If your furnace is requiring more and more frequent repairs or simply isn't heating like it should, it may be time to replace it. Upgrading your furnace to a more recent model allows you to take advantage of the improvements that modern technology has brought to home heating. Here are two reasons to consider replacing your furnace with a new model. 

1. Higher Energy Efficiency

The efficiency of a furnace is rated using a metric known as Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE. According to energy.gov, modern high-efficiency heating systems can have AFUE ratings of 90 to 98.5 percent. This is in contrast to older systems, which often had AFUE ratings between 56 and 70 percent. The higher the rating of your furnace, the greater the percentage of fuel that is converted into heat.

Since the difference in efficiency can be drastic between a new furnace and one from the prior decade, upgrading your furnace is often one of the best ways to reduce your monthly energy bill. Modern features such as multi-stage heat exchangers allow new furnaces to reduce energy usage by only burning as much fuel as is needed to meet your home's heating demand.

2. Better Home Comfort

Modern furnaces are not only more efficient than older models, but they are also capable of making your home more comfortable. A modern furnace is better at maintaining the balance of air pressure necessary to circulate conditioned air throughout your entire home. 

Another feature that many new furnaces offer is a variable-speed blower. Variable-speed blowers adjust to the ambient temperature and thermostat settings to run at reduced speeds when possible. When heating demand is greater, the fan picks up speed to meet the demand and circulate air more evenly through every room. Variable-speed blowers are less prone to hot and cold spots throughout your home.

New furnaces often have sealed combustion heat exchangers. With these systems, the heat exchanger draws the air it needs for combustion through a pipe that leads outdoors, rather than the air inside your home. Not only is this system safer, but it doesn't reduce humidity levels in your home like open heat exchangers.

The benefits of upgrading your furnace to a new model go beyond less frequent repairs. If you are unsatisfied with your home's comfort while running your furnace or are paying too much in monthly energy bills, consider a new furnace to provide the comfort and efficiency you need. 

If you need help with a furnace replacement, contact an HVAC contractor near you.