If your outdated heating system barely made it through last winter, it may be time to think about buying a furnace replacement. A new furnace will provide more consistent heating with lower monthly energy bills, but how do you choose the best furnace for your home?
This guide to buying a furnace should help simplify the process.
- Get estimates: The first step to buying a furnace is to understand how much the investment is going to cost. Look for discounts and other specials that help make your investment more affordable.
- Choose fuel type: While fuel costs fluctuate, don’t leave this out of your calculations. After all, natural gas may be the prime choice because prices are generally lower than that of electricity. A knowledgeable contractor can help you make the right decision.
- Consider efficiency: When buying a furnace, you’ll run across an efficiency rating called AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The higher this number is, the higher the percentage of fuel the system converts into heat for your home. The government-mandated minimum is 78 AFUE, but high-efficiency furnaces today reach 98 AFUE, meaning for every dollar you spend on heating, 98 cents goes directly toward heating your home.
- Size the furnace: An oversized system will perform less efficiently while an undersized system won’t keep up with demand on the coldest nights. The key is to work with a contractor who can calculate your home’s heating load and size the new furnace accordingly.
- Seek out a quality installation: Around the country, far too many new furnaces are installed improperly, lowering their efficiency and shortening equipment life span. Seek a contractor who can install the system correctly. Once installed, make sure you schedule annual preventative maintenance to keep it in top working order.
With these aspects of buying a furnace in mind, you’re ready to shop for new heating equipment. Get more advice on heating and cooling topics by contacting Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today. We serve customers in the Route 495/128 area of Norfolk MA.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Image via Shutterstock.com
Nice people.
Great service.
Since 1928Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
Read From Over 10000 Happy Customers
-
Both Alex and Patrick were knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. They made a change that might have solved the recent problem and have structured a more complete solution. We agreed to this...
-
Mike was thorough, thoughtful and considerate. Covered their shoes before entering, surveyed my issue and provided an explanation of the services and costs. Great Job!
-
Alex did a great job providing an explanation of the services provided and went out of his way to offer assistance/advice on other issues outside of our scheduled maintenance visit.
-
Brian did an excellent job inspecting our 18-year old boiler and replacing some of the accessory hardware that needed it, he also adjusted the outgoing hot water settings for our radiators and...
-
Rodenhiser is my one stop shop!!! They take care of my HVAC, electrical, and plumbing issues & are always helpful addressing any questions I may have about the systems in my house! Everyone...
-
Chris G. and Nick V. showed up bright and early at 8am to fix my water heater issue. They were on time, polite and were able to fix an issue that has been plaguing my house for a good year. They...
Call Rodenhiser at 508-321-3089
When you are looking for plumbing, electrical, heating or air conditioning in the Route 495 / 128 area, you will be delighted that you called Norfolk MA' trusted choice since 1928.
With a total dedication to professional workmanship and excellent service, discover why families and businesses continue to trust Rodenhiser after generations of service
