What is a modulating furnace?
A modulating furnace is one that has twenty (20) or more stages of heat using less gas than a 2 stage furnace all while keeping your house within 1-2° of your thermostat setting. A modulating furnace can achieve up to 98% efficiency, this means that 98% of the fuel that goes into the system returns as heat.
How does it work?
This type of furnace will alter the gas input to meet the demands of the home. For example, let’s say you’re bringing in your groceries, you’ll probably make more than one trip to your car. We know that each time we open the door to bring another load in we’re letting warm air out and cold air in. A modulating furnace will be able to sense this change in temperature, turn on and replace what you’ve lost in a controlled manor. Meaning if you’ve only lost 20,000 btu your modulating furnace will replace that 20,000 btu. By catering to your homes specific needs, you’re using less fuel and in turn saving more money.
How much does it cost?
A modulating furnace will generally cost about $2,000 more up front than your average single or two-stage furnace, but based on your decreased fuel use you could potentially earn back every cent of that in savings.Imagine decreasing your energy bill an average of $12 a month, sounds pretty good right?
Single stage and two stage defined-
A single stage furnace knows only two behaviors, on and off. When your home calls for more heat, it will turn on and run at full capacity until your thermostat says that’s enough. This method is great for providing blasts of warm air, however it is not known for its ability to maintain that comfort in a way that is efficient. A two stage furnace is slightly more advanced in that it can function at two different levels depending on the needs of the home. This type is a bit quieter than a single stage, and provides a longer heating cycle leaving your home comfortable longer. This type is one step closer than single stage furnace when it comes to meeting your needs as efficiently as possible.
Interested in learning more, and finding out if a modulating furnace is right for you? Give us a call for a free estimate at 585-3Harold!
