Furnace Sales and Repair in Grand Haven and West Michigan

About Furnaces and Boilers
Most U.S. homes are heated with either furnaces or boilers. Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts; boilers heat water, providing either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed via baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems, or can heat air via a coil. Steam boilers operate at a higher temperature than hot water boilers, and are inherently less efficient, but high-efficiency versions of all types of furnaces and boilers are currently available.

Understanding the Efficiency Rating of Furnaces and Boilers
A central furnace or boiler's efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The Federal Trade Commission requires new furnaces or boilers to display their AFUE so consumers can compare heating efficiencies of various models. AFUE is a measure of how efficient the appliance is in the energy in its fuel over the course of a typical year.

Specifically, AFUE is the ratio of heat output of the furnace or boiler compared to the total energy consumed by a furnace or boiler. An AFUE of 90% means that 90% of the energy in the fuel becomes heat for the home and the other 10% escapes up the chimney and elsewhere. AFUE doesn't include the heat losses of the duct system or piping, which can be as much as 35% of the energy for output of the furnace when ducts are located in the attic.

An all-electric furnace or boiler has no flue loss through a chimney. The AFUE rating for an all-electric furnace or boiler is between 95% and 100%. The lower values are for units installed outdoors because they have greater jacket heat loss. However, despite their high efficiency, the higher cost of electricity in most parts of the country makes all-electric furnaces or boilers an uneconomic choice. If you are interested in electric heating, consider installing a heat pump system.

The minimum allowed AFUE rating for a non-condensing fossil-fueled, warm-air furnace is 78%; the minimum rating for a fossil-fueled boiler is 80%; and the minimum rating for a gas-fueled steam boiler is 75%. A condensing furnace or boiler condenses the water vapor produced in the combustion process and uses the heat from this condensation. The AFUE rating for a condensing unit can be much higher (by more than 10 percentage points) than a non-condensing furnace. Although condensing units cost more than non-condensing units, the condensing unit can save you money in fuel costs over the 15- to 20-year life of the unit, and is a particularly wise investment in cold climates.
- Information Provided by EERE

