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Furnaces
Natural Gas Forced-Air Heating Systems
The most common type of natural gas central heating system is forced-air, which uses a natural gas burner to produce warm air that is delivered through the ductwork and the vents at 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is as much as 20-30 degrees warmer than an electric heat pump.
Forced-air systems not only provide comfort by bringing a steady flow of warm air, they heat your home faster while using less energy. And the life expectancy of a gas furnace is two times that of an electric heat pump or ground source heat pump. You can vent a high-efficiency natural gas furnace directly through a basement wall. Additional features such as pilot-less ignition and zone heating make them an excellent choice for heating your home.
In a forced-air system, the furnace draws cool air into heat exchanger, a metal box where it.s warmed by the gas burner. An electric fan or blower then pushes the warmed air through a filter into ducts and out through registers. The system also can include electronic air filters, electric cooling equipment, and a humidifier.
Considerations:
- Upgrading your furnace may be the most effective way to improve your home's energy efficiency and save money on heating costs. Today's natural gas furnaces are up to 97 percent efficient!
- Furnace sizing - For comfort and efficiency, your furnace must be the correct size. To ensure correct sizing, ask your licensed heating contractor to do a load calculation to determine the appropriate furnace capacity for your home.
- Installation - The best furnace on the market won.t perform to its potential if it.s not installed properly. After your furnace installation is complete, ask your contractor to provide the results of all tests specified in the manufacturer.s installation instructions.
- Compare quotes - Purchase and installation prices may vary considerably. Compare different products and get written installation estimates from several licensed heating contractors along with references before you sign a contract.
- Efficiency - High-efficiency furnaces typically cost more than standard furnaces. However, they tend to cost less to operate on a month-to-month basis, using less fuel to generate the same amount of heat. Therefore, after a given payoff period, high-efficiency furnaces tend to cost less than standard furnaces.