What is the Difference between Vertical and Horizontal Furnace Installation

It doesn’t matter how efficient your furnace is or how many times you repair it, a time comes when you have to replace it. This could be because of energy efficiency or lower utility bills or anything else that interferes with the furnace optimal operations. Figuring out your options can be so overwhelming especially for first-time homeowners.

The big question is usually, what type of furnace would be best for your home. This question also pushes you to look at space limitations in your home. The overall goal is to get an equipment that will run efficiently and save you money over time.

When installing a new furnace, there are two main options open to your technician. There is the vertical and horizontal installation.

Upright or Vertical Installation

This is done in either of two ways: down-flow and up-flow. When you talk about the flow, you refer to the direction of air as it passes through the air handler or furnace. When the furnace is installed, vertical and up-flow, cold air moves in from the bottom while warm air is released right at the top. For a down-flow vertical installation, the flow is vice versa.

Horizontal Installation

This is the preferred installation method for furnaces located in garages, attics, or basements. The device can either be suspended from the ceiling or placed on a platform.

Having seen the two main installation methods, the question now is, which system should you choose? Does it matter whether it is horizontal or vertical?

Up-Flow Vertical Furnace

This is the most energy efficient installation method for furnaces in crawlspaces or basements. This is because hot air rises and thus it makes sense for the unit to be located in the basement. It is also a relatively more comfortable arrangement because warm air enters the flow registers and then warms your feet first. In most homes today, you will find most furnaces installed in an up-flow configuration.

Down-Flow Vertical Furnace

Here, the cold air is drawn right off the top, taken in through the system and expelled out from the bottom of the unit as warm air. For this reason, this type of installation is best suited for units located in the attic. However, it is less energy efficient. The reason why some homeowners may go for this type of installation is that of space constraints.

If your space is extremely small to the extent that it doesn’t allow for the traditional vertical furnace, the horizontal furnace installation method is the best. In this method, the units draw in cool air from one side and then expel warm air through the other.

Horizontal installation is not energy efficient compared to up-flow installation. Other configurations although less common are down-flow/horizontal installation, up-flow/horizontal installation, and multi-position installation. If you are not sure of what is best for your home, kindly consult a professional  HVAC contractor.