Retiring Ol’ Bessie

Last year we upgraded the drafty 70’s style fireplace in the family room downstairs with a state-of-the-art gas insert (and re-faced the chimney with river rock).

This year it was time for the furnace itself, or as I refer to it – Ol’ Bessie – the fire-breathing metal beast that was put into service when Nixon was in office. Always on, full of flame and loudly blasting through the duct work, I think the efficiency of it was hovering in 40% range, given it was likely 50% or so when it was new.

I had several bids. One configuration I was looking at was a high efficiency furnace and an outdoor heat pump. A heat pump is basically an air-conditioner in reverse and pulls hot air into the house, running on electricity, without requiring the furnace to kick in. Heat pumps work until it gets to about 40 degrees F, after that the furnace takes over. You end up spending a lot less per therm than the furnace alone.

However, heat pumps run at least $5,000. Not cheap. I figured that the efficiency I would get from going from Ol’ Bessie to a new high efficiency furnace would far outpace the efficiency I would get going from a high efficiency furnace to adding a $5,000 heat pump. Also, I am betting that the cost of heat pumps goes down over the next five years, maybe even using more solar power.

I ended up going with a Lennox G71 – the “signature series” 95% efficiency model – through Costco! Multi-stage, super quiet, flux capacitor. It required running new PVC exhaust out from the basement but it’s a huge improvement. I should be cutting my energy costs this winter by about 40% – we’ll see. I figure I will get to a breakeven in only three years or so. I also get a rebate from Puget Sound Energy and a cash card from Costco – not bad.

Comments

[Mike]

I am getting the same furnace installed. Was it worth it going to Costco for the work?

I am looking at about $4500 installed for the G71

Mike

[Digital Dad]

That's about what I paid. You get a $500 cash back card from Costco (plus a rebate from your state energy commission, potentially).

Costco has a strong return policy so I have found that purchases through them have good service follow through.

[Carm]

Hi,

I'm looking at using Costco for the same furnace. Did you see a major improvement on your hydro bill as a result of your new furnace?

How was the service itself?