Heating - Propane Furnaces

& Natural Gas Furnaces

Switching to a propane furnace can save you money. Propane furnaces are a more cost-effective fuel option that provides consistent performance and easy maintenance. As propane furnaces last at least 8 to 10 years longer than electric heat pumps, they can be less expensive in the long run. About 5.6 million households use propane gas as fuel to heat their homes, according to a residential energy consumption survey conducted by the Federal Energy Information Agency.

Benefits Of Using A Propane Or Natural Gas Furnace

Using propane to power your furnace has many advantages.

• In 2007, propane costs about 50 percent less per BTU than electricity.
• When you have a power outage or shortage, you will still be able to heat your water with propane.
• Propane gas furnaces cost 30 to 60 percent less to operate than electric heating pumps and wood furnaces.
• Propane furnaces supply warm air at a consistently higher temperature (120° F), than electric heat pumps, which provide air at 95° F.
• Propane can heat a tankful of water in 20 minutes; heating that same tankful with electricity may take up to an hour.
• Propane is easily available and considered environmentally friendly.

It is better to buy a new propane furnace rather than a conversion as high efficiency propane furnaces are available in the range of 92-95 percent efficient at very reasonable prices.

How Propane Furnaces Are Structured

Propane gas furnaces can be operated easily with the help of a thermostat. They have certain design advantages relating to their venting and exhaust systems and how much space they take up. They can be vented vertically or horizontally, which eliminates the need for a chimney and the costs related with it. The exhaust of a propane furnace is cooler than the conventional furnace.s and it can be vented with PVC piping. The latest propane furnaces are compactly built, and in modern homes where space could be a constraint, they give you more options when it comes to placement.

Common Types of Propane Furnaces

The most common types are central furnaces, wall furnaces and combo heaters. The most popular among these are the central heating system . forced air propane furnaces. Central furnaces, which are designed for maximum safety, are especially suited to new construction because of their space conservation capability. They can even fit in a closet and can be installed and vented in several ways. Electronic ignitions allow homeowners to turn on the burners only when the fuel is required . you do not need standing pilot lights, which conserves energy. Moreover, propane gas furnaces come with vent dampers, or flappers, which are installed in the flue and automatically shut when your heat demand is fulfilled trapping the residual heat within. When you need heat again, this damper opens before you switch on the burners, letting out the combustion fumes. So the burners can ignite only when the flapper is open, which means you consume energy only when heating is required.