Difference between upflow and downflow furnace

Air flow configuration such as upflow downflow and horizontal is a common way to describe furnaces. The primary difference between an upflow and a downflow furnace which direction they take in and expel air.

The downside is that a downflow furnace is less efficient than an upflow furnace.

Difference between upflow and downflow furnace. Better energy efficiency because heat rises upflow furnaces tend to be more energy efficient than downflow ones. Comfort upflow furnaces heat from the floor up and many people find this a little more comfortable than from the ceiling down. In an upflow furnace air comes into the furnace from the bottom.

It gets heated and then flows upward into the homes ductwork. In a downflow furnace the air flows in the opposite direction. It enters the furnace from above and flows down into the home.

Upflow furnaces are more efficient for heating. Downflow furnaces are more efficient for air conditioning. When an Upflow Furnace is Better.

In rare cases downflow furnaces are installed in the main level or garage of the home The biggest downside to this type of system is that it is less efficient. It will use more energy to create the same ambient temperatures that can be achieved with an upflow furnace. This format of heating system is usually referred to as a downflow furnace.

The reason for this is that cool air is drawn in through the top and warm air is pushed out into the ducts through the bottom. On the other hand basement furnaces are usually upflow systems. This type is typically called a downflow furnace because it draws cool air in through the top and pushed the warm air out through the bottom and into the ductsIf you are replacing a basement furnace it will likely be an upflow furnace drawing in cool air either through the bottom or sides and circulating warmed air out through the topAnother variation is a horizontal furnace which as you can.

Upflow furnaces usually rest on the basement floor so it doesnt require reinforcement. As heated air at the top of a room cools it falls and can be taken in and recirculated more easily by the furnace. In contrast a downflow furnace is usually installed in the attic pushing air downward through the venting system into the home.

They can also be installed on the main floor or in a garage. The difference here has to do with the height of the furnace with lowboys naturally being a little bit shorter. This makes them the natural choice for basements with especially low ceilings.

The position of the blower may also differ between the two types of upflow furnace. The primary difference between an upflow and a downflow furnace which direction they take in and expel air. A downflow furnace takes in cold air at the top of the unit and expels air at the bottom.

The downside is that a downflow furnace is less efficient than an upflow furnace. Air flow configuration such as upflow downflow and horizontal is a common way to describe furnaces. This article includes a diagram of furnaces with different air flows and an explanation of when different configurations are appropriate.

The fundamental difference between an upflow and a downflow furnace is the direction of airflow. An upflow furnace is installed in the lowest level of your home and functions by taking in cold air at the bottom of the unit and expelling warm air upwards working with heats natural tendency to rise. In many homes downflow furnaces can also work with floor registers.

On the downside these furnaces work against the natural tendency of warm air to flow upward so theyre less efficient than upflow models. Even though the furnace releases air at the bottom that air will still want to rise. So in an upflow furnace the cool air is taken in at the bottom warmed and then expelled at the top.

A downflow furnace on the other hand takes in cool air at the top and expels heated air at the bottom. While this is all very exciting it may still not be obvious what impact this will have on your decision about what type of furnace to buy. Downflow furnaces heat the upper portion of the body first.

Easier to install - Upflow furnaces are typically easier to install because theres no need for a subbase or special flooring. Upflow Furnace Cons. Not suitable for some homes - Upflow furnaces are not.

Since it works with hot airs natural tendency to rise an upflow furnace is typically more energy efficient than a downflow model. Do NOT install the furnace directly on carpeting tile or other combustible material other than wood flooring. For vertical downflow application subbase BAYBASE-205 must be used between the furnace and combus-tible flooring.

When the downflow furnace is installed vertically with a cased coil a subbase is not required. That means that upflow furnaces are typically situated in a basement or crawl-space while downflow furnaces must be stored in an atticConsiderations for Different ProjectsIf you are trying to decide whether an upflow or downflow furnace makes more sense for your project here are a few things to keep in mind. When you are looking at a down-flow furnace a garage might be the least complicated installation because most garages have concrete flooring which is not considered a combustible material.

Another disadvantage of a down-flow furnace is that unlike an up-flow furnace down-flow furnaces fight against the natural upward flow of warm air. The primary difference between an upflow and a downflow furnace which direction they take in and expel air. A downflow furnace takes in cold air at the top of the unit and expels air at the bottom.

The downside is that a downflow furnace is less efficient than an upflow furnace. So in an upflow furnace the cool air is taken in at the bottom warmed and then expelled at the top. A downflow furnace on the other hand takes in cool air at the top and expels heated air at the bottom.

On the other hand a downflow furnace would be installed in your attic for the same reasons. Click to see full answer. Well if downflow means that we take the air at the top and output it heated in the bottom then the upflow is just the opposite.

These furnaces are placed in the lowest level of a house to take advantage of the exhaust heat rising through the stack to the outside and heating the house in the process. With an upflow furnace the cold air is added to the bottom of the furnace and the hot air is. Can upflow furnace be used as downflow.

This is for a dual fuel system heat pump and propane gas furnace system. What would be the difference in the two units. Thanks 12-02-2018 1101 AM 2.

View Profile View Forum Posts View Forum Threads Global Moderator. Any advantages or disadvantages to a downflow furnace in the horizontal position vs an upflow furnace in the horizontal position. Which would be better for an attic install.

Would be 40k btu 15 ton AC. Thought I remember a comment that the downflow is not as efficient.