If you’re concerned about the continuing increase in gas and oil prices, you should consider investing in a new furnace, especially if you have an inefficient one. Old units just do not have enough power to meet your heating needs and save you money on energy at the same time. Sure, getting a new furnace involves a considerable amount of money, but it’s a wise investment because the unit allows you to minimize your expenses on heating not only for a month but throughout the lifespan of the furnace.
But having an energy-efficient home does not only depend on how much you spend on a new furnace. You also need to think about whether or not what you’re getting is the right size for your home.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted heating company in Fridley MN. We have over forty years of experience in helping homeowners get the right-sized furnaces for their homes.
Overview
Your home’s HVAC system provides both conditioned and fresh air to help you and your family stay comfortable, healthy, and safe. However, the system’s overall efficiency depends on the characteristics and quality of the materials used to build your home. It includes the windows, type and quality of installation, and air sealing. Incorrect sizing lowers the system’s performance while making you less comfortable and increasing your energy costs.
Common Issues and Resources in Furnace Sizing
Each home is unique—in terms of design, materials, and size. That said, some common issues and errors need to be checked and fixed. These issues include:
- Region’s climate
- exterior design
- dry bulb temperatures
- R-values for walls, floors, ceilings, and slabs
- Indoor design temperature
- Indoor design humidity
- window number and type
- insulation
- appliances
Understanding Heating Loads
Accurately calculating your heating load is essential to the furnace’s overall performance. Heating load refers to the amount of heating your home needs. You need to determine this value as well as the furnace’s heating capacity, which is the amount of heating the furnace can provide. HVAC experts correspond to the size of the system installed to their capacity to meet the home’s heating needs.
Why Consider Proper Furnace Sizing
To effectively combat the cold, your home requires a heating system that can supply the right amount of heat consistently. You do not want some rooms to be warmer than others. An undersized furnace has to work harder but still deliver subpar results, leading to higher heating bills, more frequent repairs, and premature system failure.
On the other hand, an oversized furnace may warm some rooms quickly while leaving other parts uncomfortably cold. It also creates too much noise and tends to short cycle (turning itself on and off). The only similarity between a furnace that’s too small and one that’s too large is that they both cost you more to heat your home than if you had a properly sized unit installed in your home.
What You Get with a Properly Sized Furnace
In the cold season, you and your family will be spending more time indoors, and you would want your furnace to meet your heating demands. Having the right-sized furnace installed in your home guarantees unparalleled comfort, even during the coldest nights of winter.
Also, you don’t have to worry about excessive operational sounds because the furnace doesn’t have to work as hard. It meets your home’s load requirements and avoids added strain on the unit.
Furnace repairs can get quite expensive, but if you have the right sized system and you’re on top of your maintenance schedules, you keep repair jobs to a minimum. Since the system doesn’t have to work too hard to deliver heated air, you can extend the life of the unit. While professional maintenance may seem like an added expense, it is actually an investment in your family’s comfort. The amount you will be saving in energy and repair can be as much as hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Ask Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
For your St. Louis Park furnace repair and installation needs, talk to one of our heating specialists. We will provide you with the information you need to make sure you’re investing in the right furnace.