BTU is a unit of measurement for energy. In a heat pump or furnace, the BTU number refers to the heat output of the particular unit. The higher the number the more heat the unit can produce.
Will your system be able to handle this years' chill? Learn how you can save money with a high efficiency furnace.
If your furnace is more than 20 years old, it may be time to upgrade. Most new high efficiency furnaces come with ECM motors and can help save money on your gas and hydro bills. In order for your new system to perform at its peak efficiency, it must be properly sized and properly set up during installation.
Useful Terms:
BTU is a unit of measurement for energy. In a heat pump or furnace, the BTU number refers to the heat output of the particular unit. The higher the number the more heat the unit can produce.
AFUE measures a gas furnace’s efficiency in converting fuel to energy. A furnace with an 80% AFUE converts every dollar of fuel into; $0.80 worth of heat energy and $.20 loss due to conversion.
Short for cubic feet per minute (cu ft/min). It is a measurement of the velocity at which air flows into or out of a space.
ECM stands for an “electronically commutated motor” which basically means a motor that uses electronic controls to vary its speed. It is more efficient than standard PSC motors.
MERV is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) which is the standard used to rate the overall effectiveness of air filters. The higher the rating the more the filtration power. Visit HVACStuff.ca for more details.
A modulating heating system has a burner that adjusts the amount of fuel burned incrementally in order to maintain a consistent temperature. This makes the conditioned space more comfortable and the equipment more efficient.
A two stage furnace has a low and a high setting for heating. Generally, your furnace will run on the low setting. If that isn’t enough, it will kick into high gear.
