When you need to replace a broken or obsolete furnace, you may not have the luxury of time on your side. Knowing the important features to look for will help when you’re upgrading your furnace.
Depending on what’s most economical, one of the factors to consider when you’re upgrading a furnace is the fuel type. Do a quick comparison of electric costs and gas costs in the Fresno area. Typically, gas is cheaper to heat than electric furnaces, so you could quickly narrow your search by focusing on gas furnaces.
When you’re upgrading your furnace, look at the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. The higher the AFUE percentage the better. A high-efficiency furnace will be in the 90-97 percent AFUE range. While this will cost more, over the long haul it will save you money on energy costs while running smoother and doing a better job of heating your home. Look for the federal Energy Star label as a badge of quality.
Be sure you get the appropriate size furnace. Having a professional HVAC contractor assess the heating load of your home in order to determine the proper size furnace will save you time when you’re comparing furnace prices. A properly sized furnace operates the most efficiently.
Other considerations in sizing a furnace, aside from the square footage of your home:
- Size and number of windows with sun exposure
- Existing insulation in your home
- Predicted or known air exchange rate of the home
Another thing to consider when upgrading a furnace is the manufacturer. What is the warranty like? How long has the company been in business? These are important things to consider when you’re doing comparison shopping.
If you can, take the time to carefully research your furnace choice, but if you need one now, these tips can provide the info you need when you’re upgrading a furnace.
Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning has been serving the greater Fresno area for 40 years. Contact us today for more information on upgrading your furnace.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Donald P Dick Air Conditioning services the greater Fresno area in California. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
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