Furnace & Air Connection

Tax Credits Available For New Furnace Buyers

Not letting hot air get lost up the chimney has its rewards. Many homeowners who are replacing their furnaces are choosing high-efficiency models to help combat rising heating costs. High-efficiency furnaces, however, can be more expensive in the short term than their standard-efficiency counterparts. To make the purchase of this and other high-efficiency appliances easier on the average household, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which provides tax credits for the purchase of high-efficiency furnaces.

The new Energy Policy Act (EPACT) makes provisions for tax credits for qualified homeowners who install furnaces between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007. If the furnace installed has an energy-efficiency rating of 95% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) or higher, the homeowner may qualify for a tax credit of $150. And if the furnace uses a high-efficiency variable-speed blower motor, the purchaser may be eligible for an additional $50 tax credit!

According to Jim Miller, product manager for Goodman furnaces, 95% AFUE furnaces save homeowners money in the long run, even without the tax credit. "Simply put, with a 95% AFUE furnace, for every dollar you spend on heating energy, 95 cents of that dollar is used to warm your home," explained Miller. "Many furnaces older than 15 years operate at efficiencies of approximately 60% AFUE, meaning only 60 cents of the gas burned contributes to your home’s heating." The remaining 40 cents is lost up the chimney-expensive and wasteful.

"Plus, 95% AFUE furnaces with a variable-speed blower are even more efficient," Miller added. "The variable-speed blowers we use in our Goodman GMV95 95% AFUE Variable-Speed Furnace typically require up to 75 percent less electricity than a standard motor. Because a furnace’s blower also works with the home’s cooling system to circulate air, consumers experience increased efficiency year-round."

Homeowners should work with a certified heating and air-conditioning contractor to choose the furnace that meets the needs of their home and should check with their tax professional regarding the requirements for the EPACT tax credits. Goodman is the second-largest unit manufacturer of residential heating and cooling equipment in the United States, and the first manufacturer to provide a complete line of 95% AFUE furnaces.

By: Whitney Taylor

For more information on furnace efficiency ratings and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 tax credits, visit www.goodmanmfg.com or call (877) Goodman. A tax credit for high-efficiency furnaces is helping homeowners avoid getting hot under the collar.

Furnace Buying Tips

Choosing a furnace for your home is not difficult. The following list are features that you may want to look for when buying your furnace.

1. What type of furnace do you want? Will it be Gas or Electric?

The Gas Furnace

The gas furnace is always more affordable to use than the electric furnace where gas is readily available. On the downside, burning fuel generates fumes. In well-maintained gas furnaces, the fumes generated are enclosed in the exchanger and then exit the house through an exhaust vent.

Remember, a gas furnace must be checked by a qualified professional at least once a year. The professional would check the furnace for holes, leaks or cracks. A break or crack in the furnace lets carbon monoxide seep into your house or place of business.

The Electric Furnace

The electric furnace has a higher cost than a gas furnace. On the upside, since electric furnaces do not use flames, it does not generate any carbon monoxide. The electric furnace is cleaner and safer than a gas furnace.

2. The Quality of the Furnace

The quality of the furnace determines how long and how well it will perform. Choosing a brand of furnace that has a history of quality and reliability can be less costly in the long run. Ask your contractor about which brand will be optimal for your needs. A free estimate for the purchase and installation are available in some companies.

3. The Efficiency of the Furnace

The efficiency of gas furnaces are determined by the AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The AFUE ratings identifies how efficiently is the fuel being consumed. In most cases, a higher AFUE rating means it takes less fuel to heat your home.

Gas furnaces with higher ratings cost more than those with lower ratings but may save you more money down the road. A minimum rating of 78% is established by the government in 1992. Many furnaces have an efficiency rating of about 60% prior to 1992.

a. The Mid-Efficiency Furnaces

The mid-efficiency furnaces are also called ‘induces draft furnaces’ or ‘non-condensing furnaces’. The mid-efficiency furnace offers the bare minimum of 78% efficiency up to about 80%.

b. The High-Efficiency Furnaces

The high-efficiency furnaces are also known as ‘condensing furnaces’ or ’sealed combustion furnaces’. The high-efficiency furnaces has an AFUE rating as high as 96%. Some furnaces use a two-stage valve and an efficient variable-speed motor to raise comfort and effectiveness.

