Essential Guide To Selecting A New Furnace

The first choice to consider when selecting a new furnace is the type of furnace you actually want, whether it's gas or electric. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, especially in loom of the carbon credits exchange and the governor’s passing bills to reduce all fossil fuels in the near future.

 

 

The downside is your whole house is dependent on one source of power, electricity.

 

Electricity has to be able to cool and heat your household. Normally, you would have a heavier load by running your outdoor condenser in the summer, but an electric heater requires that you actually run the outdoor condenser to heat your home as well.

 

An all electric heat pump simply reverses the flow of refrigerant to heat a space. This puts more demand for the use of electric power and life of your condenser. But in light of electric furnaces potentially being required in the future, it’s a tough call to make.

 

Efficiency Ratings

 

SEER Rating or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio are how units have commonly been rated.

 

SEER2 is the new measure of Efficiency. SEER2, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2, includes the total heat removed from the conditioned space during an annual cooling season, and the new testing procedure increases the systems’ external static pressure by a factor of five to better simulate real-world or actual conditions of installed equipment.

 

Although this has more to do with the cooling side, its still important to know when picking a complete system. Most Furnace are going to range from 80%- 98% efficiency. Of course, the higher the rating, the better the unit will be for efficiency and will typically require a higher price tag and lower the overall operating cost.

 

Size of the Unit

 

Determining what size unit of furnace one should get is often based on how hard the unit has to work to actually provide heat throughout the conditioned space.

 

Picking the wrong size unit can be detrimental to the performance of the equipment and ultimately your overpayment in electric consumption. This can lead to making it overwork and becoming a more costly item to repair in the long run.

 

Aesthetics can also play a part due to units becoming whisper quiet and very compact due to advancements in compressor technology. Your opinion on these units matters and if you'd like to know more please feel free to reach one of our technicians to properly design your system or check out our cost estimator button on this page.

 

Cost Considerations

 

At the end of the day, what type of unit most homeowners purchase is going to reflect on the amount of money they feel comfortable spending or can afford to spend based on their plans with the home.

 

It's important to evaluate the up front costs of the installation, operating cost of the system, and potential available rebates. One can also consider the type of attic upgrades like radiant barrier, insulation, new ductwork/air distribution design available to make the overall home more efficient and comfortable and reduce operating expenses.

 

We highly suggest speaking to one of our expert technicians who can help guide you along this process because most homeowners are not aware of both the advantages and disadvantages or capabilities of each unit has when deciding between an electric furnace and a gas furnace. Each would perform differently based on your usage style, the overall heat load on the home which equivalates to the efficiency of the home or lack thereof.

 

Steps for Selecting the Right Furnace

 

Our HVAC technicians have decades of experience in HVAC system design and can be an invaluable resource when setting up your  new furnace system for a long lifespan and years of worry free, cost effective operation.

They are able to see first-hand many units are effected by improper design and a plethora of common problems most consumers would never be aware of. Thus helping homeowners avoid the pitfalls that are not traditionally advertised among the various brands in our area or companies in our area.

 

Additional Considerations

 

Please make sure to let your Tech know if you are interested in features like variable speed motors, zone control, air filters, and advanced air purification to make your space perform exactly the way you want it.

 

These “upgrades” are optional, but can dramatically improve air quality by reducing dust, mold and pollen. These features excel to help give your home an extra sense of comfort, especially after a hard day at work.

 

Maintaining Your New Furnace

 

Once you’ve selected and installed the perfect furnace for your home or condo, it’s important to make sure you maintain it properly.

 

Many homeowners overlook this or are not aware how important regular maintenance is to keeping your new furnace running efficiently and effectively. 

 

We remember to get an oil change on the car, but we often ignore the suggestion of having someone regularly inspect your furnace. Given the expected cost savings and safety benefits, have your furnace annual inspections before the change of seasons. This can be as low as $99 per year as a member of our annual membership.

 

Request the following to be done by a professional:

 

• Inspect and service your furnace at least once a year

• Change the air filter regularly to help keep block dirt, dander, and debris

• Check the electrical components and motors to ensure proper operation

• Ensure proper gas pressure and operation

• Ensure proper static pressure and airflow across your heat exchanger

• Physically pull out and clean blower motor and blades to ensure maximum airflow

 

 

Take the time and educate yourself and your family about the various options available to solve your heating needs for the winter. If you would like to save some time and avoid what could feel like a black hole internet research, make sure to speak to one of our expert technicians about the pros and cons of each unit you considering for your home HVAC project.

 

We’re happy to help and understand that for many this is a large purchase and one you should not leave to a sales person. Talk to our techs who take pride in their work and understand the units inside and out.

 

Simply, give us a call or text at 562-568-8400. Our team of experienced HVAC technicians can help you find the right new furnace for your home today.

info@hexhvac.com