The modern furnaces if adequately maintained are expected to last for about 15 to 20 years maximum, and this is if you will be buying a new heater. Every home spends some good money in heating equipment, and therefore it’s very paramount for a homeowner to pick their furnaces carefully. When investing in a new furnace, we consider a heating unit that will offer comfortability and durability at the same time. With the correct heater, you will be able to save a lot of money on maintenance costs. Below are some essential questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing a new furnace. Below are some essential questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing a new furnace.
- How big should my furnace be?
The furnace size should be perfect for your home. Not too small nor too big. Many heating companies and furnace experts will install a heating furnace with a capacity that will best suit your home. A stove that is too big can lead to wastage of energy and hence extra costs. While the smaller furnaces will not provide the needed amount of heat in your home. Another thing heating units that are too big or too small tend to break down faster. Get a correct furnace expert from a reliable heating company to inspect your home and recommend the best furnace size for your home.
- How will you measure the efficiency of your home furnace?
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is the standard measuring unit of fuel consumption efficiency. Usually, many furnace manufacturers make heating furnaces which burn fuel efficiently. The AFUE if the percentage amount of fossil fuel, which is converted to the usable heat annually. The AFUE ratings fall between 80% and 98.5%. When buying a new furnace, make sure it has the AFUE rating label and the estimated annual operating expenses of the heating unit under the different conditions. This information makes it easy to compare different furnaces when shopping. If you are looking for a cost-effective heater, then look for higher AFUE, but be ready to spend a lot of money. To maintain the efficiency of your furnace, make sure it is inspected by a furnace professional annually and to carry out furnace repairs.
- Which furnace types are available on the market?
There are different types of furnaces on the market. Most of the central heating and the cooling systems have split systems. The systems have a coil, furnace and a condenser. The coil is placed on top of the heating unit. The spilt system offers similar heating and cooling options like the packaged systems. However, the packaged systems have their components fitted inside a single door unit. They can also be mounted up on the roof. Below are some of the major types of furnaces depending on the type of fuel they use:
- Natural gas furnaces
- Oil furnaces
- Electric furnaces
- Traditional wood furnaces
The oil furnaces and the natural gas furnaces offer the best furnace options for older homes that lack as lines. The electric furnaces are more efficient than the other types of furnaces. They are also more cost-effective, and some models function as AC units during summer
- Which are the most reliable HVAC Accessories?
The nest HVCA accessories will improve the efficiency of your heating furnace. When using a heating unit, the air inside the house will dry mainly during winter. This, in turn, will lead to sore throats, dry skin, static electricity, flu symptoms, or regular flu, cracks in the hardwood floors, allergies and asthma attacks. To deal with these, you should get a professional to come and install a reliable humidifier in your house; you can get, the more affordable options in the different rooms in the house. Other accessories include:
- Ultraviolet (UV) lamps (useful in killing molds, bacteria, dust mites, pests, and viruses)
- Air purifiers or air cleaners (they help in capturing any contaminants in the air).
- What is the total installation cost?
Each furnace has a different price tag because of the different brands, the extra accessories, the capacity, the type of unit, and the installation expenses. It usually takes a day to install a new furnace, but more time will be needed if you will also be replacing the ductwork. If your furnace has more HVAC accessories, the installation will be more costly, even though your home will be more comfortable. When contacting a local furnace installation expert, make sure that they are certified. You can invest in a functional heating unit, but when you go for cheap, poor installation, then you will suffer from energy waste hence lose more money.
