Choosing a new gas furnace for your home can be a difficult decision. Along with your qualified HVAC specialist's advice, following are some areas that should be considered.
Does size matter?
Purchasing and installing a new gas furnace should be completed with the help of a qualified HVAC specialist who can analyze the particular home's energy usage and energy efficiency. Your HVAC specialist can also advise on heating in your area, including winter temperatures and seasonal highs and lows. These considerations help homeowners to effectively choose the size of the furnace needed for their home. While a large gas furnace will overpower a house, running inefficiently and using up valuable energy dollars, a too-small unit will continuously run, partially heating the home and also increasing energy costs.
What features should I look for in a gas furnace?
There are two types of gas furnaces available for purchase. Condensing gas furnaces are the most efficient gas furnaces, and have separate heat exchangers that absorb the exhaust gases that are side effects of heating with gas. Non-condensing gas furnaces tend to be less expensive options, but are not as efficient. Other features that may be important include remote thermostats or differentiated speeds that can be used to make sure optimum use of energy dollars.
Efficiency of Heating
Efficiency in heating a home is the most important feature of any gas furnace, as inefficient heaters eat up energy dollars and do not provide consistent comfort. One important guideline for determining the effectiveness of a particular gas furnace is the appliance's AFUE percentage. This score, or the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency percentage, tells a homeowner just how efficient a particular appliance is. A general rule of thumb is that the lower the AFUE, the lower the price and efficiency. High priced, efficient heaters are at or above 90% AFUE. Mid-range cost gas furnace products fall into the 60-90% AFUE. Gas furnace options that are lower than 60% AFUE should generally be used with caution, and in climates that do not require heating often or continuously.
How do I know if my gas furnace purchase is worth it?
To decide if the purchase of a particular gas furnace is worth the money needed for installation, energy bills and maintenance, divide the cost of the appliance with the drop in fuel costs needed each year from having a newer, more efficient model. Keep in mind your specific needs, weather conditions and heed advice of a qualified, experienced HVAC inspector/installer. AFUE scores can give an idea of the efficiency of the gas furnace.
What are the most popular gas furnace brands available for purchase?
The most popular gas furnace manufacturers include Rinnai, Fedders and Rheem. The manufacturer Carrier also produces excellent products, although often on a larger scale than is needed for a home. Homeowners can consult websites such as Home Depot, Lowes or Amazon for user reviews and AFUE scores.
Does size matter?
Purchasing and installing a new gas furnace should be completed with the help of a qualified HVAC specialist who can analyze the particular home's energy usage and energy efficiency. Your HVAC specialist can also advise on heating in your area, including winter temperatures and seasonal highs and lows. These considerations help homeowners to effectively choose the size of the furnace needed for their home. While a large gas furnace will overpower a house, running inefficiently and using up valuable energy dollars, a too-small unit will continuously run, partially heating the home and also increasing energy costs.
What features should I look for in a gas furnace?
There are two types of gas furnaces available for purchase. Condensing gas furnaces are the most efficient gas furnaces, and have separate heat exchangers that absorb the exhaust gases that are side effects of heating with gas. Non-condensing gas furnaces tend to be less expensive options, but are not as efficient. Other features that may be important include remote thermostats or differentiated speeds that can be used to make sure optimum use of energy dollars.
Efficiency of Heating
Efficiency in heating a home is the most important feature of any gas furnace, as inefficient heaters eat up energy dollars and do not provide consistent comfort. One important guideline for determining the effectiveness of a particular gas furnace is the appliance's AFUE percentage. This score, or the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency percentage, tells a homeowner just how efficient a particular appliance is. A general rule of thumb is that the lower the AFUE, the lower the price and efficiency. High priced, efficient heaters are at or above 90% AFUE. Mid-range cost gas furnace products fall into the 60-90% AFUE. Gas furnace options that are lower than 60% AFUE should generally be used with caution, and in climates that do not require heating often or continuously.
How do I know if my gas furnace purchase is worth it?
To decide if the purchase of a particular gas furnace is worth the money needed for installation, energy bills and maintenance, divide the cost of the appliance with the drop in fuel costs needed each year from having a newer, more efficient model. Keep in mind your specific needs, weather conditions and heed advice of a qualified, experienced HVAC inspector/installer. AFUE scores can give an idea of the efficiency of the gas furnace.
What are the most popular gas furnace brands available for purchase?
The most popular gas furnace manufacturers include Rinnai, Fedders and Rheem. The manufacturer Carrier also produces excellent products, although often on a larger scale than is needed for a home. Homeowners can consult websites such as Home Depot, Lowes or Amazon for user reviews and AFUE scores.
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