What is the age and efficiency of this furnace?

[craig1]

i currently have a Trane model GUEBA-14-A , serial H024425NO6 furnace in my house. The only thing i know about it is that it is a 2 stage 144,000/ 70,000 BTU furnace with the first stage disabled. does anyone know how old this unit is and what the efficiency is?

[Special Ed]

It's old. Get a new one.

[retired btc]

Its an 81-87 model with 67% efficency, as mentioned it might be time for a new one with current prices of Nat. Gas

[craig1]

thanks BTC.

ive had plans to replace it since the spring, but never got around to it. Im picking up a Frigidaire 90+ tomorrow and im going to redo all of the ductwork near the furnace, especially the awful, restrictive returns.

I got an awesome deal on the furnace though my employer, and with the price of natural gas going up so much, it would be stupid to go through another winter with this gas hog.

when i origionally calculated the savings on my gas bill, i assumed the old one was 70%. however now that i know it is 67%, my savings will be even greater than origionally calculated.

look for pictures on the wall of pride in a week or two :)

[Jultzya]

Heat Pump time! :D

[craig1]

I thought about a heat pump, but the payback time would be very long (longer than we plan to stay in the house), compared to the new furnace alone which will pay for itself in 4 years or less according to my calculations.

also, Im leaving the old A/C in, as we don't use it enough to get payback from a higher efficiency unit. It is a 14 year old Intertherm(Nordyne) , which has never had a part replaced or refrigerant added. I think its a 12 seer because it runs very low pressures even though it is properly charged using the superheat method. The quality of this unit is one of the reasons i wanted another Nordyne product for the furnace

[Jultzya]

Originally posted by craig1
I thought about a heat pump, but the payback time would be very long (longer than we plan to stay in the house), compared to the new furnace alone which will pay for itself in 4 years or less according to my calculations.


Where are you at that the minimal cost difference would not payback in 4 years?!?!

Are you very familiar with heat pumps?

[craig1]

I wouldn't say im VERY familiar with heat pumps. ive done PMs on a few, but never installed one. Im in the chicago suburbs. Our electric rates are outragous compared the the rest of the country (12 or 14 cents i think), while are gas rates are about average. a heat pump would be cheaper to run than gas, but not as significantly as in other locations.

If i was replacing the A/C system, upgrading to an HP would be a minimal cost. however, since im not planning on doing anything to the A/C, replacing it to get a heat pump would about double the cost of the project