Hydrofurnace

A hydro-furnace isn’t necessarily the right choice for every home. But there are several reasons a homeowner replacing an older furnace may want to ask about the technology.

1. High Efficiency Heating – The Navien NPF Hydro-furnace has a 97% AFUE rating. AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, measures how efficiently a furnace converts fuel into useable heat. A 97% AFUE rating means that approximately 97% of the fuel’s energy is converted into heat for the home under the AFUE testing standard. That can make a high efficiency hydro-furnace an attractive option for homeowners replacing an older, less efficienty furnace.  Of course actual energy costs depend on many factors including the size of efficiency of the home, thermostat settings, insulation, ductwork, fuel prices and how the system is operated.
2. More Consistent Heating-One of the most interesting features of the Navien NPF  is its variable capacity operation. Rather than simply operating at full capacity whenever heat is needed, the system can adjust its heating output from approximately 15% to 100% capacity. That gives the furnace more ability to match its output to the heating demand of the home. On a mild fall day, your home may need only a small amount of heat to take the chill out of the air. During a cold Dayton winter night, it may need substantially more. A variable capacity system can adjust rather than treating every heating demand as an all or nothing situation. Navien says the NPF continuously monitors temperature and adjusts burner operation and airflow to help maximize comfort and efficiency.
3. Potentially Quieter Operation – If you’ve ever turned up the volume on the TV when your furnace kicks on, then you know that traditional forced air furnaces can be quite noisy. The Navien Hydro-furnace takes a different approach. Because the combustion heat exchanger is isolated from the conditioned airstream, the system is designed to reduce the amount of combustion noise and vibration transferred into the home. Navien describes their NPF as one of the quieter furnace options available and specifically designed the hydronic heat exchanger to help reduce operating noise. for homeowners who are tired of hearing their furnace cycle on and off throughout the winter, that can be an appealing benefit. 
4. A Different Approach to Indoor Comfort – Traditional furnaces heat the air directly as it passes through the furnace’s heat exchanger. A hydro-furnace takes a different approach by heating water first and then transferring that heat to the air through a hydronic coil.  Because the air is being warmed by a water-based heat exchanger rather than being exposed directly to the much higher temperatures associated with combustion, Navien says its system can have less impact on conditioned air humidity. That doesn’t mean a hydro furnace adds humidity to your home. It doesn’t replace a humidifier. Rather, the design may help reduce the drying effect associated with very high temperature forced-air heating.
5. It Still Works With Forced Air Ductwork – One of the biggest questions homeowners may have is: “If it’s a hydronic system, do I need to replace my ductwork?”  Not necessarily. The Navien NPF is designed as a forced-air furnace and is available in configurations that can work with conventional duct systems. that means homeowners can potentially experience the benefits of hydronic heating technology without converting their entire home to traditional radiant floor or baseboard hydronic heating. The NPF is available in upflow, downflow and horizontal configurations , giving HVAC professionals flexibility when determining whether it is appropriate for a particular installation.