings you expect. So, for our purposes, the equation would look like this: $2,550/$700 = 3.64 years.
Installation Entails More than Just the Furnace
For a gas-powered furnace, a contractor must set up a gas connection and vent. Installing an electric furnace requires running wiring, adding a circuit breaker, or perhaps updating an electrical panel. Holes are often drilled for pipes and wires.
The most efficient Furnace you can buy is a 98% modulating variable speed furnace. Almost every manufacturer has a variation of this type of furnace. With that said this is one of the most expensive to buy and install. Also, not every home can have this style of furnace due to various factors like duct system design.
When sizing your furnace, you need to count all the square footage of rooms you want to heat. If you want to heat your basement, count it when sizing your furnace.
You'd expect an oversized furnace to produce an excellent heat output. However, when a furnace is too big for a building, it will struggle to maintain the thermostat's settings. Its inefficiency and short cycling will cause the unit to heat the property unevenly.
Two-stage heating means the furnace has two levels of heat output: high for cold winter days and low for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet household heating demands 80% of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and provides more even heat distribution.