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 home and your family’s needs in mind, Air Temperature Control can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first things you need to think about is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America run on natural gas, but some houses 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 consider which type of furnace you’d prefer to appropriately 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 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 frigid Macon days. But if you want to go for the best choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be an ideal solution.
In contrast to single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a set 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 feature to discuss. You could save costs by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you typically use, rather than trying to keep the whole house at the same temperature. If you want more to know more about zoning possibilities for your home, Air Temperature Control can help.
Size
Another critical part of selecting the best furnace for your home is confirming 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 incessantly cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to provide adequate heat on the coldest Macon days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to review your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating identifies 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. For a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll want to look for 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, we can help. Air Temperature Control is here to answer all of your questions and help you find a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Just give us a call at 478-202-3170 or arrange an appointment with us online.