If you have been considering upgrading your current heating system, you will find that you have many choices in which to choose from when it comes to different types of furnaces. You may hear terms such as high efficiency, one-stage furnace or two-stage furnace and have no idea of which type to choose. Not only do you have to decide between natural gas, oil, electric or propane, you need to be concerned about energy efficiency. The more energy efficient your furnace is, the more money you will save on heating your home in the long run, even if you need to pay a little more upfront with your new furnace installation.
One-Stage vs. Two-Stage
To understand the difference between a one-stage and a two-stage furnace, consider how you are able to choose between different speeds on a ceiling or box fan in your home. Some days you may only want the fan to run at a slower speed to slightly circulate the air, while on hot days you may want it running at top speed to produce a breeze. Many of today’s furnaces have a similar option with multi-speeds to allow you to choose what speed in which to run to fit you heating needs.
While a one-stage furnace can run at only one speed, a furnace that has two-stage capability can be set to run at either low or high speed depending upon how much heat you need. This helps conserve energy when heating your home and may actually make it more comfortable. Because a traditional furnace runs on shorter cycles, you are exposed to frequent blasts of hot air each time the system starts up.
A furnace that offers two-stage capability provides a more consistent temperature in your home while also using less energy. Those hot air blasts are greatly reduced when the furnace is operating in its low speed mode. The longer cycles help reduce temperature fluctuations by keeping the temperature in your home within one degree of the temperature set on your thermostat. On colder days when you need more heat in your home, you would just switch the furnace to high speed by changing the setting on your thermostat.
Additional Benefits of a Two-Stage Furnace
Aside from increased energy efficiency and control over how you heat your home, there are additional advantages to choosing this type of furnace:
- Improved indoor air quality in your home because the air is continually being circulated and filtered
- Reduced humidity that also helps reduces mold and mildew growth in your home
- Less noise when running at low speed
For questions regarding which furnace is best for your home, contact the heating installation experts at Assurance Heating & Air Conditioning. We have been providing customers in the Cook and Lake County area with reliable and honest service for over 30 years.
