Proper insulation goes hand-in-hand with heating and cooling systems. You could have the best high efficiency furnace in the world, but without proper insulation, your home will never be as comfortable or as cost-effective as it should be.

A lot of improvements have been made in home comfort systems and overall efficiency at home over the last few decades. Furnaces manufactured in Canada are now required to have a minimum 90% AFUE, and home insulation has evolved from straw and wood chips to polyurethane spray foam.

While these are steps in the right direction to increase both efficiency and comfort – it’s extremely important to realize that if you have recently upgraded your insulation without upgrading your furnace, you might have a safety issue at hand.

Atmospheric vs. Sealed Combustion

Atmospheric Combustion:
Furnaces work by combining air drawn into the unit with fuel and igniting the mixture (combustion), which creates warm air that is circulated throughout the home. An atmospheric combustion furnace draws air from the room it’s located. Typical older furnaces use atmospheric combustion.

Sealed Combustion:
Most newer heating systems employ sealed combustion systems. Sealed combustion systems bring combustion air through a direct intake pipe from the outdoors to the unit. This is the ideal system for a well-insulated air tight home.

Insulation

Insulation is the barrier that keeps warm, heated air inside your home in the winter and prevents the hot, sticky Ontario air from getting in during the summer. Homes have varying degrees and amounts of insulation.

Homeowners have flocked to spray foam insulation to create tight, “sealed envelope” houses to prevent heat and air transfer. Creating an airtight seal increases efficiency, but could be dangerous when used in conjunction with an atmospheric combustion furnace.

After drawing in surrounding air for the combustion process, new air has to be replaced in that space. If the home is sealed too tightly, there is no chance for fresh air to come in. That’s why it’s extremely important to install a sealed combustion, high efficiency furnace if you plan on creating an “Air Tight” home.

Contact a Delta representative today to discuss installing one of our high efficiency furnaces.

Delta has been serving customers in the Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph and Cambridge areas since the 1950’s and continues to be a respected HVAC company in the community.

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