Even though there aren’t any heavy snowstorms in Los Angeles, winters can become cold. During these cold months, homeowners rely on their heating systems to stay warm. With a furnace heating system, homeowners will not only have warmth but other benefits, too.
Whether it’s simple maintenance or a complete heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) installation, we have helped homeowners with their heating and cooling systems for over 15 years. Furnaces are a standard system our technicians at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air have installed and serviced in homes from Ventura to Orange County and everywhere in between.
Based on the combined experience of our technicians and feedback from homeowners, here are the top benefits of furnaces.
- Quickly heats homes
- Cost-efficient to operate
- Reliable energy supply
- Compatible with other HVAC systems
We’ll highlight each benefit so that by the end of this article, you will have a better idea of what furnaces can offer your home.
What are the Benefits of Furnaces?
Furnaces Can Rapidly Heat Homes
Furnaces can heat up a home rapidly thanks to its heating technology. When there’s a drop in temperature, homeowners can rely on their furnace to quickly and evenly distribute heat throughout an entire house.
Unlike other heating systems, like air-source heat pumps, furnaces take less time to produce heat. Furnaces can use different fuel sources to create a flame that heats up heating elements. A fan then blows through the heating elements to produce warm air circulating throughout a home.
Most furnaces are forced air systems with a blower motor that can rapidly move warm air within the ductwork. Another reason why furnaces can heat up homes fast is thanks to the thermostat.
Homeowners can remotely control the set temperature of a furnace with a smart thermostat to quickly turn the furnace on when a home feels cold. These thermostats also have sensors that monitor the ambient temperature. The furnace is then turned on when the thermostat sensors detect a drop in temperature and will continue to heat until the house reaches the desired temperature.
Furnaces can quickly heat up homes, but at what cost? In the next section, we’ll review how furnaces can be cost-efficient to run so you can take advantage of fast heating without burning through your pocket.
Cost-Efficient Operation
Furnaces can run and heat homes without making a substantial negative impact on a homeowner’s energy bills. Furthermore, homeowners can potentially save hundreds of dollars in energy savings by the end of the furnace’s lifespan.
Each furnace has an energy guide label with information regarding efficiency ratings and potential energy savings amount per year. Generally, furnaces with higher efficiency ratings can provide greater energy savings overall.
To help homeowners compare heating products, furnaces use the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating as a standard measurement. The AFUE rating shows how efficiently furnaces can convert their fuel source into heating.
The minimum AFUE rating allowed is .80, but the top furnace brands have units with AFUE ratings between .90 and .98. High-efficiency furnaces may have a higher upfront installation cost. Still, the potential energy savings can be worth the investment for some homeowners.
Furnaces are available with different energy sources to help pair up with homes that rely on gas or electricity as a fuel source.
Reliable Energy Supply
Furnaces have different fuel sources, gas or electricity, to provide more flexibility. Some houses rely on natural gas, while others have their fixtures powered by electricity.
Furnaces can remain in operation for at least 15 years, but it isn’t uncommon to see some furnaces last over 20 years. Electric-only furnaces can last 20 to 30 years before homeowners need to consider a replacement.
In Southern California, natural gas is cheaper than electricity for the time being. But homeowners can supplement their electricity supply by installing solar panels thanks to the region’s mild climate. The panels can produce electricity to power furnaces so homes can enjoy warmth without interruptions.
Furnaces only heat and don’t cool but are compatible with air conditioning so that homeowners can have a new furnace paired with their current air conditioner.
HVAC Compatibility
Furnaces can be installed as stand-alone units but are compatible with air conditioners, which can be combined into a central HVAC system for year-round comfort. Air conditioners use the blower motor from furnaces to circulate cool air. The ductwork used by furnaces can also be shared with air conditioning systems.
The shared components make it possible for HVAC technicians to install the furnace alongside an air conditioner. The thermostat is another shared part that can also control the furnace and the air conditioning system.
Besides air conditioners, furnaces are compatible with some air-source heat pumps. Air-source heat pumps draw in heat from the surrounding air to provide a home with warm air. But when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, furnaces can power on to quickly provide a home with warm air for better efficiency.
Is a Furnace System Worth It?
The choice to decide whether a furnace is worth installing in a house falls on the homeowner. By breaking down the benefits of furnaces, homeowners can now see what furnaces offer as they decide if a new furnace best fits their heating needs.
At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’ve serviced and installed hundreds of furnaces across Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. In our experience, we’ve seen how homeowners opt for furnaces thanks to all the benefits they can provide.
If you’re considering a new furnace installation, contact us using one of the buttons below. You can also book an appointment through our HVAC online scheduler.
After reading about the benefits associated with furnaces, see how these benefits compare with the downsides of furnaces. By comparing the good with the bad, you can better decide if a furnace is right for you.
