When it’s time to get a new furnace, there are several things you should consider before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your space and your family’s needs in mind, Scott Temperature can help you select 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 utilize natural gas, but some residences are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s critical to know which type of fuel is necessary for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to determine which type of furnace you’d prefer to appropriately meet your needs. Furnaces come 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 works great 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 boost on the frigid Lawrence days. Though if you want to go for the ultimate choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be a good option.
Different from single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a certain number of stages to go through to create 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 thing to think about. 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 information about zoning possibilities for your home, Scott Temperature can help.
Size
Another important part of choosing the best furnace for your home is confirming it’s the proper size for your home. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy continuously cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to keep up on the coldest Lawrence days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to review your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating signifies 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 gets out through places like the furnace venting. In order to have a high-efficiency furnace, make sure to find a system with an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, many factors come into play when searching for a replacement furnace. But, you’re not in this alone. Scott Temperature 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 785-269-0465 or schedule an appointment with us online.