company news about Guide to Choosing Efficient Furnaces and Boilers for Home Comfort

As winter approaches, many homeowners face the dual challenges of high heating costs and concerns about aging equipment safety. Selecting the right home heating system and implementing proper upgrades and maintenance can significantly reduce energy consumption while improving comfort and safety. This comprehensive guide explores furnace and boiler types, efficiency ratings, upgrade options, and maintenance essentials.

Most American homes use either furnaces or boilers for heating. Furnaces heat air that gets distributed throughout the house via ductwork, while boilers heat water to produce either hot water or steam for heating. Steam moves through pipes to steam radiators, while hot water can be distributed through baseboard radiators, radiant floor systems, or air coils. Steam boilers typically operate at higher temperatures than hot water boilers, making them generally less efficient. However, modern high-efficiency models are now available for all system types.

The efficiency of furnaces and boilers is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) metric. The Federal Trade Commission requires all new heating equipment to display this rating. AFUE represents the percentage of fuel energy converted to usable heat over a typical year. For example, a 90% AFUE rating means 90% of the fuel's energy becomes home heat while 10% escapes through vents or chimneys. Note that AFUE doesn't account for heat loss through ductwork or piping, which can reach 35% of system output when located in unconditioned spaces like attics or garages.

All-electric furnaces and boilers show AFUE ratings between 95-100% since they experience no flue loss. However, despite their high efficiency, these systems often prove uneconomical in most U.S. regions due to high electricity costs. Homeowners considering electric heating should explore heat pump systems instead.

• Older Low-Efficiency Systems:
  • Rely on natural draft for combustion gas flow
  • Feature continuously burning pilot lights
  • Have AFUE ratings between 56-70%
• Mid-Efficiency Systems:
  • Use exhaust fans to control combustion air/gas flow
  • Employ electronic ignition (no pilot light)
  • Have smaller, lighter components reducing cycling losses
  • Feature smaller flue pipes
  • Show AFUE ratings between 80-83%
• High-Efficiency Systems:
  • Use condensing technology with secondary heat exchangers
  • Feature sealed combustion chambers
  • Deliver AFUE ratings between 90-98.5%

Several retrofit options can improve older system efficiency and safety. Homeowners should weigh upgrade costs against replacement expenses, especially if nearing the end of the equipment's service life. System-specific upgrades include:

• Programmable thermostat installation
• Ductwork improvements in forced-air systems
• Zone control additions for hot water systems

While older fossil fuel systems typically operate at 56-70% efficiency, modern high-efficiency models can reach 98.5% AFUE, potentially cutting fuel costs and emissions by half. In cold climates, upgrading from 56% to 90% efficiency can reduce annual CO2 emissions by 1.5 tons for gas systems or 2.5 tons for oil systems.

When replacing equipment, consider these key factors:

• Complete home energy efficiency improvements first to potentially downsize new equipment
• Look for ENERGY STAR® certified models
• Consider sealed combustion units that bring in outside air directly
• Ensure proper venting for high-efficiency condensing units

Professional maintenance should include these critical checks:

• Venting and chimney inspections
• Heat exchanger integrity checks
• Control adjustments for optimal temperature settings
• Combustion efficiency testing

• Combustion chamber inspections
• Carbon monoxide testing
• Blower cleaning and lubrication
• System cleaning to remove dust and corrosion

• Pressure relief valve testing
• Pressure tank inspections
• Heat exchanger cleaning

• Boiler water draining to remove sediment
• Safety control testing
• Water treatment for corrosion control

Proper venting is critical for safe operation. Most older systems use natural draft chimneys that can struggle to properly vent combustion gases. Masonry chimneys should have proper liners, and many older chimneys require relining when installing new high-efficiency equipment. Special attention should be given to horizontal venting systems installed between 1987-1993, which may require upgrading to stainless steel vent pipes.

Any gas odors indicate serious venting issues requiring immediate professional attention to prevent potential health hazards from combustion byproducts like carbon monoxide.