When it’s time to look for a new furnace, there are many things you should assess before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your space and your family’s needs in mind, H&C Heating and Cooling can help you select the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first things you need to decide is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America use natural gas, but some homes are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s important 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 successfully meet your needs. Furnaces are offered 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 amid 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 blast on the chilly Laurel days. But if you want to go for the ultimate choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
Unlike single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a set number of stages to go through to create heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually work at different capacities to answer your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to factor in a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another consideration. You could save costs by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you normally use, rather than trying to keep the entire home at the same temperature. If you want more information about zoning solutions for your home, H&C Heating and Cooling can help.
Size
Another important part of selecting the best furnace for your home is making sure it’s the right 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 warm your home on the coldest Laurel 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 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 is lost 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 looking for a replacement furnace. But, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself. H&C Heating and Cooling is here to answer all of your questions and help you find a furnace that suits your home and heating needs. Contact our experts at 301-960-3247 or schedule an appointment with us online.