Furnaces are made to last for many years. This fortunately means most people only have to shop for a furnace a few times in their lives. But it can also make the decision feel somewhat overwhelming as you work to understand all of the different options available in order to make the best investment for your home.
One of the first decisions you will make is the type of furnace. There are three main types on the market. By understanding their differences, you can more easily decide which will be the best for your home.
Choosing Between Single-Stage, Two-Stage, and Modulating Furnaces
The three furnace types available are the single-stage furnace, the two-stage or dual-stage furnace, and the modulating or variable-speed furnace. The functionality and efficiency increase as you move from a single-stage to a two-stage to a modulating furnace, as does the cost.
Rather than the most expensive option consistently being the best, the right choice for your home will depend on a number of factors, including home type and layout, your budget, how you usually use your furnace, and what other HVAC equipment you already have in place.
For an overview, the different types of furnaces provide the following advantages:
- Single-Stage Furnaces – This is the most basic type of furnace, called single-stage because it has only one power option. When it is on, it consistently runs at 100% power. This is a reliable way to heat most single story homes and provides the power you can rely on in the coldest months of the year. This is also the most budget-friendly furnace during installation.
- Two-Stage Furnaces – The two-stage furnace offers the same 100% power stage as a single-stage furnace, as well as an in low power mode at about 80% power output. At this level, your furnace will provide a smaller heat output with less power consumption. This increases the efficiency of your unit and can be particularly helpful if you usually run your furnace in the spring and fall when 100% output is not necessary or if multiple floors or cold spots mean that your home is often heated unevenly.
- Modulating Furnace – The modulating furnace goes a few steps further. It can continuously adjust power to provide the most precise heating rather than cycling on and off as other furnace models do. A modulating furnace will continuously keep your home within a few degrees with power adjustments and is the most efficient way to heat a home. It largely eliminates temperature fluctuations that other furnaces will cause. It is also the most expensive option and despite its superior performance, a modulating furnace can be more than many homes need. It is most recommended for homes that currently have excessively high energy bills.
In addition to your goals for your home and energy bills, any new furnace that you install also needs to be compatible with your thermostat, air conditioning, and heat pump in order to work properly.
Having an expert furnace installation company to help you pick out the right furnace for your home will be extremely helpful in this process. Lewis Comfort Control can provide personalized advice for your home to be sure that you get the furnace that you need. Contact us to learn more about furnace installation and what makes our Nashville heating services the right option for your family.