Maybe your furnace is 15 years old or more. Or you are constantly repairing it. Or your utility bills are soaring. Or your furnace is making weird noises. For whatever reason, you’ve decided to invest in a new furnace. Here are some important things for you to consider.
Sizing
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is make sure the furnace is the right size. A too-small furnace will not provide adequate heating or will have to work too hard to warm you home; a too-large furnace will waste energy, drive up costs, and shut down when it overheats. Your contractor should perform a load calculation to find out how many BTUs you need. This calculation factors in square footage, insulation, window efficiency, etc.
Type of System
You can either have a split system or a packaged system. Most people have split systems, which consist of an outdoor condensing unit, furnace and coil that sit on top of your furnace. However, if you do not have a basement, crawl space or attic you might want to explore a packaged system. These systems contain all heating and cooling elements in one outdoor unit, freeing up space in your home.
Efficiency
Go with the most efficient system you can afford. The more efficient the system, the lower your utility bills will be. Efficiency is measured by AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Furnaces must reach 80% AFUE is order to comply with regulations. But there are furnaces that have much higher efficiency – 95% or above.
Fuel Source
There are three types of fuel sources:
Also note that switching from one type of furnace to another can be expensive.
Zoning
If you are experiencing hot and cold spots in your home, a zoning system can help. These systems divide your home into “zones” that are controlled by separate thermostats.
Variable Speed Blowers
Variable speed blowers are preferred over fixed speed blowers because they can vary the speed air is distributed through your home. This can reduce energy costs. Variable speed blowers can also be quieter.
Pricing
Get quotes from three reputable contractors. Examine not just the price, but also the underlying assumptions about size, etc. Be leery of any quote that is way higher or way lower than the others.
Rebates and Incentives
When getting your bids, make sure you ask about rebates and incentives that can lower the cost.
Warranty
Also carefully check out the warranty. Look for a furnace that offers a long-term warranty on the heat exchanger (at least 10 years) and a 5-year warranty on other components.
Programmable Thermostat
Some furnaces may come with programmable thermostats. If not, consider purchasing one. They can deliver maximum comfort, efficiency and energy savings.
Sizing
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is make sure the furnace is the right size. A too-small furnace will not provide adequate heating or will have to work too hard to warm you home; a too-large furnace will waste energy, drive up costs, and shut down when it overheats. Your contractor should perform a load calculation to find out how many BTUs you need. This calculation factors in square footage, insulation, window efficiency, etc.
Type of System
You can either have a split system or a packaged system. Most people have split systems, which consist of an outdoor condensing unit, furnace and coil that sit on top of your furnace. However, if you do not have a basement, crawl space or attic you might want to explore a packaged system. These systems contain all heating and cooling elements in one outdoor unit, freeing up space in your home.
Efficiency
Go with the most efficient system you can afford. The more efficient the system, the lower your utility bills will be. Efficiency is measured by AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Furnaces must reach 80% AFUE is order to comply with regulations. But there are furnaces that have much higher efficiency – 95% or above.
Fuel Source
There are three types of fuel sources:
- Natural gas furnaces are most common, and are the most economical way to heat your home.
- Oil or propane furnaces are possible alternatives in areas that don’t have gas lines. But they require more room for storage, and are also dirtier and more expensive to operate than natural gas furnaces.
- Electric furnaces may be less expensive upfront, but can also be very expensive to operate.
Also note that switching from one type of furnace to another can be expensive.
Zoning
If you are experiencing hot and cold spots in your home, a zoning system can help. These systems divide your home into “zones” that are controlled by separate thermostats.
Variable Speed Blowers
Variable speed blowers are preferred over fixed speed blowers because they can vary the speed air is distributed through your home. This can reduce energy costs. Variable speed blowers can also be quieter.
Pricing
Get quotes from three reputable contractors. Examine not just the price, but also the underlying assumptions about size, etc. Be leery of any quote that is way higher or way lower than the others.
Rebates and Incentives
When getting your bids, make sure you ask about rebates and incentives that can lower the cost.
Warranty
Also carefully check out the warranty. Look for a furnace that offers a long-term warranty on the heat exchanger (at least 10 years) and a 5-year warranty on other components.
Programmable Thermostat
Some furnaces may come with programmable thermostats. If not, consider purchasing one. They can deliver maximum comfort, efficiency and energy savings.
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