Things To Consider When Buying A New Furnace
The best time to think about buying a new furnace is before it becomes an absolute need. It may seem a bit premature, but by not waiting until you are put in a situation that your family is without heat or air conditioning, you have more time to research your options and make the most cost-effective choice. The goal is to balance upfront equipment and installation costs with ongoing operating expenses. As you start shopping, follow this advice from GV’S Heating and Cooling for buying a new furnace.
FURNACE FUEL TYPES
There are a few fuel options for powering your furnace. While it is usually most convenient to replace your system with the same type that you already have, it doesn’t hurt to know what other types of furnaces are out there.
Oil or propane: People are rapidly shifting away from oil and propane and moving toward natural gas for a couple of reasons. First of all, many homeowners want to get rid of the unsightly, onsite storage tanks required by these furnace fuel sources. Secondly, oil and propane prices have been steadily rising over the last several years and are predicted to continue doing so.
Natural gas: While furnaces powered by natural gas may cost more initially compared to electric furnaces, they are much less costly to operate because of the affordability of natural gas. Areas with long winter seasons benefit greatly from gas furnaces.
Electricity: On the surface, electric furnaces seem to be an excellent choice because of their relatively low purchase price and the promise of 95 percent or higher efficiency. They are actually uneconomical in many parts of the Midwest because of the high cost of coal-generated electricity. You should only consider this option if you don’t have access to natural gas or have the option of wind-generated electricity. And even then, heat pumps tend to be more efficient for electric heating.
FURNACE EFFICIENCY
The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE, is how a furnace’s efficiency is measured. The higher the AFUE rating, the greater the energy efficiency of the furnace. The long-established provider of HVAC systems, Trane, explains that the minimum standard AFUE for new furnaces is 78 percent, a mid-efficiency furnace has an 80-85 percent AFUE rating, and a high-efficiency unit has a rating between 90 and 97 percent.
As a Trane-certified partner, we value the insight provided they provide. A simple calculation comparing the higher initial investment of a high-efficiency unit with the resulting decrease in utility bills will tell you whether a more expensive furnace is worth it. GV’S Heating and Cooling can assist you with this calculation to ensure you are making the best purchase for your home and family.
FURNACE SIZE
The size of your home will determine the heating capacity required as will the climate in which you live, and other factors associated with airflow. If you have a larger or older home with air leaks, you will benefit from making some energy efficiency improvements within your home prior to having a new furnace installed. The HVAC experts at GV’S Heating and Cooling can help you with sizing your furnace to maximize performance and comfort.
INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS
There are complexities involved with furnace installation which is why we recommend hiring a professional for the job. If your old furnace was less efficient or used a different fuel source, you may need to make upgrades such as ductwork repairs, the addition of new venting and fuel pipes, etc. Remember to include labor costs while calculating your anticipated investment as these modifications will raise the installation cost.
ASK GV’S HEATING & COOLING FOR ASSISTANCE
We encourage you to contact GV’S Heating and Cooling for help buying a new furnace as we are equipped to help you find the best furnace replacement possible. The experts at GV’S Heating and Cooling have been providing top-quality HVAC service to Chicago’s North Shore neighborhoods for almost 30 years and can help keep your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Whether you’re replacing your furnace or shopping for a heating system to install in your new home, we’ll help you understand which factors affect your purchasing decision. To get personalized advice for buying a new furnace, contact GV’S Heating and Cooling today.
