Earlier this month we posted a blog about what to think about when you’re buying a new furnace. One of the features that we suggested looking out for was a two-stage system. Today we’re going to talk about what a two-stage gas furnace is and the advantages of installing one in your home.
What is a two-stage gas furnace?
Traditional single-stage furnaces only operate at one capacity. That means that even when it’s a relatively mild winter day, a single-stage furnace still operates at the same capacity it would if it were bitterly cold outside.
A two-stage gas furnace, on the other hand, operates at two separate capacities: high and low. The low setting is used about 75 percent of the time (sometimes even longer), while the high setting is only used when it’s excessively cold outside.
What are the benefits of installing a two-stage gas furnace?
- Increased efficiency. A two-stage furnace’s low capacity consumes less energy than its high capacity. Since the low setting is used a majority of the time, a two-stage furnace consumes much less energy than a traditional single-stage furnace (even though a two-stage furnace operates more often).
- More consistent heating. With a single-stage furnace, your home is blasted with a large amount of heat every time that the system turns on. This can lead to inconsistent spikes and dips in your home’s temperature levels. A two-stage furnace operates longer than a single-stage furnace (and at a lower setting), which allows it to heat your home more consistently and with much smaller temperature fluctuations.
- Less system cycling. Another advantage of a two-stage furnace operating more often than a single-stage furnace is that your system performs much less on-and-off cycling. This puts less stress on your furnace, which helps minimize breakdowns and allows the system to have a longer operating life.
- Better air quality. Because a two-stage furnace has longer heating cycles than a single-stage furnace, the air is sent through your system’s filtration devices more often. This leads to better air quality because more particles will be removed from your air and your home will have a more consistent supply of freshly filtered air.
If you have any questions about a two-stage gas furnace, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles heating and cooling contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Weldon Spring, Wentzville, and Winghaven.
