Is it easy to change it from one that draws air in from a vent inside the house to one that draws air from outside? What about heat pump(s)? Thanks in advance!
2007-06-23 12:38:21 · 7 answers · asked by bubblelator 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The new furnance will only need a 2 to 3" pvc pipe for the air it needs to draw from the outside of the house. The biggest headache is fitting the existing duct work to the new furnace. I would leave this to the pros. Sheet metal is expensive now, and if you don't know what you are doing, it will show to prospective home buyers. You need a lot of specialized tools to do sheet metal. Depending on your location, a heat pump may be o.k. I would not recommend the heat pump for any homes north of Virginia. When it is very cold, they just don't work very well.
The government is giving tax credits when you purchase 90% efficiency furnances. This is a credit which is worth more than a deduction. FYI.
2007-06-23 13:57:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your current gas furnace should be replaced. The cost of running your current unit as compared to the amount of money you will save with a more energy-efficient unit will pay for itself in less than 5 years. If you live in a cold climate, 3 years.
Current code in most areas required outside air be provided to a combustion furnace no matter the age of the home. A 3" to 4" diameter pipe will be run to the closest exterior wall to draw in combustion air. The exhaust may go to your current flue, or it may be vented out another horizontal pipe.
High-efficient models produce water when the gas hydrocarbons are rapidly oxidized (burned). The result is H2O vapor CO2 gas and heat. The CO2 is released into the atmosphere, and the water is condensed to release more heat. The water will need to be drained. If you don't have a gravity drain, it can be collected in a pump and pumped out of the home. I would never use the water for anything other than plants.
As others have told you, a heat pump is great for coastal areas or dry areas. When the heat pump operates in temperatures lower than 40* or 35* in dryer areas, it will collect ice on the outdoor coil. Every 90 minutes or so, it will need to stop and thaw out. While this occurs, the axillary heat in the home (usually electric) takes over. This can be quite expensive if you live in a cold area. Below 30 degrees, heat pumps do not produce much heat, and the makeup heat will come on. Another drawback to the heat pump is it runs all year long. This is hard on equipment and a heat pump does not last as long as an air conditioner alone.
2007-06-23 21:42:13 · answer #2 · answered by OrakTheBold 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't know about the furnace. But if you live in a cold climate-forget the heat pump. They work great in south Florida and southern coastal areas, but not in real cold weather.
I live 6 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama. I replaced my older gas furnace about 3 years ago with a heat pump. It does good in cool weather, but once the outside temp drops to about 40 degrees-its over. I have a masonry fire place that I use in real cold weather.
2007-06-23 21:18:28 · answer #3 · answered by Skip-Jack 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you planning to do this yourself? If it's a gas furnace you may be able to get your local gas company to install it for you. It would be safer. The cost can be added to your regular gas bill over time. I had to do this two years ago. I moved into a house that is 107 years old and the furnace had 4 cracks in the heat chamber. It could have killed me if I had used it. I was doing a regular "winter check" with the gas company and they red tagged it and showed me why it would have been unsafe to use. Unless you have experience installing these, you shouldn't do it yourself. It's quite dangerous if you don't do it right, not only for yourself, but for your neighbors.
2007-06-23 21:15:48 · answer #4 · answered by talondora 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe your asking about changing the flue type. You can change flue pipe to schedule C PVC, usually 2-3" in diameter size. The diameter size will depend on the amount of BTU's your new high efficiency gas furnace is. There are also limitations for running this new flue pipe, there are codes which apply to this installation. For example, in 2" pipe you may only be able to run a total of 20' in length, with limited 90 degree elbows or 45's. Where with 3", you may only be able to run a total of 10'-these are listed in the installation manuel of the furnace. I would hire a licenced HVAC guy!
2007-06-23 19:50:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We replaced our ancient gas-converted from oil fired-furnace last year with a 93% efficiency unit.
The new unit does draw combustion air from the outside and vents it to the outside through the side of the house.
It is so efficient that even the furnace extracts water from the air and a pump sends the distilled water to the drain.
(I use the distilled water from the unit to resupply the fresh water aquarium when it needs refilling. I use distilled water as it does not ad any minerals to the balanced water conditions in the aquarium)
Out new furnace is a Rheem Furnace, Coupled to our Carrier A/Cunit.
2007-06-23 19:48:54 · answer #6 · answered by aragon825@sbcglobal.net 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Replacing 52 yr old gas funace boy and I thought I was a cheep skate thank you.
2007-06-23 22:17:55 · answer #7 · answered by 7.62x54 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