When buying a new furnace, you can take advantage of features generally used in high-efficiency systems to not only advance comfort in your home, but to ensure that your energy bills are low. Here are three must-have features to look for in a new furnace:

1. Two-stage gas valve: A furnace that uses a two-stage gas valve can control how much fuel is used to generate heat. Instead of operating at 100 percent fuel consumption like standard gas valves do, a two-stage valve reads the heating load of the home and automatically adjust its output to meet that demand. When the outdoor temperature drops to extreme levels, the furnace will ramp up to maximum heating capacity but during milder temperatures, it will operate at a lower stage of output, thereby saving energy.
2. Variable-speed furnace blower: This is one must-have component to include on your list of features to look for in a new furnace. Much like a two-stage valve adjusts fuel consumption, the variable-speed furnace blower automatically adjusts air delivery. And in the same way, it responds to the demand of your home, ramping up to higher airflow capabilities only when it’s needed. In general, this component will run at lower speeds over the majority of the day so you save energy. And perhaps an even more important advantage, variable-speed units emit an even, continuous flow of air over the course of any given day, which means you’ll avoid extreme fluctuation in temperature.
3. Secondary heat exchanger: The highest efficiency furnaces feature a second heat exchanger, which helps to boost system efficiency by capturing fuel or gas that the furnace produces when generating heat and then reusing it for heat. In furnaces with just one heat exchanger, this exhaust gas is simply lost, never to be reused.

Get to know the features to look for in a new furnace and boost the return on your investment. Need expert help to select, install and service your heating and cooling equipment? Contact Smoky Mountain Heating& Air today. We serve homeowners in the greater Asheville area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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