A wall furnace in a home in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA – Photo Courtesy: Bart Everson
We all want to be comfortable and cosy in our homes during the winter months, but the act for most can end up being one of balance. While keeping the home consistently warm can actually reduce costs when compared to constantly turning the heat on and off, heating sources are a major contributor to home energy costs and can result in high utility bills throughout the winter.
Fortunately, a new wave of energy efficient gas furnaces are available for home owners who are becoming increasingly conscious of their energy choices as prices continue to sky-rocket. In the following article, we will review four energy efficient gas furnaces to be considered in lieu of traditional heating systems.
Goodman AFUE 115,000 BTU Gas Furnace
Delivering a powerful two-stage heating solution for any home or small business, the Goodman AFUE Gas Furnace manages to combine effective heating with an energy efficient profile. Sentient monitors within the furnace determine which mode of operation is best suited to conserve energy by measuring outdoor temperatures, while the adjustable fan speeds allow home owners to circulate smaller amounts of heat throughout the home when they are away (which makes warming up the home upon arrival more effective). For approximately $900, the Goodman system is one of the most energy efficient and powerful gas furnaces available on the market.
Rinnai 38,400 BTU Wall Furnace
Commonly used in businesses and schools, the Rinnai Wall Furnace ($1,500) offers a slim profile that allows it to be installed alongside any wall or in tight spaces. The sealed combustion design of the unit ensures that it will never burn or otherwise harm those who come into physical contact with its façade, while the self-diagnostic system allows owners to troubleshoot any problem in the event one arises. Running off of either natural gas or propane, the whisper quiet fan delivers a consistent amount of heat throughout the home or business without breaking the bank.
Rinnai EX11 Direct Vent Gas Furnace
Designed to be one of the most compact and energy efficient solution available to home owners, the Rinnai EX11 Gas Furnace can deliver up to 11,000 BTUs of heating power while taking up just two cubic feet of space. Features available on this furnace include a programmable thermostat to further aid in efficient heating, a whisper quiet fan that delivers consistent heat when needed and a child safety lock to ensure that young ones do not play with the furnace’s settings. Priced around $900, the Rinnai EX11 is a great entry solution to heating a home or office setting without breaking the bank in terms of utility costs and ownership.
Rheem 45,000 BTU Gas Furnace
Offering direct spark ignition, the Rheem 45,000 BTU Gas Furnace is another affordable solution for winter home and office heating. It also has one of the highest gas efficiency ratings of any furnace on the market (93.5%). It is an extremely quiet furnace when in operation, aided by its variable speed fans and induced draft motors that push air through the unit and into the home without creating any disturbance. For approximately $700, the Rheem 45,000 BTU Gas Furnace has become one of the most popular energy efficient gas furnace.
Marlon Andrew is a technician in Constant Home Comfort, a dealer of Carrier high efficiency furnaces in Toronto, Canada. When he is not working, he is seen visiting friends and family.
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