Gas Furnaces

Cost-Effective Gas Furnace - A Modern Homeowner's Practical Guide

A Gas furnace is still a popular residential heat distribution option today. With the continuous innovations done by manufacturers, modern gas furnaces are now more energy-efficient, long-lasting, and more eco-friendly. But, of course, a cost-effective gas furnace is only possible with the help of an experienced contractor and with a little help from your researching skills.



Gas furnaces are a fairly convenient source of heat because natural gas is readily available through underground pipelines. This piece of modern appliance functions through a series of heating and cooling cycle. First, it takes in cool air from the surroundings, and then it filters the air before passing it to the gas burner and heat exchanger systems for the heating process. The resulting warm air is distributed to your home’s ductwork using a built-in blower motor mechanism. When the warm air goes back to its cold state, it’s again taken back to the gas furnace to repeat the whole process.

If you have noticed, most of these products carry an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating. It’s actually a type of rating that will help consumers know the effectiveness of a product in terms of utilizing its fuel source in producing heat. As you might have guessed, the higher the rating, the more efficient the product is. High-end home gas furnaces typically carry an AFUE rating of up to 95%. Some of the trusted manufacturers today include Heil gas furnace, Bard gas furnace, Amana gas furnace, and Ruud gas furnace products.

Modern gas furnaces are really highly-advanced and more efficient than their predecessors. Most manufacturers even have their version of a two-stage gas furnace. This type of technology allows the unit to automatically increase heat production up a notch, so it can keep up with the demand. There’s also the superior air filtration system that gets rid of airborne irritants – Trane’s xv95 gas furnaces are believed to remove as much as 99.98% of air irritants. In order to maintain the constant supply of warm air, some furnaces are built with variable speed fans.

Of course, gas furnaces also have their fair share of disadvantages just like the other types. Since it uses natural gas and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), combustion accidents are quite possible. Plus, it is toxic and can even cause death once natural gas leakage happens. Although these are possible to happen, it could be prevented by using highly efficient products and having qualified professionals visit your home for regular check-ups and maintenance of your unit.

Aside from paying attention to the quality of the gas furnace, it is also important that you consult your area or state’s policy on using gas furnaces and compare with electric furnace prices. You don’t want to spend all that money only to find out that it doesn’t follow the necessary requirements set by your region. And to make sure that you’ve chosen the right size and gas furnace model, it wouldn’t really hurt if you consult first a trained and knowledgeable contractor.