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Re: OT: high efficiency furnaces, would like opini
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Posted by jdemaris on January 11, 2004 at 06:49:50 from (209.23.31.131):
In Reply to: OT: high efficiency furnaces, would like opinions posted by KURT (mi) on January 11, 2004 at 03:23:09:
In my opinion, most high-effiecny furnaces are a waste or time and money. I don't work with them on a daily basis, but have worked as a heating tech guy in the past and know some people in the business. I'm in Central New York and temps. sometimes get down to -35F (last night it was
-22F). First consideration is reliability. Most techs. guys that I know have stopped installing high-efficiencly furnaces due to reliability problems. That goes for oil, gas, or propane. A furnace that is rated 75% efficient that lasts 20-30 years is cheaper than a furnace rated at 85% and breaks down often and finally dies in 10 years. Keep in mind the cost of service calls, plumbing, etc. unless you do it all yourself.
Second consideration is the fuel itself. Propane has a very low engergy value per dollar; oil gives you much more for your buck, and better yet is natural gas. We can't get gas where I am. For comparison, at this week's engergy prices (1/9/04) with propane at $1.58 per gallon, natural gas at $9.41 MCF, electricity at .127 cents per KWH, and heating oil at $1.35 per gallon, this is the cost to heat the same house (fictional house for comparison with average efficiency) Electric heat = $2,531, propane = $1,463, heating oil = $829, and natural gas = $755.
As you can see, propane is almost double the cost of oil. Natual gas is the best buy, not counting wood heat.
A comment on reliability. I have two houses, side by side. I heat with oil and wood, depending on how cold it is or what mood I'm in. Oil hot-air furnace in my main house is 14 years old and is, more-or-less, a piece of crap. Oil hot-air furnace in the other was manufactured 1948, i.e. 56 years old and still works fine. Regardless of all the hype I hear, it's just as effecient as my newer one. It is obvious to see, however, when servicing these units, the old furnace is built much better.
There's a engergy comparison calculator at:
http://www.consumersenergy.com/welcome.htm?./apps/GasValue/index.asp?SS1ID=230
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