If you're in the process of shopping for a furnace replacement, there are a few things you'll want to consider. Selecting the wrong type of furnace will result in energy waste, excessive fuel and repair costs, and can also compromise your indoor comfort and air quality.
Make sure you discuss the following three points with a licensed HVAC contractor before moving forward with your furnace installation.
Sizing. Many homeowners automatically use their old furnace size as the guideline for their replacement. That can be a huge mistake. Since furnaces have an average lifespan of about 20 years or so, chances are the original HVAC contractor used "rule of thumb" measurements to determine the furnace size. These days, knowledgeable contractors use Manuals J, D, and S to get accurate load calculations and to determine the most energy-efficient HVAC equipment and design for your home. Among other things, accurate furnace sizing requires an inspection of your current HVAC system, building materials, insulation R-values and a conversation regarding typical home occupancy and furnace usage.
Energy and Cost Efficiency. Modern furnaces can have AFUEs as high as 97 or more. However, your contractor may recommend one with a slightly lower AFUE depending on your needs. The key is to find the best system in terms of energy consumption and fuel costs, as well your household budget. Your contractor can use a series of calculations based on your home's energy efficiency, current fuel prices and projected fuel costs to select a furnace with an AFUE that will pay for itself, and possibly more, over time.
Fuel source. Fuel prices are always fluctuating. The most affordable fuel when your original furnace was installed may not be the most cost-effective option now. Talk to your HVAC technician about your options, including wood pellets or geothermal heat pump, which may be wiser investments in today's market.
Once your new furnace installation is complete, make sure to observe annual maintenance appointments, or sign up for a maintenance plan to reduce lifetime repair costs.
Need a new furnace installation in your Broken Arrow area home? Contact Air Assurance.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Image courtesy of Shutterstock