Why Two-Stage Furnaces Offer More in Comfort and Savings

If you’re considering replacing your old furnace, it’s worth investigating the benefits of a two-stage furnace. To help you make an informed purchasing decision, let’s compare how single-stage and two-stage furnaces work:

Single-stage furnaces have one blower fan speed and one heat output level. Whenever they cycle on, they run on high until the thermostat’s target temperature is reached. When the temperature drops again, the cycle repeats. This full-blast operation makes them better suited for colder climates.

Two-stage furnaces have a variable speed blower and a dual-position gas valve, which provides two heat output levels. They operate on low in milder weather, but when outdoor temperatures dip and more heat is needed, the higher fan speed automatically kicks in. This flexibility makes them ideal for the changeable winter weather we experience here. In most situations, they operate in the lower stage for the majority of the time.

Some of the benefits you can expect with a two-stage furnace include:

• Greater comfort. You’re used to feeling a blast of warm air when your single-stage furnace cycles on, and a chill when it cycles off. With a two-stage furnace that runs on low for longer periods, the indoor temperature is more consistent, and you won’t need to tinker with the thermostat to stay comfortable.
• Quiet operation. If you’re used to hearing the noise of a blower fan kicking in and running on full-speed, you’ll appreciate the quiet operation of a two-stage furnace. Because it’s running on low most of the time, you won’t hear that familiar, frequent banging sound.
• Improved air quality. While it’s running, your two-stage furnace is also filtering the air in your home. Longer periods of filtration result in indoor air that contains fewer allergens and pollutants, so you’ll breathe easier.
• Enhanced efficiency. Because two-stage furnaces run on low up to 75 percent of the time, they use less energy than single-stage models, so you’ll spend less to heat your home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems). To learn more about two-stage furnaces, contact us today at Sobieski Services.

Photo Credit: Colby Stopa via Compfight cc