Choosing a Wall Furnace for Your Home. A wall furnace is a type of heater used for homes or partial areas of a home and operate on gas or electricity to provide heat. No ductwork is required, as the units blow or transmits the heat directly into the room. Wall furnaces, as the name suggests, mount to a wall, and the vent (chimney) comes off the top or out the back.
Why someone would consider purchasing one
Your electric bill is one of the highest bills you face each month. Not only that heating and cooling energy usage is one of the largest contributors to the nation’s energy consumption. Purchasing a high-efficiency heating and cooling system can help to reduce your energy consumption and save you money on your monthly electric bill. You also require picking the suitable size of wall furnace based on the size of your home. A wal furnace is not the only way to heat your space, but it is a great option to consider.
Many homeowners give no thought to their furnace until it is time to turn it on. Your home’s furnace is an important part of your home, but you may not think of it until the weather turns cold and you need it to keep warm. If your furnace doesn’t come on when you need it, you and your family will not only be cold, but it can be detrimental to your health. An annual inspection of your heating system will ensure it is in good working order when you need it. This and choosing the best size furnace for your home will not only keep you comfortable but help save you money on your electric bill.
You have your choice of many types of home furnaces, and knowing the basics will help you make the right choice for the size of your home’s needs.
What makes for a good wall furnace
Gas and oil furnaces have ducts that vent the exhaust gasses out of your home. They rely on combustion to produce heat.
Electric furnace use heating strips to warm the air and circulate it through your home.
Coal and Wood furnaces are not utilized in most modern houses have regularly been substituted with wood, gas or electric oil units.
Dual heating systems use a blend of gas and an electric heat pump, or both oil and electric to heat your home. Wall furnaces are suitable for apartment units or rental investments and are mounted on the wall.
Floor units are portable and heat one room, but are space heaters and usually would not produce enough heat to warm an entire house.
Features you may consider in a Wall Furnace
Almost all furnaces today are proven to be reliable, various levels of efficiency and with somewhat similar warranties. An efficiency rating of 80% for your furnace is a significant investment to save on your energy usage. But a 95% efficiency for your unit is more appealing, but usually adds to the cost. An addition to that, most of the home furnace manufacturers offer gas rebates when you purchase a 95% unit furnace. It is worthwhile exploring this higher efficiency unit for the long term savings in energy bills. But again, consider your space and the amount of use you plan this unit will be operating. You always should balance cost with expected use.
The stage of a furnace refers to the burner and gas valve function. If you have a single stage furnace, it is more likely that all 100,000 BTUs come on all the time whether it is 50 degrees or 10 degrees. The 2 stage furnace gives you a gas saving solution that makes the burner and gas valve run at 60% capacity depending on the amount of heat needed. Both stages are available in 80% and 95% units.
Whichever home furnace you’re going to purchase, it is important that you consider the size of the furnace and the size of your home. If you have a large home, you’ll need a large furnace to heat the space comfortably. If however your furnace is too large, you will end up paying too much for your heating expenses. The best furnace is one that fits your needs and keeps your home comfortable without driving up your energy costs.
Some units to consider:
Rinnai ES38-N 38,400 BTU Direct Vent, 80% Efficiency, Natural Gas Wall Furnace
PROCOM Blue Flame Vent Free Wall Heater – 30,000 BTU Output, 1000 Sq. Ft. Heating Capacity
This is an attractive 4.2 star customer reviewed wall furnace product, and is a low price point. Note that this is not available for sale in Canada or California.