Furnaces

Furnaces

There are a multitude of furnace options, and while all operate on the same principle—using a heat source to warm the air in your house—there are differences that affect which heating system will work best for you.

The basic internal systems all furnaces have are a thermostat, heat producer, heat exchanger, and heat distributor. The thermostat monitors the temperature of the room and turns on the furnace if the temperature drops below a set point. The heat producer creates heat with fuel or electricity, warming air in the heat exchanger. The exchanger passes the warmth to the distributor, usually through the ductwork or air vents of the house.
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Furnace Types

Oil Furnaces

Oil furnaces are a popular alternative to other fuel burning furnaces because of their efficiency and the fact that the oil is fairly cheap. Oil furnaces have an efficiency rating of 83% AFUE. Furnace efficiency is measured in Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which calculates the percentage of burned fuel that is turned into heat.

Gas Furnaces

Gas furnaces burn a gas made up of methane and other carbon based gases from petroleum fields. Natural gases burn cleanly and efficiently, giving gas furnaces a 90% AFUE.

Electric Furnaces

Electric furnaces use electrical resistance to heat the air in a process similar to an electric burner. The efficiency rating of electric furnaces can reach nearly 100% AFUE, although they are more expensive to run as electricity costs usually more than other fuel types.

Furnace Advantages

Furnaces are a great all-around answer to the question of heating your home. They are quite efficient—oil, gas and electric furnaces all have efficiency ratings of 80% AFUE or better.

Furnaces are certainly more efficient than baseboard heaters, and provide more even heat to the whole house than wood stoves. Furnaces are also long lasting, many are known to have a lifespan of 20 years or more.

Furnaces are a comparatively inexpensive choice for homeowners looking to replace their current heating system. Furnaces cost less than heat pumps, and can be installed to work with existing ductwork, which cannot be done with radiant heating, reducing the total cost of installation.

Furnace Disadvantages

Furnaces that burn fuel are inevitably going to need maintenance to remove build-up, ensure that there are no fuel leaks, and make sure that fuel is still being burned efficiently. Furnaces are not as efficient as heat pumps, which are also known for their long lifespan.

Furnace Cost

The average cost of a furnace starts at $1,500 and up depending on size, quality, and if ductwork installation is necessary. Keep in mind that there are big payoffs in the long run if you choose a high-efficiency furnace even if it costs more initially. A high-efficiency furnace combined with installation often costs around $10,000. At the lower end of the furnace price continuum is the electric furnace which costs between $1,000-$1,500, while high-efficiency oil furnaces round out the higher end with costs in the high thousands. Additionally, the average gas furnace costs roughly $1,700-$4,000, or for a high-efficiency model, between $5,000-$7,000.
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Disclaimer: This article offers general guidelines and is not intended as professional advice.