The Advantages of 2-Stage Furnace Technology
What is 2-stage heating?
A 2-Stage Furnace is a Condensing Furnace that has two levels of heat output:
- Low Output at about 68% of full heating capacity, for relatively mild days. The Low Output setting is typically adequate to meet household heating demands 80% of the time, allowing the furnace to run longer, low-output, cycles that can provide a more even heat distribution.
- High Output at 100% of full heating capacity, for the coldest winter days. When Low Output mode is insufficient, the furnace will automatically switch to High Output mode in order to maintain your comfort.
Two-Stage Furnace Technology allows the furnace to automatically adjust heating output to continually maintain the most consistent comfort level throughout your home.
Why two stages are better than one
Do you sometimes find it challenging to obtain the ideal temperature within your home during winter months? First, it’s cold, so you turn up the thermostat, which starts the furnace. Then, it’s so hot you turn it down again.
Traditional condensing furnaces are designed to operate only at one level – High. No matter what the temperature is outside, they run at 100% full capacity.
Furnaces with advanced Two-Stage technology make the distinction between mild and extreme weather, delivering the level of heating output necessary to maintain optimal comfort conditions inside your home.
A 2-Stage Furnace starts in its’ Low Output First Stage (operating at about 68% of its heating capacity) which is sufficient to keep your home comfortable when the weather outside is relatively mild. Should the temperature suddenly drop, the unit automatically adjusts to it’s Second Stage High Output mode to meet the comfort demands of your home. It’s like having two furnaces for the price of one, and you don’t have the hassle of constantly adjusting your thermostat.
The more consistent airflow achieved by a 2-Stage Furnace results in quieter operation, more even temperature, enhanced indoor air quality, and increased furnace efficiency.
Quieter operation
Two-stage furnaces run at Low Output most of the time, greatly reducing the operating sounds associated with traditional heating systems that are constantly cycling on and off through many short (full blast) cycles.
More even temperatures
By using a longer, low output, heat cycle in Low Output mode, 2-Stage Furnaces are able to minimize coarse temperature swings within your home.
Improved indoor air quality
A Two-Stage Furnace provides a longer period of time at low-speed fan operation, which increases the effectiveness of the system’s air filters, allowing them to capture and remove more contaminants.
Increased furnace efficiency
Since the 2-stage Furnace operates mostly in its Low Output First Stage, it burns less fuel than a standard furnace that always runs at full capacity and shuts off when the heating demand has been met.
Choosing a 2-stage furnace for your home
A 2-Stage Furnace can provide optimal comfort within your home, despite changing weather conditions outside. If you want, and expect, high-level performance from your home comfort equipment, then a 2-Stage Furnace may be the right choice for your family. However, if you can spend a little more you should also consider a 2 Stage Variable Speed Furnace for more enhanced benefits and even greater energy efficiency.
source: Lennox International, Inc.