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Revised:
September 14th, 2022
If you are looking for an affordable system that is energy efficient from a quality brand to add to your home, then the Carrier 59SP5 may fit the bill for you and your home.
The 59SP5 is part of Carrier’s comfort series, designed to bring you performance but keep your budget and efficiency in mind. Regardless of where you live, picking a unit that saves you money upfront and in the future is never a wrong choice, especially if you live in a smaller home or do not require a larger unit to fulfill your needs.
We have installed this model inside homes in Columbus, Ohio, and recommend them frequently to budget-conscious customers who want energy efficiency. We will discuss what separates the 59SP5 from other furnaces we install, along with specific features and specifications.
Additionally, we will go over why this unit could or could not be for you when looking for home furnace options.
Here are the basic features of this gas-powered furnace from Carrier’s comfort series:
- Up to 96.5% AFUE heating efficiency
- Single-stage operation
- Meets ENERGY STAR® qualifications
- Multi-speed, high-efficiency, ECM blower motor enhances comfort
- SmartEvap™ technology works in concert with your cooling system to aid summer dehumidification
- ComfortFan™ technology allows fan-speed choices in “Constant ON” mode
- Fully insulated cabinet
- Pilot-free, hot surface PowerHeat™ ignition
- Fixed-speed inducer motor
- Aluminized steel clamshell-style primary heat exchanger
- Stainless steel fin-and-tube design secondary heat exchanger
- Sound reduction: fully insulated cabinet and QuieTech™ noise reduction
- Recommended controls: Performance™ Edge® relative humidity or ComfortZone™ II thermostats
- Allows choices of “constant ON” fan speed operation1
- Hybrid Heat® compatible
- Year-round humidity management when installed as part of a complete Performance system with a humidifier
- It can help boost cooling SEER efficiency when matched with appropriate cooling system components
- To read more about this specific product or more technical information, visit the 59SP5 manual.
Efficiency and Adaptability
The 59SP5 has an AFUE of just over 96%. AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, a fancy way of measuring efficiency.
In practice, this means that up to 96% of the energy the furnace uses goes directly to heating your home. Stated differently, 96 cents of every dollar you spend to heat your home is being put to good use.
I hear you thinking, what a minute, why isn’t it 100%? Or you might be asking how efficient your current system is.
On the first question, no gas system is 100% efficient, but the best ones can come very close. The energy lost could be from several factors, but there’s always going to be a bit of heat loss that ends up expelled through the flue on your chimney.
To the second question, older furnace systems eventually become less efficient, so you often lose quite a bit of energy compared to a more modern system.
And sometimes, that’s the best-case scenario. Older systems can suffer inefficiencies from lack of upkeep, corroded parts, improper or leaking ductwork, poor filtration, or other problems that are remedied with a properly installed, modern system. Your actual efficiency might be as low as 60-70%.
Communicating Systems: Are They Needed?
Unlike some higher-end models, the 59SP5 is not a communicating system. But what exactly does that mean? Most thermostats will allow you to set timers for various temperature changes, such as when you leave for work in the morning or come home at night, but communicating systems go beyond that. Communicating systems monitor system performance, output, and temperatures inside and outside your home and will change to your needs.
So, for example, it can learn how much fuel will be needed to take your home from 60 degrees to 72 degrees when you come home from work while staying as efficient as possible. It can then adjust those levels on the fly when the outside temperature dips or the airflow is more restricted in the system (perhaps due to filtration issues).
But, with an entry-level furnace such as this model, you might not need to pay for those features if they aren’t essential to you or your comfort needs. Depending on those and your living situation, you might not need a communication system to get the most out of your HVAC.
Sound Insulation: No More Noisey Operations
This gas-powered furnace also offers sound insulation, but what does that mean?
This means you will not hear the blower motor or operational noises from when the furnace kicks on or off, and your floor won’t rumble when it starts.
Get the 59SP5 for $4,800 with Fire & Ice
At Fire & Ice, we offer this particular unit with installation from $4,200-$4,800. These prices vary depending on various factors, so ask your sales representative to clarify.
What is the Difference Between Gas and Electric Heating?
A gas furnace is a combustion appliance. You have a gas line (with a gas valve), an igniter, and different systems for capturing, separating, and spreading heat through your home.
Of particular interest is the heat exchanger in a gas furnace. This is one of the core components that allow the unit to extract heat for safe use in your home. Some high-efficiency gas furnaces even have two heat exchangers, which allows them to extract more heat with less byproduct.
Regardless of how many heat exchangers you have, the byproducts of combustion (see also: carbon monoxide) have to be carefully managed. This will be vented out of a chimney flue in a traditional furnace. In a high-efficiency gas furnace, the exhaust will need to travel out of plastic PVC pipe.
An electric furnace actually consists of an air handler that has heating coils added to it (sometimes called a heat package). Often, an electric furnace will act only as auxiliary heat, with additional heating power coming from the electric heat pump.
Electric furnaces work a bit like a toaster. The heated coils act in much the same way, even glowing a dull red when they’re very hot. If there was an airstream flowing through your toaster, pushing the warm air into your home, you’d have a miniature electric furnace.
The differences end there, though, because there are still numerous moving parts and safety switches installed that monitor and controlled the unit’s operation.
Both electric and gas units have pressure gauges, airflow gauges (to prevent overheating if the blower fan stops working), and safety valves that will switch the unit off if it’s not functioning properly. Because of the extra steps required to convert gas to heat, there are more steps in the gas process, but in practice, both will provide heat for your home.
Which is Best? Gas or Electric Heating
Now that we’ve explained the difference between gas and electric heating, you’re probably wondering if a gas furnace, such as the 59SP5, can be paired with a heat pump. Generally, heat pumps are best suited to pair with electric furnaces, but this rule can occasionally be broken.
Some homes don’t have a natural gas line and use propane or oil furnaces. These tend to be more expensive due to the cost of the fuel. In those instances, a heat pump can heat for portions of the colder months and supplement a home’s heating with less-expensive electrical heating.
The heat pump can heat more efficiently and still provide heat at lower temperatures than other options, so the comparatively lower cost of electric heat can be a great supplement to a propane or oil furnace. Here in Central Ohio, gas furnaces plus air conditioners are most common, though, and tend to produce the cheapest utilities.
So in these limited cases, equipment matching matters and could mean that the 59SP5 isn’t right for you.
Next Steps to Secure a Less Noisy and Comfortable Home
At Fire & Ice, we understand how hard it can be to select a furnace that both meets your needs and works for your home, lifestyle, and budget. That’s why we are here to answer any questions you might have about upgrading your HVAC system.
If you live in the Columbus, Ohio, area and are looking to take the next step, please check to see if we are in your service area by using the zip code map below.
To schedule a free estimate, use the button below.
