Key Items to Consider in Your New Furnace Estimate

When properly maintained, most residential furnaces last for about 15 to 20 years. Beyond that, they are no longer as efficient and therefore, cost more to operate. As your existing furnace gets older, it loses its efficiency and at some point, will have to be replaced. A truly comfortable home needs an efficient furnace that’s able to provide the level of warmth you prefer while making sure your home’s air is clean and properly humidified.

Your furnace is one of the more costly pieces of equipment in your home, which is why you need to take your next purchase very seriously. Having the right system keeps your heating bills to a minimum while maintaining your family comfortable during the cold season.

For this reason, it is recommended for you to get started by calling your preferred heating company in Vadnais Heights MN for an estimate first. A qualified professional can answer any questions you may have and make sure everything is covered before the system is installed in your home. Four Seasons Air Specialists is one of the leading names in HVAC in the White Bear Lake area and its surrounding communities.

Here are some of the key items you need to take into consideration when choosing your new furnace.

Proper Sizing

Proper sizing is one of the main factors that need to be addressed, not only because of its effect on your home comfort, but also because it ensures your furnace works effortlessly and its lifespan is not abbreviated.

When a furnace is too large, it can keep the house warm regardless of the outside temperature. However, it also burns more fuel than a properly sized one. Some rooms will be warmer than others and the thermostat is unable to read the correct temperature. Also, an oversized furnace tends to turn itself off and back on frequently, which compromises the equipment’s lifespan.

On the other hand, an undersized furnace lacks the power to properly heat your home. So, it needs to run longer to raise the temperature to the point of being overheated. As a result, you will notice a significant increase in your heating bills and just like an oversized system, an undersized unit is bound to die prematurely.

Energy-Efficiency

A furnace’s capacity to convert gas into heat is measured by its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. It reveals the percentage of the fuel consumed that’s used for heating the home. AFUE ratings range from 80 percent to 98.5 percent. Prices generally go up based on the system’s fuel efficiency. While you will need to invest more in a high-efficiency model, but this cost will be replaced by lower monthly heating bills.

Unit and Installation Costs

The actual unit will make up the biggest chunk of your installation cost. Also, there are other things you need to consider when calculating your expenses for a new heating system, including:

• Unit size
• Labor cost
• Indoor air quality features, including humidification
• Adjustments to the made to the existing ductwork

Safety Features

Your home shouldn’t only be comfy; it needs to be safe, too. Having this in mind, consider investing in a high-efficiency unit. Furnaces with 90 percent AFUE or higher are usually the safest. These systems reduce your heating costs by 30 to 40 percent and their basic design significantly lowers the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

They use outside air for combustion, not air inside your home. This prevents furnace damage caused by vapors from laundry products, which can wear down furnace parts.

High-efficiency furnaces use an electronic ignition system that has been proven safe and reliable compared to old furnaces that are equipped with a standing pilot light. This ignition system only uses heat when the furnace needs it.

Warranty Coverage

In the event of premature failure, the heating system’s warranty can help you cover the cost of repair and replacement of faulty parts. Though warranty on your furnace will vary depending on the manufacturer and dealer, choosing a high-efficiency unit will give you a longer warranty period compared to a lower efficiency model. With a condensing furnace, it is especially important to have a long-term warranty on the heat exchangers, as these parts are expensive to replace.

Questions? Ask Four Seasons Air Specialists

If you want to know more about important items to consider before buying a furnace, be sure to give us a call. We are your friendly Woodbury furnace installation company.