The furnace you choose ultimately affects bills, comfort, and the environment. Efficiency is king when it comes to furnaces, but upgrading to an efficient furnace carries some unknowns. So, should I get an 80% or 95% furnace?
You should get a 95% furnace if you want to make your fuel consumption more efficient. 95% efficiency furnaces only waste 5% of the fuel they use. Conversely, 80% efficiency furnaces waste 20% of the fuel they use, which wastes money and produces unnecessary waste that can harm the environment.
Inefficient and efficient furnaces vary in cost, materials, installation, and operation. Follow along as we explore the differences between 80% and 95% efficiency furnaces to help you decide which is best for your home.
What Is the Difference Between 80% and 95% Furnaces?
80% and 95% efficiency furnaces serve the same purpose but vary when it comes to how they operate. The most significant differences between them include:
Efficiency
It’s no secret that 95% efficiency furnaces offer more savings and environmental friendliness than 80% efficiency furnaces. That stands to reason as 95% efficiency furnaces are 15% more efficient than 80% efficiency furnaces. Unfortunately, 80% efficiency furnaces are relatively wasteful as they 20% of the fuel that’s used to operate them.
Keep in mind that you must still pay to use the 20% of fuel that your furnace wastes. Not only is this wasteful, but it also produces exhaust that affects the environment. Luckily, you only waste 5% of the fuel used to run your furnace with a 95% efficiency furnace.
Not only does this save fuel and money, but it can also prevent unnecessary environmental damage. Today, more homeowners want to do everything they can to reduce their carbon footprints. You can’t go wrong with a 95% efficiency furnace if that applies to you.
Performance
Aside from the improved efficiency that 95% furnaces offer, they don’t perform much differently than an 80% furnace. The biggest difference between the two of them is how quickly you can enjoy warm air. It doesn’t take long for an 80% efficiency furnace to crank heat throughout a house.
You may even feel the warm air come through your vents as soon as you run an 80% furnace. However, it may take a few extra minutes for a 95% efficiency furnace to warm up. That’s because they use two heat exchangers instead of the one exchanger an 80% furnace has.
Whether or not faster heating is a benefit varies between homeowners. Some people prefer 80% furnaces as they want to feel the heat right away. Conversely, others prefer the gradual climb that 95% efficiency furnaces provide.
Installation
Part of why 80% efficiency furnaces are still popular is that they are cheap and easy to install. That’s because they require far fewer materials to install than 95% efficiency furnaces. The venting system is also simpler than what you get with a 95% efficiency furnace.
80% efficiency furnaces have one heat exchanger, whereas 95% efficiency furnaces have two of them. It’s more expensive to install a 95% efficiency furnace than an 80% efficiency furnace because of the complexity. More parts and a complex venting system mean that it takes longer to install a 95% efficiency furnace.
This can increase the cost of materials and labor, depending on how long it takes and how big the crew is. However, many homeowners find the added installation cost worth the savings benefits that 95% efficiency furnaces offer.
Operation
There isn’t much of a difference between 80% and 95% furnaces when it comes to operation. However, you may notice that 95% efficiency furnaces are quieter than 80% furnaces. This mostly refers to the noise you hear when you’re near the furnace itself.
That’s because of the sealed combustion compartment that 95% efficiency furnaces have. While 80% efficiency furnaces don’t have this compartment, you may not notice a difference. The noise will only stand out when you’re close to the furnace, so many people don’t mind it.
80% Efficiency Furnace Pros and Cons
Pros
- Your home will heat up quickly. It doesn’t take long for warm air to come through your vents when you crank the heat.
- Reduced installation costs. 80% efficiency furnaces cost as little as $500-$1,500 before the cost of installation and labor.
- They are simple and reliable. It doesn’t take much time or many resources to install an 80% efficiency furnace. The simplicity they provide means that less can go wrong, making them easy to maintain.
Cons
- No tax benefits. Some homeowners can receive tax benefits for upgrading to efficient appliances. This can save a small fortune annually, but that’s not possible with 80% efficiency furnaces.
- They waste fuel and money. It doesn’t take long for the fuel waste of 80% efficiency furnaces to add up. The high energy bills and significant carbon footprint that come along with them are hard to ignore.
95% Efficiency Furnace Pros and Cons
Pros
- They don’t waste much fuel. You can save a lot of money on bills because 95% efficiency furnaces get the most out of the fuel.
- Reduced emissions. 95% efficiency furnaces don’t expel nearly as many harmful emissions as 80% efficiency furnaces.
- Efficient furnaces last longer than inefficient furnaces because there is less wear and tear. They don’t have to work nearly as hard to heat your home, so they don’t strain as quickly.
Cons
- Expensive installation. It sometimes costs double to install a 95% efficiency furnace than an 80% efficiency furnace. The complexity, materials, and installation time add up quickly.
- Maintenance challenges. Many homeowners may struggle to maintain their 95% efficiency furnaces without professional help. Some furnace repairs are harder if the system is more complex.
Boost Efficiency and Maximize Savings With Rich’s Heating and Cooling
At Rich’s Heating and Cooling LLC, we want to help our customers save money and get the most comfort possible. That’s why we take pride in installing and maintaining high-efficiency furnaces throughout New Jersey. Call Rich’s Heating and Cooling LLC at (732) 433-0068 to learn more and upgrade to a highly efficient furnace.
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