What is the primary purpose of a flue baffle in a furnace?

The primary purpose of a flue baffle in a furnace is to increase heat exchange. A flue baffle is typically designed to redirect and slow down the flow of flue gases as they pass through the heat exchanger. By doing so, it allows more time for the heat from the gases to be transferred to the surrounding air or water. This enhances the overall efficiency of the heating process, since more heat is extracted from the gases before they exit through the venting system.

Increasing heat exchange is crucial for ensuring that the furnace operates at optimal efficiency, providing more usable heat to the living space while reducing wasted energy in the process. The other choices do not directly relate to the primary function of a flue baffle in improving heat exchange efficiency.