HOME About Glockzin H&C Heating & Cooling Service Cooling & Air Conditioning Commercial HVAC Furnaces & Forced Air Boilers & Hydronic Heat Geothermal Heat Pumps Radiant Floor Heating Water Heaters Thermostats Fireplaces Indoor Air Quality Home Heating Guide Tax Credits GREEN Energy Guide Links & Resources Contact Us	Furnace Sales, Installation and Repair in Grand Haven and West Michigan Goodman Air Conditioning & Heating Goodman has been building air conditioning and heating equipment since 1982. Given their nearly three decades of experience in the heating and cooling business, our customers can be assured that Goodman brand air conditioning and heating systems meet the highest industry standards and are installed by some of the best and most experienced professionals in the industry. When you choose the Goodman brand, you can rest assured that you'll receive a refreshingly affordable product that's covered by what we believe to be the best product warranties in the heating and cooling industry. High Efficiency Gas Furnaces Goodman brand gas furnaces can deliver warm, money-saving indoor comfort year after year. to your home. Variable and multi-speed furnaces can provide enhanced indoor comfort by slowly ramping up to your thermostat setting rather that simply turning on at full speed. This alleviates the ‘cold air blow’ often associated with single-speed furnaces. Choose from a full line of Goodman brand gas furnaces that we believe offer the best warranty protection in the heating and cooling industry. To find a gas furnace that delivers maximum energy efficiency and savings, select a unit with the highest AFUE rating. Standard Efficiency Gas Furnaces Goodman brand gas furnaces deliver warm, money-saving indoor comfort year after year. Variable and multi-speed furnaces can provide enhanced indoor comfort by slowly ramping-up to your thermostat setting rather that simply turning-on at full speed. This alleviates the ‘cold air blow’ often associated with single speed furnaces. Choose from a full line of Goodman brand gas furnaces that we believe is the best warranty protection in the heating and cooling industry. Each furnace comes with a full 10 year parts warranty for peace of mind. Regardless of SEER or AFUE rating, the original, registered, single-family homeowner will receive a 10-Year All-Parts Limited Warranty on all applicable products. Every Goodman brand indoor comfort product is built to the highest standards of the heating and cooling industry, and in many cases Goodman products exceed those standards. The high quality of our product warranties reflects the high standards of our manufacturing processes. Certification of Home Heating Equipment - Furnaces Rated 95% AFUE or Higher The Goodman brand offers a complete line of energy-saving, refreshingly affordable heating and cooling products. Qualifying products and systems must meet specific energy efficiency standards and be identified as matched systems by the AHRI. Goodman Heating & Cooling FAQ Why should I purchase a new heating or air conditioning system? • Purchasing a heating or air conditioning system is no small matter. However, if your existing system is old, in need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can offer long-term benefits. • Rather than continuing to pay for ongoing maintenance and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that will save you money for years to come. What is AFUE? AFUE is the abbreviation for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio. AFUE is used to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel, gas or oil is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, lowering your fuel costs. Furnaces manufactured in the United States are required to have at least an 80% AFUE. What goes into installing a new system? • Putting a new system in a home that has not had central air and heat before will require the installation of ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil. Beyond equipment, the most important component installed with a new system, however, is the ductwork. • Ductwork is composed of two parts, supply and return. Supply duct is attached to the outflow of the new system, delivering air to each zone in a home. The amount of air reaching each zone is determined by the size of supply ductwork connecting it to your system. Your dealer will help you determine the size of all the supply ductwork in your home. • The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attaches to the inlet of the new system and draws air out of the spaces to be heated or cooled. Attached to the return duct is the filter. The filter should be placed as near to the furnace or air handler as possible. Ductwork can be either fiberglass or metal and must be properly sized in order to evenly distribute the proper amount of air to each room. How long will my system last? Maintenance and service play a key role in the lifecycle of a heating or air conditioning system. If all recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, an air conditioner can last 12 to 15 years and a gas furnace 20 to 25 years.		About Furnaces and Boilers Most U.S. homes are heated with either furnaces or boilers. Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts; boilers heat water, providing either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed via baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems, or can heat air via a coil. Steam boilers operate at a higher temperature than hot water boilers, and are inherently less efficient, but high-efficiency versions of all types of furnaces and boilers are currently available. Understanding the Efficiency Rating of Furnaces and Boilers A central furnace or boiler's efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The Federal Trade Commission requires new furnaces or boilers to display their AFUE so consumers can compare heating efficiencies of various models. AFUE is a measure of how efficient the appliance is in the energy in its fuel over the course of a typical year. Specifically, AFUE is the ratio of heat output of the furnace or boiler compared to the total energy consumed by a furnace or boiler. An AFUE of 90% means that 90% of the energy in the fuel becomes heat for the home and the other 10% escapes up the chimney and elsewhere. AFUE doesn't include the heat losses of the duct system or piping, which can be as much as 35% of the energy for output of the furnace when ducts are located in the attic. An all-electric furnace or boiler has no flue loss through a chimney. The AFUE rating for an all-electric furnace or boiler is between 95% and 100%. The lower values are for units installed outdoors because they have greater jacket heat loss. However, despite their high efficiency, the higher cost of electricity in most parts of the country makes all-electric furnaces or boilers an uneconomic choice. If you are interested in electric heating, consider installing a heat pump system. The minimum allowed AFUE rating for a non-condensing fossil-fueled, warm-air furnace is 78%; the minimum rating for a fossil-fueled boiler is 80%; and the minimum rating for a gas-fueled steam boiler is 75%. A condensing furnace or boiler condenses the water vapor produced in the combustion process and uses the heat from this condensation. The AFUE rating for a condensing unit can be much higher (by more than 10 percentage points) than a non-condensing furnace. Although condensing units cost more than non-condensing units, the condensing unit can save you money in fuel costs over the 15- to 20-year life of the unit, and is a particularly wise investment in cold climates. - Information Provided by EERE
Glockzin Heating & Cooling TEL: (616) 846-7623 FAX: (616) 846-8890 Hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4:30pm 24 Hour Emergency Services