4. The Comfort features of furnaces

Several furnaces provide features that increases comfort and efficiency.

a. The features of the two-speed furnace

The furnace can function at low speed for most of the time. It allows for a more quieter operation for a longer amount of time compared to a ’single-speed furnace’. The longer run periods allow for fewer start/stop cycles, less drafts, and very little temperature variance.

The temperature swing is limited to about two degrees compared to the four degree variance of the single-speed units. The two-speed unit gives better circulation which prevents warmer air from rising and the cooler air from settling down. The two-speed unit gives a more consistent temperature in the house.

b. The features of variable-capacity furnaces

Furnaces with variable capacity provide a combination of efficiency and comfort. The variable-capacity has a motor that regulates your needs by automatically adjusting air volume and speed. The var-cap furnace provides the most efficient heating and cooling.

A fan comes with the var-cap furnace. The fan will reduce your cost during summer. If the fan is used throughout summer, the central air conditioning unit increases in efficiency.

5. The furnace noise level

Unfortunately, all furnaces do not come with a standard rating system for sound unlike heat pumps and air conditioners. Although, two-speed units and var-cap units generally operate at a low noise levels.

The two-speed and var-cap furnaces run for longer periods and lower sounds than the standard unit. Certain var-cap units has features that prevent ‘creaking’ of the ducts due to expansion and contraction caused by changing temperature. The temperature differential is reduced so that the creaking noise is also almost eliminated.

For more great furnace information and resources check out: www.furnaceadvisor.info

Boost Home Furnace Efficiency And Cut Energy Costs

The snow and cold will be here once again before you know it. So you should be thinking about getting your heating system ready now. If you do it now you will boost your home furnace efficiency and help your heating system last longer too. Here are a few simple steps you can take to cut your heating bills.

There isn’t anything worse than having a cold spell hit and discovering your furnace is either not working or it’s working very inefficiently. You can avoid this unpleasant scenario by taking a few precautions before winter hits. Proper preparation will not only keep your furnace running smoothly it will help to save money on your home heating bills.

Get your furnace ready for winter be taking these simple steps:

1. Have a heating company inspect and clean your furnace
The first thing you should do is to make sure your heating system is in proper working condition. You should hire a qualified heating contractor to check and clean your furnace. This is not expensive and is worth the small expense. Be advised, a furnace that is not running efficiently is going to end up costing you more money to run over the long haul.

Change the furnace filter

If you can afford it, buy a reusable filter for the furnace. A reusable filter can be cleaned over and over again. Standard filters have to be thrown out when they are dirty. Reusable filters will help boost furnace efficiency, which will save you some cash.

Not to mention you will save money not buying new furnace filters several times a year. Be sure to change or clean the filter every month to make sure your furnace is not only working efficiently, but is circulating clean air.

Have the furnace ducts cleaned

Mold, mildew and allergens can accumulate in the heating ducts over the years. Have a duct cleaning contractor thoroughly clean your ducts. This is another sound technique for boosting furnace efficiency making sure your furnace is pumping out clean air for your family to breathe.

Inspect and clean your chimney

Hire a reputable chimney tech to your check and clean your chimney. This will increase furnace efficiency by making sure it can draft sufficiently. A clean chimney will also allow carbon monoxide to escape safely.

These are a few of the simple steps you can follow to get your furnace ready for the cold, winter months. Many homeowners don’t realize it but the best time to have your furnace serviced is in the spring or summer, well before you need to use it.

Many furnace contractors will give you a hefty discount for having service performed before they get busy. This simple technique could save you even more of your hard earned money. By properly preparing your furnace for winter, you can be sure you are getting top-notch furnace efficiency and saving money on your heating bills too.

Donald Marshall is an established online author and business owner with more than 30 years experience in the home energy improvement field. If you would like more energy saving tips, please visit his website, Technology Green.