The need to replace your aging furnace is an opportunity to become familiar with the latest comfort and efficiency-enhancing advancements in home heating. Modulating furnaces are worth learning about, because they’re designed using some of the most beneficial technology available today.
Understanding How Modulating Furnaces Work
A modulating gas furnace combines two advantageous features: a variable-speed blower motor and a modulating gas valve. Each of these components can make incremental adjustments in their operation, and the result is more precise temperature control with a minimal amount of electricity and gas consumption.
When the furnace starts up, the valve opens fully to generate heat quickly at 100 percent capacity. Then, the variable-speed blower starts up at its slowest speed and ramps up gradually. Meanwhile, the gas valve slowly closes to reduce consumption. Once the temperature setting on the thermostat is satisfied, the two components modify their operation to the lowest feasible settings to maintain it.
Advantages of Modulating Furnace Ownership
Investing in a modulating furnace can bring you some tangible benefits like:
- Cost savings. Modulating furnaces are some of the most efficient models available, with annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of up to 98 percent. This gives you a dual benefit: savings on operating costs and the ability to recoup the equipment cost relatively quickly.
- Less noise. Variable-speed blowers operate on low a lot of the time and cycle for longer periods. These provides extremely quiet operation when the furnace is running, with fewer “bangs” of it cycling on.
- Better air filtration. With prolonged furnace cycles, your household air supply is drawn through the filter more times per day, which helps improve your indoor air quality.
- More comfort. Because a modulating furnace heats your home steadily and evenly, you can enjoy a more consistent temperature with fewer issues like hot or cold spots.
- Greater reliability. With the furnace operating on low a lot, there’s less wear and strain on its various components, which helps boost their reliability and longevity.
To learn more about the benefits of modulating furnaces, contact the Lorain-area home comfort pros at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about modulating furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “raphaelsilva/Pixabay”
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area