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+--- Thread: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? (/showthread.php?tid=80406)
Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - spacescape - 06-27-2009
I ordered a 95% furnace (two stage AC motor) and new AC on Thursday afternoon after my furnace guys let me down one more time and didn't show. I told them to "give up" and give me a bill but they were determined to get it up and running because it was a "SIMPLE" system. Turned out after the checked a solder joint on the freon tubes and left the vacuum pump on for 2-3 hours and charged it up it's working great again. We didn't sign anything for the new furnace but "my word" told them which one to install and I'm pretty much having a new furnace installed Monday from a reputable company. I'm sure if I offered to pay for any sheet metal I could put it off a little longer.
Will I noticed the difference between my new 95% furnace and newer AC unit compared to my 25+ year old furnace as far as comfort? Or are we best to see if we can cancel our install for the time being? We received quotes in the fall and contacted the two places we were going to go with then but held off due to the economy.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - iaJim - 06-27-2009
Call the "New Furnace Guys" and tell them that your situation has changed, and that you will have to try to get along with the old system. Say you're sorry, but that's the way it is. Look out for you.
The new furnace will operate more efficiently, and will save you money over the course of some time, and if you have the money now to invest in the future, probably a good deal. If not, see the first part of my reply.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - spacescape - 06-27-2009
I agree with your first statement. We are basically getting a new furnace w/ ac for about $300-$400 more than what we were quoted in the fall for 91-92% furnaces w/o AC. This is taking account the 30% or up to $1500 tax credit (however that works but this one does qualify for the tax credit on my 2009 tax return).
I will add that the last three years the furnace has had initial problems when we start it up but they have been pretty easy fixes.
That being said... We are on the fence... Wife told me to get it fixed before the heat is out and we are paying the same price "JUST FOR THE FURNACE". To help with the cash flow we did qualify for the 12 months same as cash.
Hmmmm... Will we be more comfortable?
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - blooz - 06-28-2009
Get the new one. Not having to worry about it in the middle of the winter is worth the cost. And you will save money over the old one.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - davester - 06-28-2009
Even if you decide to go with the new furnace, if you haven't had a proper sizing calculation done then you may be WAAAY sorry you got the new one. You cannot simply drop a new furnace in to replace the old one like you're buying a new fridge. If you bought the same BTU furnace then that is definitely a big mistake since it will be rated as BTUs input, not output. With a 95% furnace vs your old 60% furnace you have a 1.5 times too big furnace....and no, that is definitely NOT a good thing. It'll be far less comfortable (excessive cycling and temp ups and downs), more expensive to run, and will wear out faster (excessive cycling). Make sure the furnace is sized using the "Manual J Load Calculation". If your contractor doesn't do that tell him to take a hike.
As far as a properly installed furnace is concerned, it is unlikely you'll notice any difference unless perhaps you get a two-stage furnace, or variable speed fan or some such, though those are less reliable than the ordinary ones.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - spacescape - 06-28-2009
Thanks for the comments.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - spacescape - 06-28-2009
Currently mine is 75,000 BTU and the new one is 60,000 BTU.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - AAA - 06-28-2009
I am just waiting for mine to completely fail. I hate spending thousands when I do not have to.
Re: Will a 95% furnace preform better than my 25+ year old furnace? - wowzer - 06-28-2009
How frequent is 'too frequent'...as in cycling on/off too often. Any rules of thumb? That is, in the dead of winter, the furnace should run for XXX minutes in a heated house (i.e. not a house with the termo turned way down).
What about AC in the summer? If the house is kept at 78, how long should the AC run? 10 minutes? 15 minutes? 5 minutes? Just curious...