Facts and benefits you need to know when buying a furnace

Facts:

• A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter and plays a critical part in the operation of an air conditioning system.
• Furnaces produce heat through the combustion of natural gas in the furnace's burner. The heat produced from this process then passes through a heat exchanger. Air from your home's return air ducts is blown over the heat exchanger, thus warming the air.
• The furnace's blower then blows the warmed air into the ductwork, which carries and disperses the warmed air throughout the home.

Benefits:

• Indoor warmth any time it is required.

Energy efficiency -A newer furnace is more efficient than older models. A new high efficiency furnace operates at above 83% efficiency. It has two heat exchangers, and vents through plastic PVC or CPVC vent material. It can draw combustion air either directly from outside, or from inside the home.

As of December 31, 2009 the new national minimum energy performance standard for residential gas furnaces came into effect. All gas furnaces require a minimum efficiency of 90% when installed.