When it’s time to look for a new furnace, there are a number of things you should consider before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your house and your family’s needs in mind, Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfy.
Fuel Source
One of the first aspects you need to decide is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America run on natural gas, but some homes are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s vital to know which type of fuel is necessary for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to determine which type of furnace you’d prefer to effectively meet your needs. Furnaces come in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat constantly at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency within these options. A two-stage furnace is a good fit for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace works at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating blast on the coldest Derby days. But if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
In contrast to single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a certain number of stages to go through to deliver heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually work at different capacities to meet your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another feature to discuss. You could save money by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you normally use, rather than trying to keep every room at the same temperature. If you want more information about zoning options for your home, Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning can help.
Size
Another key part of selecting the best furnace for your home is making sure it’s the correct size for your space. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy continuously cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to warm your home on the coldest Derby days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating represents the ratio of annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total annual fossil fuel energy it consumes. For example, an 80 percent AFUE rating means that 80 percent of energy in the fuel heats the home and the other 20 percent gets out through places like the furnace venting. A high-efficiency furnace will have an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, it helps to do some research when searching for a replacement furnace. But, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself. Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning is here to answer all of your questions and help you select a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Just give us a call at 203-772-8319 or schedule an appointment with us online.