I need new high efficiency furnace

[jbill303]

Hello friends,

Any suggestions for a new home heating furnace.*
Just a good quality replacement furnace.*Give best link.?

Thanks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Gas/oil/house size/mobile home size?

Welcome to iboats........... Don't keep us guessing!

 

[roscoe]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

looking to do it yourself?

Alpine Home Air Products: Contractor-grade furnaces, heaters, air conditioners and indoor-air quality products at wholesale prices.

I bought one from them last year. A Goodman, I think Goodman makes about 40% of the furnaces sold in the US.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Just had to do this myself, replaced a Hamilton home products with a Bard bought from local supply company works fine. Old furnace lasted about 20 years with being flooded in basement 3 times, new one is much smaller unit and made a stand for it making higher than water ever was even when we were on vacation and sump pump died. Other flooding times was power outage no back up, and tripped breaker not caught.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I would stay away from the super high efficiency ones. I just put in an 80% one in my vacation house. Problem with the super high condensing furnaces is that when the parts fail, apparently often, they are 4 times the expense of a low efficiency furnace therefore wiping out any savings.

If you are doing this yourself or using a contractor, make sure you get a permit.

 

[bigdee]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I would stay away from the super high efficiency ones. I just put in an 80% one in my vacation house. Problem with the super high condensing furnaces is that when the parts fail, apparently often, they are 4 times the expense of a low efficiency furnace therefore wiping out any savings.

If you are doing this yourself or using a contractor, make sure you get a permit.

I totally agree with Bruce. While heating appliances have increased in efficiency a significant amount over those in the past the standard models will still be more efficient than the old unit that your replacing. The extra 2-5% claims on the high efficiency models are the result of political pressure. The metrics just don't add up though....no one has ever factored in the energy used for maintenance, service calls, production of repair parts and so on. The HVAC industry,while forced into producing higher efficiency, enjoy the opportunity to use this as a marketing ploy. Milking just a little more efficiency does not make sense.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I would stay away from the super high efficiency ones. I just put in an 80% one in my vacation house. Problem with the super high condensing furnaces is that when the parts fail, apparently often, they are 4 times the expense of a low efficiency furnace therefore wiping out any savings.

If you are doing this yourself or using a contractor, make sure you get a permit.

I agree with both of these comments too. The top end units are not what they always claim as far as efficiency, and don't save as much as they claim, and they are very expensive to service. I'm not an expert, but every tech I spoke with explained these energy ratings as a gimmick, depending on where you live. The govt forces manufactures to put these stickers on the new units, however it really depends where YOU live (weather conditions) to get any idea on how the unit will perform for you. The ratings they use, are averages I think, or based on conditions that may or may not apply to you. Don't get suckered into buying a unit that claims certain savings.

 

[lakelover]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I just switched from oil fired to natural gas hot water heat and did a lot of research about high efficiency vs. super high efficiency. I concluded that the most savings in my case would be had from a high eff. unit (85%) for just the reasons mentioned above. I went with a traditional cast iron design.

The 95%+ models have an unproven long-term track record, have more technology, fail more frequently, and are much more expensive to repair and maintain. So likely repairs would wipe out potential gas/$ savings over the life of the unit. Also they are far more costly initially. After my research, when I discussed these points with various contractors, not a one of them tried to dispute them.

You can get lots of info here: http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-category/76/THE-MAIN-WALL

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Most furnaces of 20 years ago were at most 50% efficient. Many houses also have leaky ducting. By bumping up from a 50% to 80% furnace and inspecting and sealing all ducting, you can get a huge efficiency increase.

 

[oldandintheway]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

So where do you live ?
I bought a Trane with a heat pump, so I also have AC in the summer.
Works great, very efficient.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Well through the powers of the Moderator and our extended access to the forum information ....... this person was nothing more then a SPAMMER.........he/she and all of their posse have been banned!

No further Action Needed here

 

[lakelover]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Still some good info in here! Good work, Supermods!

 

[Fun Times]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Still some good info in here! Good work, Supermods!

