Where you aware that more than one-half of your home’s energy costs are from your heating and cooling? This is why it’s critical to maintain an energy-efficient HVAC system.

Furnace efficiency standards were last modified to an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 80% in 2015. This rating system illustrates how effective your furnace is at combusting natural gas into heat. An AFUE rating of 80% means your furnace wastes about 20% of the fuel it uses while generating heat.

In 2022, President Biden devised new energy-efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces that would significantly lower emissions, save money and encourage sustainability.

This proposal is expected to:

  • Save Americans $1.9 billion annually.
  • Reduce carbon emissions by 373 million metric tons and methane emissions by 5.1 million tons over the next 25 - 30 years, the equivalent of what 61 million homes emit each year.

Starting in 2029, the proposed rule would require all new gas furnaces to feature AFUE ratings of 95%. This means furnaces would combust nearly 100% of the gas into usable heat.

With these facts in mind, you may be asking yourself "what happens to my existing furnace"? Currently, not much, as the proposed rule will not go into effect until 2029 at the earliest and does not affect furnaces that are already in use.

But if your furnace is nearing the end of its life and a replacement is needed in soon, highly energy-efficient furnaces are now available. Find out how these furnaces can save you money on your utility bills.

Guide to Condensing Furnaces

How Condensing Furnaces Work

A condensing furnace is a type of heating system that uses a secondary heat exchanger to capture wasted heat from the furnace's exhaust gases. This decreases the extent of energy wasted, improves energy efficiency and lowers carbon-monoxide emissions. It also demands less natural gas to produce the same rate of heat when compared to other types of furnaces.

How Condensing Furnaces Differ from Non-Condensing Furnaces

The biggest difference between a condensing furnace and a non-condensing furnace is that the former uses a secondary heat exchanger to collect any wasted heat from its exhaust gases, while the other does not.

Equipment Lifespan

The life span of a condensing furnace is dependent on the brand, model and other factors. Usually, a condensing furnace should last between 10-20 years with sufficient maintenance and regular service. If you put off scheduled maintenance, it may have a significantly shorter life span.

Why Condensing Furnaces Are More Expensive

Usually, condensing furnaces type of system is a lot more efficient than conventional furnaces, as it only utilizes the minimum amount of energy needed to heat your home, which  subsequently saves money on your utility bills.

The majority of variable-speed furnaces are condensing furnaces, although a handful are available in non-condensing models with lower AFUE ratings. In order for a furnace to be classified as a condensing furnace, it must offer an AFUE rating of 90% or higher.

Do Variable-Speed Furnaces Run Nonstop?

A variable-speed furnace doesn’t operate all the time. Instead, it runs at different speeds depending on the temperature in your Carpentersville home as well as the amount of energy it needs to maintain that temperature.

When sufficient energy is demanded to maintain your desired temperature level, the furnace will increase to a higher speed in order to keep up with demand. Precise fan speeds offer more efficient heating in your home while also offering quieter operation.

Guide to Two-Stage Furnaces

Two-Stage Furnaces: What They Are and How They Work

A two-stage furnace is a type of heating system that utilizes two different stages of operation — high and low. In the low stage, the furnace runs at a reduced capacity to help maintain the preferred temperature at your home more efficiently. During the high stage, the furnace will instead operate at full capacity to satisfy demands for greater heat. With a two-stage furnace, you can maintain improved energy efficiency and comfortable temperatures all across your home.

While two-stage furnaces are highly efficient, not all all models are condensing furnaces.

Does a Two-Stage Furnace Operate All the Time?

A two-stage furnace won’t run all the time. In the low stage of operation, the furnace performs at limited capacity in order to maintain a desired temperature more efficiently within your home. When more energy is needed to reach the set temperature, the heating system shifts to its high stage and operates at full capacity. For this reason, two-stage furnaces are proven to help reduce energy costs without operating constantly.

Comparing Two-Stage and Variable-Speed Furnaces

Two-stage furnaces have two stages of functionality, low and high. During the low stage, the furnace works at reduced capacity to help maintain a desired temperature within your home. When a greater demand for warmth or cooling is necessary, the furnace will shift to its high stage and operate at full capacity.

Variable-speed furnaces, meanwhile, can operate at a variety of speeds in order to uphold a comfortable temperature at home. As such, variable-speed furnaces offer greater savings on your utility bills .

Differences Between One- and Two-Stage Furnaces

One-stage furnaces have a single stage motor and operate either at full power or not at all. Consequently, the furnace runs constantly in order to maintain a desired level of comfort at home.

Two-stage furnaces, on the other hand, have two stages of operation, low and high. While in the low stage, the furnace runs at lower capacity in order to maintain the desired temperature more efficiently. When a greater demand for warmth or cooling is necessary, the furnace will shift to its high stage and operate at maximum capacity.

Make Your Furnace Installation Appointment with Controlled Comfort HVAC Today

Making sense of modern furnace technology can be confusing. That’s why Controlled Comfort HVAC experts are here to help with a no-obligation, no-pressure estimate for furnace installation. We’ll assess your home, your heating requirements and your budget before helping you find the ideal solution. Call us at 224-412-8308 to get started today!