In other Maytag news, Nordyne plans to begin manufacturing its first Maytag M1010 Series two-stage 80 percent AFUE furnace in April 2003.

The units come equipped with a factory-installed variable-speed blower, which modulates the airflow to supply consistently warm air throughout the house, the company said. The units will be available in the following high/low fire capacities: 120,000/72,000 Btuh, 100,000/60,000 Btuh, and 72,000/48,000 Btuh.

New Furnace Premieres

WeatherKing (Southlake, Texas) introduced its 80 percent-plus AFUE upflow/horizontal gas furnaces. Brent Davis, director of marketing, Air Conditioning Division, WeatherKing, noted, “The 80 percent furnace line now incorporates a quieter inducer motor, which helps efficiency.”

These furnaces, which are designed for utility rooms, closets, alcoves, or attics, have textured galvanized steel cabinets with painted access doors. The patented heat exchanger is constructed of both stainless and aluminized steel for the maximum in corrosion resistance, the company said.

The low-profile, 34-inch design is light and easy to handle and leaves room for optional equipment, the company said.

Thermo Products LLC (North Judson, Ind.) exhibited its recently introduced Thermo Pride Premiere gas furnace. These furnaces come with inshot gas burners, which the company said makes them burn quietly, efficiently, and consistently. The manifold pressure of the burner controls temperature and burn. The two-stage gas valve is designed to operate at two firing rates and allow for lower gas consumption because the furnace will operate at low fire 70 percent to 80 percent of the time. Multi-speed direct drive blower motors are available on both the 80 percent and 90 percent-plus furnaces. This allows the installer to select the proper blower speeds for quiet operation.

High-Efficiency Products

Goodman Manufacturing (Houston) featured its new GMNT furnace, which has an AFUE rating of 92.6 percent. Goodman’s patented aluminized steel tubular primary and stainless steel secondary heat exchangers are corrosion resistant and practically eliminate the potential for leaks, the company said. Both heat exchangers are backed with a limited lifetime warranty.

According to the manufacturer, the GMNT furnace has an energy-saving hot surface ignition system and integrated controls with diagnostics, plus combination redundant gas valve and regulator for further reliability. The furnaces use an induced draft blower motor to reduce the noise levels. The motor features a silicon mounting system to isolate vibration and electrical noise, and a special ball bearing technology reduces bearing temperatures, the company stated. A second motor cooling fan and its associated noise has also been eliminated.

Other new products featured by Goodman Manufacturing were the GMT Multi-Position and GDT downflow 80 percent AFUE gas furnaces. These units also feature the company’s patented aluminized steel tubular heat exchanger, which is backed by a limited 20-year warranty.

The GMT and GDT furnaces have integrated controls with diagnostics, plus combination redundant gas valve and regulator for further reliability. These furnaces feature a quiet operating, sound-isolated blower assembly and a silicon mounting system for the motor designed to minimize noise and vibration.

Williams Comfort Products (Colton, Calif.) had a large number of products on display. One of the newer products emphasized was the Forsaire counterflow direct vent furnace.

The furnace is available in 40,000, 55,000, and 62,500 Btuh and is always available with a log look. Side outlet registers allow up to 25 percent of the heat to be ducted into a side room, while an internal multiple blade damper in the rear outlet controls warm air delivery through the rear register.

The company also displayed its LH fancoil, which is available for either right-hand or left-hand installation and features a four-pipe configuration.

Oil Furnaces

Bill Steel of Bard Manufacturing Company (Bryan, Ohio) was eager to discuss the company’s new low boy and high boy oil furnaces. “These units are more flexible for installation as far as the combustion flue is concerned and have more cleanouts, which makes them more service friendly,” noted Steel.

He added that the new units have lower oil flow rates and also a reduced height, which makes them convenient for many different installations. The units come with a heavy-gauge steel heat exchanger and burner and blower motor plug-in connectors.

Other features include a Beckett AFG flame retention oil burner and a Beckett Clean-Cut fuel pump. Also included are a solid-state ignition transformer and a 40-VA transformer to accommodate optional air conditioning unit.

Marty Schonberger at Dornback (Garfield Heights, Ohio) was very excited to point out all the features of the company’s new HEO Series condensing oil furnaces. These furnaces are 95 percent efficient and provide a 35 percent fuel savings through their three-stage heat exchanger design, the company said.

Flue gas heat prewarms the return air before it passes through the primary heat exchanger for major fuel savings, Schonberger said. He noted that the cooled flue gas (approximately 110 degrees F) exits through a 2-inch PVC vent while condensate is neutralized to satisfy local codes before entering the drain.

The furnace’s power oil burner with power vent controller is designed to provide a hotter flame for substantial fuel savings with a positive off-cycle damper that eliminates the need for a flue damper, he said.

Schonberger states that these furnaces are easier to use and service and also are user friendly. “And they’re set up for air conditioning. It has all the controls there, and the controls have been simplified,” he noted.

Publication date: 02/17/2003