Heating - Gas
- I'm about to replace my furnace and have noticed that, on very cold days, it seems to run constantly. Should I get a larger unit?
- What is "AFUE"?
- Should I turn off the pilot light on my furnace during the summer?
- Should I use my gas fireplace instead of the furnace, to save money?
- What is a "90 plus" furnace?
- With a gas furnace (or water heater), what does the color of the flame indicate?
- What is the most efficient type of gas furnace?
- Should I install carbon monoxide detectors in my home?
- When I first turn on my furnace at the beginning of the heating season, I notice a slight odour, as if something is burning – is this carbon monoxide?
Q. I'm about to replace my furnace and have noticed that, on very cold days, it seems to run constantly. Should I get a larger unit?
A. A gas furnace is most efficient when it runs for long periods of time (much as you get better gas mileage driving on the highway). A properly sized furnace should run almost constantly on very cold days. As long as the furnace is capable of maintaining a comfortable temperature, you probably don't need a larger one.
A. AFUE or "Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency" is a measure of how efficient the furnace is over an entire heating season. The higher the number, the more usable heat you will get for every unit of fuel. A furnace with an AFUE of 80% will provide 80 cents worth of heat for every dollar of fuel.
Q. Should I turn off the pilot light on my furnace during the summer?
A. Yes, as long as you know how to re-light it.
Q. Should I use my gas fireplace instead of the furnace, to save money?
A. If you have just a decorative gas fireplace (firelogs), these are not efficient for heating, and better to use the furnace. If you have an efficient, heater-type fieplace, these can be cheaper if you just heat a smaller area without heating your whole house.
Q. What is a "90 plus" furnace?
A. The term "90 plus" refers to the AFUE or percent efficiency. These high-efficiency furnaces are also referred to as "condensing" furnaces, as they extract so much heat from the exhaust gases that the moisture in the exhaust condenses, releasing additional usable heat. While these units cost somewhat more than a conventional furnace, their lower operating costs can actually make them a better investment over the life of the unit.
Q. With a gas furnace (or water heater), what does the color of the flame indicate?
A. If the system is operating properly, the flame should have a bluish color. A yellow flame indicates a need for adjustment and should be checked by a qualified service person as soon as possible.
Q. What is the most efficient type of gas furnace?
A. There are several types of high-efficiency gas furnaces available. A condensing or "90 plus" furnace is typically rated at 89-93% AFUE, as compared with 78-80% for a new conventional-type furnace.
Q. Should I install carbon monoxide detectors in my home?
A. Carbon monoxide detectors are recommended whenever a fossil-fuel heating system or water heater is present. In most cases, the danger of a heating system or water heater producing carbon monoxide is minimal, but under certain conditions any combustion process can produce carbon monoxide. Since carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, it can go unnoticed unless a detector is present.
Q. When I first turn on my furnace at the beginning of the heating season, I notice a slight odour, as if something is burning – is this carbon monoxide?
A. No – carbon monoxide is odourless. If the smell lasts only a short while, it is most likely some dust or dirt being burned off of the heat exchange surfaces, and is harmless. If the smell persists, have a qualified contractor check your system.
