A residential furnace typically lasts for about 15 years, depending on usage and maintenance. So if your unit it somewhere around that age, you might be in the market for a new heating system.
Choosing the right model can be a tough job and it makes sense to ask your preferred heating company in Brooklyn Park, MN about your options for a new furnace. Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning offers some of the best furnace models on the market.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right furnace for your home. You would want a unit that is able to effortlessly provide the heating requirements of your house and is energy efficient to keep its operating costs down.
Here are a few things you need to consider before making that purchase.
AFUE
AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.It measures a gas furnace’s ability to convert fuel into energy. A heating system that has a 90 percent AFUE rating can transform 90 percent of the energy it consumes into heat. On the other hand, the remaining 10 percent is consumed during the heating process. Typically, a higher AFUE rating meansgreater savings.
Be aware that as the AFUE rating goes up, so does the price of the unit. While a high-efficiency furnace costs significantly higher than a cheaper model, you can recoup the investment cost with lower monthly heating bills. Also, investing in a high-efficiency furnace usually qualifies for a federal tax credit of 30 percent or up to $1500.
Proper Sizing
When it comes to choosing a furnace, bigger isn’t always the better. Proper sizing plays an important part in your family’s overall comfort. Your home’s size, materials used, positions of your windows, and regional climate must be taken into consideration before buying and installing a new furnace in your home.
An oversized furnace consumes more fuel but can make your home less comfortable. There will be areas that are warm while others are not. If your house is not properly insulated, heated air can easily escape, causing your furnace to turn itself on and off.
Differently, an undersized furnace doesn’t have the capacity to properly heat your home, so it will run longer and harder. This extra burden on your furnace not only increases your heating costs, it also shortens the lifespan of the unit.
Energy-Saving Features
High-efficiency furnaces use a second heat exchanger to catch much of the heat that would normally float up the chimney.
Certain high-efficiency furnaces also reduce electricity consumption by pairing an advanced, programmable thermostat to a variable speed motor. This enables the system to run the blower for longer periods of time at lower speeds. It provides quieter and more even and comfortable heat and doesn’t unnecessarily consume electricity.
Also, the blower compartments on high-efficiency furnaces are usually insulated to preserve heat. Traditional heating systems normally are not insulated.
Safety Features
High-efficiency furnaces use outside air for combustion, not air inside your home. This prevents furnace damage caused by vapors from laundry products, which can corrode furnace components.
Condensing furnaces use an electronic ignition system that has been proven safe and reliable compared to old furnaces that utilize standing pilot light. This ignition system only uses heat when the furnace calls for heat.
Furnaces that have a rating of 90 percent AFUE or more are the safest. Not only do they reduce your heating costs by 30 to 40 percent, their basic designalso significantly reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Warranty
In the event of failure, the furnace’s warranty can help you cover the cost of repair and replacement of broken parts. Though warranty on your furnace will vary according to the manufacturer and dealer, choosing a high-efficiency unit will give you a longer warranty period compared to a cheaper model. With a condensing furnace, it is especially important to have a long-term warranty on the heat exchangers.
Get Professional Advice from Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
If you need help in choosing the best furnace for your home, call our experts at Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning. We are a Lennox Premier Dealer that offers a wide variety of furnaces made by one of the world’s best manufacturers.
Call us for your Maple Grove furnace installation or any other heating and cooling needs.