Yes you are correct about having some good information in here such as always, it's nice to know that our iboats member's offers one of the best informational fourms on the web with such a wide variety of knowledge of every aspect of life. And this thread is just another example of it. For that reason alone, even though it was meant to be part of one's spammers work of a few, the information provided by our talented member's is worth leaving this thread up vs deleting the whole thread. With that said, let's let this one fade away into the archives now. Thanks everyone, enjoy your winter break, its well deserved.

 

[mscher]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I totally agree with Bruce. While heating appliances have increased in efficiency a significant amount over those in the past the standard models will still be more efficient than the old unit that your replacing. The extra 2-5% claims on the high efficiency models are the result of political pressure. The metrics just don't add up though....no one has ever factored in the energy used for maintenance, service calls, production of repair parts and so on. The HVAC industry,while forced into producing higher efficiency, enjoy the opportunity to use this as a marketing ploy. Milking just a little more efficiency does not make sense.

Interesting.

We have a cheapie HE Goodman gas, that been in our house for at least, the 10 years we have owned it. The only thing we have had to replace is the ignition plate, which was about $40.

We purchased a rental house, that had a nearly new, 80% efficient oil furnace. When I priced compared, the HE unit would have only been a few hundred dollars more.

The first time we fired it it up, I could just feel the heat - heading for the chimney. It just seemed like a waste, of $4 gal heating oil.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I totally agree with Bruce. While heating appliances have increased in efficiency a significant amount over those in the past the standard models will still be more efficient than the old unit that your replacing. The extra 2-5% claims on the high efficiency models are the result of political pressure. The metrics just don't add up though....no one has ever factored in the energy used for maintenance, service calls, production of repair parts and so on. The HVAC industry,while forced into producing higher efficiency, enjoy the opportunity to use this as a marketing ploy. Milking just a little more efficiency does not make sense.

80% furnace means 80% of the heat goes into the air stream and 20% goes out the flue. The trick with anything AC related is cost vs savings. I don't agree parts or more expensive, I do think there are a few more in a 90+ furnace. The newer units get they include more controls and boards in them...it's all about payback. Any unit replacement will pay for itself. It's just how long will it take...

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

You're in Canada, and your needs are different than people living in the Mid South in the U.S. You have really not given us enough info for good suggestions. Toronto is just cold enough to where you'd really need a good furnace system. And many people would be using boilers and radiators.

The absolutely most efficient unit for most people with available natural gas would be a gas furnace/electric heat pump hybrid. The unit acts like a heat pump down to about 40 degrees, and then the natural gas burner in the furnace will kick in.

In an all electric heat pump, you'd have electric coils that would kick in @ 40 degrees and lower--and it is much more expensive to run than natural gas. Many people living in rural areas don't have natural gas available, and they're limited to using all electric heat pumps.

I assume my builder put in two all electric heat pumps because he got them for a great price. I supplement them with two natural gas direct vent fireplaces which are technically furnaces. My maximum utility bill (including water) is about $250, but my house is super insulated with 6" walls and great windows.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Spammer post, see http://forums.iboats.com/non-boating-technical-topics/i-want-high-efficiency-furnace-633843.html

 

[Bondo]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Spammer post, see http://forums.iboats.com/non-boating-technical-topics/i-want-high-efficiency-furnace-633843.html

Ayuh,.... Seein's this thread is 'bout Efficiency, I gave up Efficiency of heat, for Efficiency of Dollars,...

Back when oil was 1/2 the price of today, my oil boiler/ baseboard hydronic heat ran 'bout 4 Grand a year, oil truck every 2 weeks,...
A 100 year plus ole farm house, with 1/2 dozen additions, 'n no plannin',...
Heat loss, tell me 'bout it,...

So, I decided to build me an outdoor wood boiler,...
Here's a few pictures of the project,...
'bout every piece but the controls were Right out of a Dumpster,....
even a few of the controls are dumpster goodies,...
Since I've hooked up with a local Tree Service, my wood supply is virtually free,...
Barter is such a lovely thing, ain't it,...

 

[southkogs]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

Love the hand. PLEASE, tell me you did it on purpose.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: I need new high efficiency furnace

I guess Bondo had a helping hand building the warmest outhouse on the planet. I've seen references in the forums to your heating plant, but the first time seeing it. That is a masterpiece. How often do you have to load her up?