A furnace being a home appliance is very vital especially during the cold seasons so as to provide the necessary warmth. Selecting the best furnace; one has to put into consideration various types of furnaces, types of fuel, efficiency of the furnace and factors to consider when installing a furnace. In the following guide for purchasing a new furnace we have gathered all the necessary information for both the first-time buyers and those that are just upgrading their old furnace.
Types of Furnaces:
The first aspect of purchasing a furnace is always discerning the variations in the kinds of furnaces. Furnaces may be classified by the type of fuel that it uses and the means through which heat is distributed.
Gas Furnace :
Gas furnaces come in the category of central furnaces and are used by many people. They utilize natural gas to produce the heating of air which is then circulated in the house through the ducts. Gas furnaces overall tend to be rather efficient and economical as well.
Electric Furnaces :
Electric furnaces operate by energizing an electric coil to heat air that is circulated in the premises. These furnaces have a lower purchase price, yet their electricity rates could make operating costs higher in the long run. They should be used in areas that only have access to electric utility and homes that are located in the regions with relative warm temperatures.
Oil Furnaces:
Oil furnaces are used specifically in households that have no access to natural gas. These furnaces use heating oil to develop heat. Even though they are efficient when it comes to the cold seasons, oil furnaces prove less efficient as compared to their gas and electric counterparts.
Propane Furnaces:
Propane furnaces are identical to the gas furnaces but the energy used here is propane. They would often be costlier to run as propane usually costs more than natural gas producing companies fleets.
Dual-Fuel Furnace:
This is whereby a heat pump is combined with a gas or propane furnace. During moderately cold weather, it heats your home as it operates as a heat pump. Winter means that when the temperature gets very low the furnace is used.
Furnace Efficiency: Understanding AFUE Ratings:
However, there is one important criterion that should be evaluated in furnaces – efficiency. The effectiveness of a furnace can be evaluated with the help of the so-called Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE rating). AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency which tells the amount of energy being used to create heat.
Standard Efficiency:
AFUE of less than 80% represents a standard efficiency of the furnaces that are widely in use. H everybody knows they are more affordable at the initial stages of installation and use but charge more in the long run.
High Efficiency:
New and high-efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings of 90 percent and above. These furnaces produce more heat from the fuel consumed making them economically effective in areas where fuel prices are high due to creating heat.
Sizing Your Furnace:
When buying a furnace, one of the most critical considerations that you need to make is the size of the furnace that you are going to purchase. A furnace that is not big enough will fail to heat the space properly, or one that is too big will have short heating cycles, wasteful and damaging over time.
- To determine the proper size furnace, you’ll need to consider several factors, including:
- Size of the room – square footage of your home
- Therefore, the question of the quality of the insulation of your home is important.
- The climate in your region
- This means the number of windows in your home
- The height of your ceilings
Important Aspects Need To Be Looked At When Purchasing The Furnace:
Variable-Speed Blowers:
Some furnaces include the option for choosing the speed you want the air circulated in your home. This helps to reduce fluctuations and thus keep temperature much more constant and can assist in the conservation of energy.
Two-Stage Heating:
Two stage furnaces provide a more consistent room heat and have two levels of heating capacity. During less severe days, the furnace will run at a lesser rate meaning that less energy will be used. It will change to a higher capacity as the temperatures drop to meet the need of heating a larger room.
Zoning Systems:
Zoning systems enable you to adjust temperature in a certain portion of the house with another without having to worry about the other. Here, the main advantages include the maximization of space utilization through heating of only the specific zones of a home or a particular room, whose usage reduces energy loss since only those rooms being used will be heated.
Smart Thermostat:
Compatibility Modern furnaces may be controlled by smart statistics, which are devices that let you adjust your house’s heat through an app. Smart thermostats can as well capture your heating requirements over a period of time and this will see it adapts itself to this kind of a setting and thus be helpful in power saving.
Noise Levels:
Some furnaces operate at a low noise level, this is of high importance if your furnace is within the residential area. Some things to consider are furnaces with quiet features like insulated cabinet and rubber isolated blower motor.
Installation Considerations:
Getting the right installation is especially important when you are looking to have your furnace last long and serve you to the best of its capacity. An even the best furnace is capable of being worthless if it’s not put in the right manner. Here are some things to keep in mind during the installation process:
Ductwork:
If the ductwork in your home is worn out or compromised then you may need to upgrade or repair the duct work when installing a new furnace.
Heating losses:
Your heating system may be less efficient if your ducts are leaking, allowing the warm air to escape, so should hire someone to see if your ducts need to be sealed or not.
Floor Furnaces:
that use fuel like gas or oil need to be vented so as to expel combustion products from within your house. Many high-efficiency furnaces use a direct venting system in which outside air is used for combustion and exhaust fumes are released through another pipe.
Permits and Inspections:
Before you install a new furnace, it is recommended that you acquire a permit especially if you reside in certain regions. Another unique feature of building construction is that local building inspectors may require reviewing the implemented job for safety compliance after the installation.
Maintenance And More So The Lifespan Of A Furnace:
An ideal furnace equipped with the right quality and type will last for 15-20 years or even more while the furnace is in good condition. It is therefore important if the furnace is to serve its expected span without necessarily having to be repaired, that it is maintained regularly.
Furnace Maintenance:
Have your furnace checked at least once a year by an HVAC technician. During this kind of inspection, the technician will look for signs of wear, and then repair, clean and adjust the furnace appropriately.
Clean Air Filters:
Frequent cleaning and replacement of the air filters that are found in your furnace should be done every 1-3 months. The furnace’s efficiency may be reduced by limited airflow if filters are kept dirty because the furnace has to work extra hard in order to compensate for the blockage.
Cleaning the Furnace and Ducts:
There is always dust and debris buildup in furnaces and ducts leading to poor efficiency and quality of the air that is circulated. It is also important to clean your furnace and ducts to ensure the proper functioning of the particular system.
Furnace Warranties:
One must also pay attention to the warranty offered by the manufacturer when having to purchase a furnace. Most furnaces come with two types of warranties:
- A parts warranty means if there is something that failed in the furnace it will cover for the parts. Most part warranties come with 5-10 year warranty coverage, but customers could opt for an extended warranty at an extra fee.
- Repair warranty A repair warranty refers to compensation of cost of the labor used in making the repair. While some manufacturers offer it as a standard feature of the furnace, others make the labor warranty a part of an option package.
- When choosing the best furnace, it will be wise to ensure that you compare the warranties properly to see what aspect is being covered and for how long.
Conclusion:
Purchasing a furnace is a large investment to make in regards to increasing the comfort and efficiency of your home. Using the details outlined above on different types of furnaces, efficiency rates and other factors you may choose the proper furnace for your home. In addition, the services of a professional installer as well as the service that should periodically carry out maintenance work will help a furnace to function effectively for several years. After reading this guide, you will be able to make the right purchase decision of the car that you would wish to own.
