Major improvements have been made to increase the efficiency and the performance of gas furnaces in recent years, and a new high-efficiency furnace can save up to 50 percent in annual operating costs when compared to a 10-year-old furnace.
Gas furnaces are measured using Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Ratings. Today’s furnaces must have a minimum AFUE rating of 80 percent, and efficiencies of 96.6 percent AFUE are available. Older furnaces installed in the 1990s and earlier often have AFUE ratings of 65 percent or less.
Upgrading your gas furnace can result in lower consumption and reduced gas bills. Gas furnaces are available with several features to improve indoor comfort including variable and multiple-speed features for reduced noise and more even heating.