The home’s heating and cooling system is one of the largest contributors to electricity and fuel consumption. This is particularly true when the weather grows colder. One way to reduce the cost of heating your Twin Cities area home is to enjoy the benefits of a condensing furnace. A condensing furnace is a high-efficiency model that through the use of two heat exchangers squeezes maximum heat energy out of the fuel that’s burned.
Condensing furnaces have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings in the 90-98 percent range. The AFUE rating shows the percentage of fuel that gets turned into heating in a furnace or boiler. By using less fuel to achieve the s
ame results, condensing furnaces can repay their installation costs with lower utility bills over the years.
The higher the AFUE rating, the lower the impact the furnace has on the environment because it uses less fuel and electricity to operate. Not only does it help conserve the earth’s natural resources; it also produces less waste in the form of exhaust and smoke. As the fuel is burned, the exhaust is collected, cooled until it re-condenses, and then reused instead of being released up the chimney and out into the atmosphere.
With high efficiency and low environmental impact, a happy side benefit to installing a condensing furnace is that it’s safer to operate than standard furnaces. Because the exhaust is held until cool, the flue does not get as hot. This helps reduce the risks of fires and burns.
All these benefits add up to a lower heating bill without sacrificing a comfortable home, which is great for your bank account. Not only will it save money with every monthly bill, but installing a new, high-efficiency condensing furnace could qualify you for incentives from your utility company or local government.
To learn more about the benefits of a condensing furnace, or to request an installation estimate in the Twin Cities area, please contact the expert staff at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We have been helping our neighbors enjoy comfortable homes since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about condensing furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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