A modulating furnace is more energy-efficient than a traditional gas furnace. It modulates the heat produced, saving you money on your energy bill. But should you get modulating day & night for your home, despite its initial benefits?
Let’s explore that further in today’s article:
How This Furnace Works
This particular furnace can change the heat it produces depending on the home’s needs. This is opposed to a furnace that produces a set amount of heat, regardless of the home’s needs. Modulating furnaces can be more efficient because they only produce the heat needed rather than producing too much or too little heat.
A modulating day & night furnace has a variable speed blower which helps to control better when the furnace turns on and off. The fan speed adjusts according to the current thermostat setting, helping to distribute heat evenly throughout your home. This can also help prevent indoor air quality from feeling stuffy when the furnace kicks on.
The gas valve on a modulating furnace is much more sensitive than a traditional furnace, so it can adjust the gas level and, therefore, the flame’s intensity in very small increments. This means that your furnace will only use as much energy as it needs to slightly raise or lower the temperature, making it much more efficient.
A modulating day & night furnace’s secondary heat exchanger is a great feature because it captures any residual heat from the primary combustion. This saves on fuel costs by maximizing your furnace’s use of gas.
Comparing It to Regular Furnaces
A single-stage furnace can only be turned on or off, which can be a problem if the temperature is cold enough to turn on the heat, but you don’t want to start sweating in your home. This furnace will turn on depending on where the thermostat is located, even if the temperature is inconsistent from room to room.
Single-stage furnaces are energy-hungry and can also be quite expensive to run. You may spend more on gas than you need simply to heat your home.
On the other hand, modulating day & night furnaces are more sensitive than two-stage furnaces and can help distribute heat evenly throughout your house, avoiding hot spots.
If you are having issues with your furnace, you may want to consider changing the type of furnace you have. This could potentially solve your problem and prevent you from having to call a furnace repair service.
One-stage furnaces can be upgraded to a two-stage one if you so choose. A two-stage gas furnace is a furnace that can operate at two different levels of capacity, for example, 50 percent and 100 percent. This furnace is beneficial because it is quiet and provides even heating throughout the home. A two-stage day & night furnace can be a good option for homeowners who don’t like the rapid warming that some furnaces provide.
Why a Modulating Furnace among the Rest?
Cost, comfort, and silence are the best reasons for owning a modulating unit:
- Cost: A modulating furnace is more efficient than a single-stage furnace because it has a higher AFUE rating, measuring how much heat a furnace produces compared to its fuel. This rating is the most important factor in determining a furnace’s efficiency. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the furnace. Modulating furnaces have an AFUE rating of up to 98, meaning 98 percent of the fuel is used to heat your home, and the other 2 percent is lost through the exhaust.
- Comfort: Modulating furnaces benefits homeowners by providing consistent heating and removing cold spots and temperature fluctuations. Get this day & night furnace if you want to ensure your home is free of allergens and other airborne particles. It operates for a longer duration, which allows for proper air filtration.
- Lesser noise pollution: Modulating furnaces are less noisy than other types of furnaces because they have a variable speed control feature. This allows the furnace to run at minimum capacity for longer, producing less jarring sounds.
Why Not a Modulating Furnace?
The only disadvantage of this unit is its cost. While energy-saving, buying one and getting it into place is quite burdensome on the wallet. The modulating furnace is more expensive than the other types of furnaces because it has more features and is more efficient. Other variants lack features and efficiency, which is why they are less expensive.
For instance, a single-stage gas furnace has an AFUE rating of 85, which means it is not very efficient. It also cannot exhaust even heating and produces more noise. On the other hand, a modulating furnace has an AFUE rating of 98, which is incredibly efficient. Besides, its features like modulating the gas valve and variable speed control can provide consistent heating throughout its operation.
Since a modulating day & night furnace has two heat exchangers instead of just one, it requires additional pipes and a drainage system during installation. However, even though the installation costs are higher, the furnace will save you money in the long run because it uses and expends energy better than most.
So, Should You?
It’s understandable for homeowners to resist getting one since these systems are expensive to install. However, don’t act on first impressions or feelings. You should consider how much you spend yearly on heating bills, especially if you live somewhere where it gets cold, or your home doesn’t have good insulation. The money you spend upfront for a better heating system will usually be worth it because you’ll save on energy bills.
A modulating day & night furnace may not work as well in an older home (over 40 years old) because it’s already designed to work with a single- or two-stage furnace. If the home is well-insulated, it will retain heat better.
On the flip side, these more efficient furnaces benefit modern homes with poor air circulation. These homes often have better insulation, but more room divisions and larger windows can lead to hot spots. They are especially popular for multi-story homes, where upper floors tend to get warmer.
Find Out More from HVAC Swami
If you want to be certain about a modulating day & night furnace’s inclusion in your home, contact HVAC Swami today! Our team has 100 years of experience selling, installing, and repairing HVAC units throughout the United States. Thus, we can help you determine what unit fits your house in terms of price, efficiency, and long-term maintenance. Visit our website to know more or get free quotes by calling 866-918-3252!
