Depending on the temperature drop, winter has its own unique set of difficulties. Due to the negative consequences of bad weather, many regions become unreachable by air, sea, or road; as a result, staying warm becomes difficult.
As a result, most people stay at home for most of the winter. Furnaces are the most common method people use to heat their houses, but how would you know whether your furnace is providing the optimum output?
Furnace replacement
An essential item in your home may be your furnace, depending on the climate prevalent in your home. It offers the real warmth you and your family require to feel safe and secure all winter.
However, it's usually a massive and intricate piece of machinery, meaning it is dear to maintain and even more expensive to replace completely.
Even though furnaces are meant to endure a long period, they will eventually wear down, with the average furnace lasting for about 30 years. Suppose your furnace has had serious issues and needs regular repairs. In that case, you may need to start thinking about replacing it after roughly 15 years.
A home warranty can be a huge benefit when it comes to furnace repair and replacement. By changing the filters and cleaning the burners regularly, you may increase the lifespan of your furnace. Also, consider getting an HVAC contractor to tune up your system before the winter and do yearly inspections.
Purchasing a furnace for first-time buyers
Generally, there are four types of furnaces, propane, coal, oil, and electric, in the market today, and each has different running costs. As a first-time buyer, you ought to highlight some of your home's heating needs before settling on a heater.
1. Electric furnace
Electric furnaces are often the least expensive to buy and the easiest to install and maintain. They can be rather costly, though, as they need electricity.
The general working principle of an electric furnace involves cold air being drawn into an exchanger by the stove, where it is heated over electric heating elements. The hot air is then delivered through ducts into your house.
2. Natural gas furnace
A natural gas furnace operates by burning the natural gas inside your furnace's burner. The flames warm up a metal heat exchanger, which warms the entering cold air from the ductwork in your house. A blower forces the heated air through your home's ducts.
A vent is necessary for the exhaust from natural gas furnaces to leave your house. To stop hazardous fumes from entering your home, the chimney pipe must be inspected at least once a year.
3. Oil furnace
When turned on, an oil furnace feeds oil from a tank into a burning chamber. However, the oil is first turned into a mist and then sprayed onto a burner instead of being ignited immediately.
After lighting, the air is drawn into a space close to the burner, heated, and then returned into the house through ducting.
4. Propane furnace
Furnaces powered by propane function similarly to those powered by natural gas, except that they don't need a chimney. Instead, you may merely mount a direct vent next to it on a wall that faces the outside.
This eliminates the requirement for routine chimney inspection and cleaning. As a result, less propane needs to be burned to provide the same level of warmth as a natural gas furnace.
Models and furnace brands
1. Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps
Mitsubishi Electric offers a wide range of Ecodan electric air source heat pumps, which only need electric connection and water. The Ecodan heat pumps are low maintenance and can be placed outside homes, making them ideal for small retail shops and commercial buildings.
The Ecodan R744 QUHZ-W40VA Monobloc pump is the best option for new buildings where stringent building codes reduce the need for space heating and increase the demand for hot water production.
The Ecodan R32 Ultra Quiet PUZ is an elegant, small, single-fan outdoor monobloc air source heat pump unit. It uses advanced technologies and R32 refrigerant to achieve increased efficiencies. It serves modest heat demand for household buildings and has low noise levels.
The Ecodan R32 Zubadan monobloc air source heat pump offers higher efficiency with cutting-edge technology. The technology can provide stable heat production at very low temperatures and is designed to serve bigger household premises.
2. Veissmann Electric boilers
Viessmann electric boilers are a contemporary, practical, secure, and environmentally beneficial heat source that uses energy produced from renewable sources.
The Vitotron 100 is sleek and attractive, simple to put together, and inexpensive to install an electric boiler. With a boiler efficiency of 99.4%, its weather-compensated control offers great thermal comfort and maintenance-free operation, ensuring efficiency.
3. Amana heat pumps
The AVZC20 heat pump has a user-friendly user interface that allows you to program its settings to suit your needs. The heat pump operates with minimal noise due to its acoustically engineered components. The pump gives about 21 SEER energy-efficiency performance which reduces its operating costs.
The AVZC18 offers a good user interface with minimal noise levels during operation and 19 SEER energy-efficiency performance (the higher the SEER value, the higher the efficiency and the lower the operating costs).
The ANZ14 offers relatively low operating noise levels. It will give a SEER rating of about 15 and can deliver an 8.5 Heating Seasonal Performance Factor.
4. Bosch boilers
The condensing boilers offer low operating costs with high efficiency in heating water. Greenstar boilers are insulated for quiet operation, come in combi or heating-only variants, and have an AFUE efficiency of 95%. The Buderus GB162 has an AFUE efficiency of 93%, is good for big homes and small commercial use, is lightweight, and is very efficient.
Non-condensing boilers give reliable water heating with low running costs and high efficiency. The Buderus GC144 has an AFUE efficiency of about 85% and inputs from 74000 to 132500 BTU/Hr with low-temperature technology.
The Buderus G215 has outputs ranging from 134 MBH to 294 MBH with an efficiency of 86 % AFUE with rear tapings. The Buderus G115WS has low standby losses because of its thermal insulation, a gas-tight seal for efficient operation, and an AFUE efficiency of 87%.
Boiler maintenance
Skilled technicians can conduct thorough inspections and resolve the majority of problems of various boilers. With over 35-year experience in the boiler industry, The Boiler Shoppe offers a wide range of technical support, from boiler tune-ups to boiler maintenance inspections. Generally, a boiler tune-up consists of the following procedures:
- Thoroughly clean your boiler to eliminate any dirt, debris, or grime.
- Check your thermostat to ensure the heat settings are optimal for efficiency.
- Resetting your boiler's specs where necessary to comply with the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Check for problems with your electrical connections, moving parts, motors, controls, and safety components.
- Verifying the security of your above-ground tanks.
- Checking for any leaks or issues with the gas connections and ventilation area.
- Examination of your heat exchanger for any potential safety issues.
Choosing the correct boiler ensures its parts last longer. Several adjustments are made to reduce its running costs while increasing efficiency. The furnace's safety is enhanced when improved ventilation systems for carbon monoxide are present in newer, more favorable boilers.Regular inspections by certified technicians ensure your furnace doesn't break down during winter, which lengthens its lifespan. Thus, for your furnace’s health and longevity, visit The Boiler Shoppe for more services.