If you're considering a new furnace, you may wonder whether you'll be okay with a single-stage unit or if you should pay a little more for a two-stage furnace. Your experience harsher climates. An Air Dynamics heating an air-quality specialist will be glad to hear from you and assist you. Because of its simplicity, a single-stage furnace is often the most affordable option when considering unfront costs. A single-stage furnace heats your home at full, 100% capacity when it runs. But I can give you some tools to figure out the answer for yourself. Proper installation is likely to mean fewer repair costs in the future. Initial Installation Costs. This creates wear and tear on various parts. The benefits you can enjoy from choosing a two-stage or variable-speed furnace include: More Consistent Temperatures. So if, on average, your single stage gas furnace ran for 10 minutes, the two stage furnace would run for 11 minutes. Greater ROI and resale value: Buyers appreciate long-lasting, energy-efficient features in homes.
Better indoor air quality: Like the benefit above, the longer heating cycles of a two-stage furnace can also help clean your home's air. We examine the different types of forced-air furnace, and compare the difference between single stage, dual stage, variable-speed, and modulating furnaces. A quality gas furnace will heat your home evenly, effectively, and efficiently. No savings on energy bills. Zoning Compatibility. This is a problem that can usually be solved with a couple extra installation steps. Given all the extra advantages that two-stage furnaces have over a single-stage furnace, and considering the relatively small price difference between these two furnace types, I'd confidently recommend a two-stage furnace for all but those on the tightest of budgets. That is, it shuts on and off more frequently than a two-stage furnace of a variable-stage furnace. Modulating Furnace Drawbacks. They heat past the thermostat set point, and that hurts both indoor comfort and efficiency. If you are going to sell your home in the near future, you may want to consult your local HVAC expert and determine the best course of action. 7 My Final Thoughts.
Longer run times keep air circulating longer, improving your indoor air quality. Most of that from the blower motor. This filter will also ensure less cool air is blown out as a byproduct. This furnace is able to automatically switch between low and high settings, which will keep your home from having hot and cold spots. A dual-stage will cost you slightly more in the beginning, but with lower energy bills and improved comfort, it's a small price to pay and worth "splurging" for. They are the quietest furnaces too.
Modulating furnaces also offer you more temperature control than single- or two-stage furnaces. Two-stage furnaces will also help eliminate cold spots in your home. After all, will one additional setting really make a ton of difference? The reason for this is the sophistication of the equipment, which actively communicates with the thermostat and other HVAC equipment. To be clear, single-stage furnaces are the right choice for some homes (which we'll talk about shortly), but dual-stage has certain advantages over it. Furnace technology has come a long way in the last two decades.
If you're in the market for a new gas heating appliance, you'll be able to choose from a single-stage furnace, two-stage furnace or variable-speed furnace. There are also multiple models of variable speed furnaces and modulating furnaces. They are more expensive initially, but the ability to operate at a lower capacity allows you to save more money in the long run. A two-stage furnace offers nearly the same climate control and efficiency with lower initial cost and potential repair costs. In fact, until 2019, two-stage furnaces generally cost MORE to operate. Certain heating contractors will rave about the claimed long term benefits of the dual stage furnace. The single-stage furnace's parts are also typically more common and lasting. How long do I expect to be in this home? No overtime charges. In low heat mode, a two-stage furnace heats your home at partial capacity—usually around 60-70%. Compared to a single-stage furnace, a two-stage furnace provides benefits such as: Lower energy costs: When a two-stage furnace runs on low mode, it conserves energy. If you're in your home for the short term, it may be worth considering a single-stage furnace, since you will not be there long enough to reap the rewards of lower energy bills. It's not as energy-efficient as newer designs, and sometimes the furnace warms the area around the thermostat faster than it warms the rest of the home.