FURNACES
Facts:
* A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter and plays
a critical part in the operation of an air conditioning system.
*Furnaces produce heat through the combustion of natural gas in the
furnace's burner. The heat produced from this process then passes
through a heat exchanger. Air from your home's return air ducts is
blown over
the heat exchanger, thus warming the air.
*The furnace's blower then blows the warmed air into the ductwork,
which carries and disperses the warmed air throughout the home.
*During warmer months, the blower inside a furnace continues to circulate
return air throughout the home--only this time, the return air has
been cooled by being blown over the indoor coil portion of the home's
split-system air conditioning system. The condensing coil is typically
installed on top of the furnace.
Benefits:
*Indoor warmth any time it is required.
*Energy efficiency -The efficiency of a furnace can be determined by
its AFUE--or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The minimum efficiency
level for furnaces currently manufactured in the U.S. is 80% AFUE.
A rating of "80% AFUE" means that for every dollar you spend
heating your home; 80 cents are actually applied to the generation
of warmth. Compared to many of the 60% AFUE furnaces in older homes,
80% AFUE furnaces are a significant improvement. However, for enhanced
energy efficiency, you may wish to consider a 95+% AFUE furnace, such
as Amana's line of 96% AFUE Furnaces.
*Cleaner air - As your HVAC system draws air out of various rooms in
the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air
filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated
filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air
is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms.
Whenever the HVAC system is running, this cycle repeats continually,
constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
This cleaning process improves with the installation of a variable-speed
furnace. Variable-speed furnaces use variable-speed blowers, which
shift between several speeds. These furnaces will run longer at a low
speed, which causes them to filter the indoor air more frequently.
And remember - because the furnace plays an important role in the operation
of the air conditioner, its variable-speed blower helps maintain both
a consistent indoor temperature and improved air quality year-round.
*Possible Tax Credit - As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the
U.S. government has made a provision for tax credits of up to $200
for homeowners who install furnaces with an efficiency of 95% or greater
between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007. Consumers should discuss these
tax credits with a tax professional to see if they qualify.