Will Stainless Steel hold up longer then mild steel? Does it corrode faster?
Yes it will hold up longer then mild steel. You can expect a typical well-maintained mild steel unit to last anywhere from 7-12 years on average before needing replacement. A well-maintained stainless steel unit will last 20 or more years. Well-maintained stainless steel will not corrode faster than mild steel. We use a high grade 409 stainless steel treated for applications to withstand high heat.
What is the difference between 304 and 409 Stainless Steel?
409 Stainless Steel is specifically made for high temperature situations, has better heat transfer and warps less than 304 Stainless Steel while 304 Stainless Steel tends to corrode slower but has poorer heat transfer.
Why don’t you offer a dual-fuel option on your furnaces?
While this option may look appealing at first glance, it really doesn’t offer anything most customers don’t already have in the form of an existing indoor heat source. When installing a furnace you can set the existing heat source as the back up as simply as using another thermostat. Then if there is a power outage or a pump failure, there is still heat for the customer whereas the dual-fuel furnace would give you no back up.
What is the difference between a forced air and natural draft furnace?
The difference is how the air to stoke the fire is brought in to the firebox. Natural draft furnaces open a damper that allows air to draw in to the firebox directly from outside. Forced air furnaces use blowers to blow air directly in to the firebox with more control then natural draft furnaces while also having the option of using variable speeds to better control your firebox burn rate. They also allow the furnace to burn hotter.
What is the difference between a pressurized and non-pressurized furnace?
Pressurized furnaces are sealed systems that operate on higher temperatures and use steam power to heat. They can generally put out more BTU’s but are made only for large industrial purposes. While they do put out more BTU’s they offer more danger to the customer and cost more money to purchase and maintain because you need a certified boiler technician to install and repair the furnace. Pressurized furnaces are usually only available in industrial size models.
