When it’s time to look for a new furnace, there are many things you should consider before making a conclusion on a particular replacement furnace. With your house and your family’s needs in mind, Wallpe Heating & Cooling can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first factors 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 residences are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s vital to know which type of fuel is required for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to decide which type of furnace you’d prefer to successfully meet your needs. Furnaces are available in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat consistently at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency among these options. A two-stage furnace is a good fit for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace runs at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating boost on the coldest Greensburg 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 specific number of stages to go through to provide heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually run at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to incorporate a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another consideration. You could save money by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you regularly use, rather than trying to keep the whole house at the same temperature. If you want more details about zoning solutions for your home, Wallpe Heating & Cooling can help.
Size
Another critical part of choosing the best furnace for your home is ensuring it’s the correct size for your home. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy constantly cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to warm your home on the coldest Greensburg days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to consider 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 escapes 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, there’s a lot to consider when shopping for a replacement furnace. But, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself. Wallpe Heating & Cooling is here to answer all of your questions and help you choose a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Just give us a call at 812-663-7252 or arrange an appointment with us online.