4 Things to Think About Before Buying a Furnace

Because of the cost involved in acquiring a brand-new furnace, homeowners aren’t very thrilled about the experience. Replacing your old heating system may seem challenging, but here at Four Seasons Air Specialists, we’d like to narrow down your options and make things much easier for you. We are your dedicated heating company in Grant MN.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a new furnace:

Energy Efficiency

Your heating system is one of the main energy-consuming appliances in your home. It’s important to find out how efficient a system is to give you an idea of how much it costs to operate.

A furnace’s ability to convert gas to heat is measured by its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. It shows the percentage of fuel consumed that is used for producing heat. In other words, the higher the AFUE rating, the greater the savings. However, you should also keep in mind that the higher the AFUE rating, the more expensive the unit is.

When compared side by side, your new furnace will be far more efficient than your old one because technology has significantly advanced over the past several years. But it’s important to be mindful of the minimum energy efficiency requirements. In Minnesota and most states, the minimum acceptable AFUE is 80 percent.

Knowing how unforgiving Minnesota winters can be, it’s best to invest in a higher AFUE unit to ensure lower energy consumption, allowing you to recoup the added cost throughout the life of the unit.

Programmable Thermostat

To maximize your energy savings, look for a furnace that is compatible with a programmable thermostat, which allows you to set the temperatures for different times of the day, as well as different days of the week. It lets you set your HVAC system to only generate heated air only when you need it.

It offers multiple settings for different times of the day, enabling you to keep your home as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible. You can set the thermostat in advance to turn on the furnace an hour before you wake up and change the temperature settings during different times of the day, based on the outside climate.

A programmable thermostat knows your preferred temperature settings and automatically delivers the necessary temperature changes within your home. This allows you to save money as the thermostat instinctively turns the temperature up or down. According to the Environmental Protection Agency,  a programmable thermostat can help you save around 10 to 30 percent on your heating bills.

Proper Sizing

When buying a new furnace, it is important that you correctly determine what size of the system you are going to install in your home. Getting the most energy-efficient furnace without determining proper sizing will reduce the unit to a mediocre piece of equipment.

Having a furnace that is too large for your home will result in high fuel consumption without reaching your desired comfort levels. When the system starts, some areas may warm up too quickly and get uncomfortably warm before the thermostat even makes the right temperature reading. If your home has subpar insulation, this heat will easily escape, causing the unit to turn itself on and off (a process called short-cycling).

If your furnace is too small, it doesn’t have enough heating power to deliver your comfort requirements. Therefore, it will need to run longer to raise the temperature, to the point of overheating. Undersized furnaces tend to experience frequent system breakdowns and the premature termination of the unit.

Installation Quality

Not every homeowner who buys a furnace considers the quality of installation but it is a crucial part of the process. Even if you purchased the unit with the highest AFUE rating, poor insulation compromises the system’s performance.

A qualified technician possesses the knowledge, certification, and experience to install your brand-new furnace and tune it according to the manufacturer’s specifications. It is particularly critical to choose an installation professional who is factory-trained for the specific furnace model you choose.

Work Only with the Finest

To help you properly size and install your brand-new furnace, call Four Seasons Air Specialists. We’d be delighted to work with you and provide you with unparalleled service excellence. We are your trusted Mahtomedi furnace installation company.