A two-stage furnace is like having a second heating system in your home. Why would you need it? The standard, single-stage furnace operates at 100 percent heat output only. That’s great for those spells of acute cold weather when you really need it. However, in the north Texas climate, most of the time full-blast burner output isn’t required to meet thermostat settings. In fact, it’s an energy waster and even reduces indoor comfort.
A two-stage furnace incorporates technology that monitors the heating load on your home and adjusts gas flow to the burner accordingly. The furnace always starts in the lower output mode around 68 percent, then increases to full output only if and when necessary.
Here are some advantages of having two heating systems for the price of one:
- Energy savings. Because two-stage heating is generated by reducing the gas flow to match the heating load and the thermostat setting, lower gas consumption means reduced operating costs.
- Consistent heating. Single-stage furnaces operate in an all-or-nothing mode. During the “on” cycle, the unit runs at full output and jams the house with heat, often sending room temperatures as high as 10 degrees above the target temperature on the thermostat. When the unit cycles off, the high temperatures rapidly plunge below the thermostat setting. These continuous on/off cycles and temperature swings diminish the comfort level in the home. A two-stage furnace runs longer “on” cycles at lower output, eliminating the see-saw effect between too hot and too cold. Temperature variations are typically as little as two degrees above and below the thermostat setting.
- Reduced noise. Furnace noise is largely the sound of burner combustion transmitted through the ductwork. Reduced burner output also means reduced decibels from combustion.
- Improved air quality. Air quality is directly related to air circulation through the ducts and the system’s air filter. The longer “on” cycles of a two-stage furnace keep air moving more continuously through the filter removing a greater quantity of airborne particulates.
For more information about whether a two-stage furnace is right for your home, or for other home comfort issues, contact Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating today. We’re proud to serve homeowners throughout the McKinney area.
