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The function of a condensing furnace is similar to a regular fuel-based forced-air furnace. The thermostat activates the furnace. Burners inside the furnace ignite, creating heat that’s captured by the heat exchanger. A powerful fan blows air across the heat exchanger.
Why does a condensing furnace condensate water?
Because the exhaust gases are still very hot, all of that heat is wasted. As the gases cool, they condense to form water and carbon dioxide (which together form carbonic acid). The water (called condensate) drips out through a drain pipe, and the remaining flue gases are vented to the outdoors through a plastic pipe.
What is the difference between a condensing and a non-condensing furnace?
Non-Condensing Furnace: A mid-efficiency furnace (80% and 90% AFUE) vents exhaust gases out of the home, typically through the roof. Condensing Furnace:A high-efficiency furnace (90% AFUE or higher) utilizes a second heat exchanger to heat the air from condensed exhaust gases in order to reach higher efficiencies.
What is condensing gas furnace?
Condensing furnaces are high-efficiency furnaces with a secondary heat exchanger that condenses hot exhaust gases in order to extract the “waste” heat before it wafts up the chimney.
Why are condensing furnaces more efficient than non-condensing furnaces?
Condensing furnaces are more efficient than non-condensing furnaces. With two heat exchangers, they’ll absorb more heat from the furnace’s combustion chamber. With a condensing furnace, though, more heat will be transferred from the combustion chamber to the heat exchangers, resulting in a higher level of efficiency.
How much water does a condensing furnace produce?
A 90% or higher efficiency furnace produces around 0.8 gallons of condensate per hour of running. This equates to about five or six gallons per day of acidic water from condensation each day. Most of the time, the drain and drain line runs to outside the home and the condensate just seeps into the ground, harmlessly.
Why do high efficiency furnaces use PVC?
To combat this issue, high efficiency condensing furnace uses PVC pipes to extract the acidic water from your home. These are connected to the furnace and routed out to the side of your home. The venting system is installed at the same time as your high-efficiency furnace.
How long do condensing furnaces last?
A well-maintained furnace can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs can extend its life even longer.
What is the most reliable furnace brand?
Here they are, starting with this year’s top rated furnace brand. #1 Heil / ICP Brands. Quality. Warranty. #2 Goodman. Quality. Warranty. #3 Rheem / Ruud. Quality. Warranty. #4 Maytag. Quality. #5 Trane / American Standard. Quality. #6 Carrier / Bryant. Quality. #7 Armstrong / AirEase. Quality. #8 York / Johnson Controls. Quality.
How efficient are condensing furnaces?
Condensing furnaces carry extremely high-efficiency ratings. Their annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE rating, can be as high as 98 percent. This means that 98 percent of the energy in fuel burned by the furnace is turned into heat to warm your home.
How do you vent a condensing furnace?
Venting. A condensing furnace doesn’t require a chimney. Instead, these furnaces are vented in one of two ways: Direct vent (two-pipe) vent system – This system uses one pipe to bring in outside air for combustion and another to remove exhaust gases.
How does a condensing heat exchanger work?
A more effective means of exhaust heat transfer is a condensing heat exchanger. It utilizes a colder heat sink with a greater entering temperature difference than exhaust stream gases. Vapor contained in the exhaust gases condenses into water transferring its latent energy to the heat sink.
What type of burner do most modern furnaces use?
While most modern gas furnaces are lit with an electronic ignition, if you have an older furnace, there’s a good chance that you have a standing pilot flame that starts your heating system.
Do high efficiency furnaces run more often?
Contrary to what you may initially think, high efficiency furnaces run more often. However, this does not mean that they use more energy. By running more often, they can ensure that your home is kept at a more even temperature without having to work as hard.
How can you tell if your furnace is high efficiency?
There is a simple way to find out the energy efficiency of your home’s furnace: look at its AFUE rating. For a furnace to earn the ENERGY STAR label from the U.S. Department of Energy, it must have an AFUE of at least 90%. Some high-efficiency furnaces can score even higher than this.
Why does my furnace leak water when the heat is on?
Again, the most common reason for a leaking furnace is a condensation leak. High-efficiency furnaces extract heat from the combustion gases for a longer period of time than a standard-efficiency furnace does, causing the gases to cool, then condense. Condensation is routed to a drain.
Why do high-efficiency furnaces create condensation?
High-efficiency furnaces create water because they have two heat exchangers, one more than a conventional furnace. The two heat exchangers absorb so much heat that the exhaust gas changes from a gas state to a liquid state. Condensation forms and then drains out through the condensate line.
Where should furnace condensate drain?
Most furnaces will have at least 2 internal drains, typically one for the heat exchanger and one for the vent, usually at the inducer outlet or on the inducer housing.
How acidic is furnace condensate?
Although the waste water, or condensate, created by combustion is technically clean, it has a PH between 2.9 and 4, which makes it acidic.
