How to Choose High Efficiency Furnace Replacement and Service in Your Local Area of Montgomery County PA
Furnace Replacement and Service in Montgomery County PA
A new furnace is a big expense. But if you can look beyond the sticker price, you’ll find that high efficiency furnaces offer a great return on your investment over their lifetime. They also save you money on your gas bills and help reduce your carbon footprint.
Furnaces are rated by how much heat they can pump out in an hour. This metric is called BTUs. When selecting a new furnace, you want to make sure that it can match or exceed the BTUs of your existing unit. However, there are many other factors that go into choosing a new furnace that will not only match but exceed the performance of your old one.
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The first factor to consider is the sizing of your home. A furnace that is sized too small will run all the time, driving up your energy costs and shortening the life of the unit. Furnaces that are sized too large will short cycle, meaning they start and stop frequently. This wastes gas and also creates a lot of noise.
Another factor is the location of the furnace in your home. A vented furnace in a basement is a good choice because combustion byproducts (like carbon monoxide) can be vent out the home rather than into the living space. A non-vented furnace in a crawl space or attic, on the other hand, presents a significant safety risk from open combustion and needs to be installed with a special system that allows for both intake and exhaust.
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In the case of a vented space, it may not be worth it to replace your 80% furnace with a 95% unit. Instead, it would be more cost effective to invest in a two-stage unit with variable air flow for greater efficiency gains and better comfort.
You will also need to take into consideration your heating needs and the energy prices in your area. A good rule of thumb is to choose a high-efficiency furnace if you plan on staying in your home for ten years or more. Over this period, the increased efficiency and lower heating costs will easily pay for the difference in purchase cost. In addition, you may be able to get rebates from your local and state governments or your utility company that will lower the purchase and installation costs of a high efficiency furnace. A well-maintained high efficiency furnace will last 25 or more years. Regular furnace maintenance service in Montgomery County PA and changing the filter as recommended will keep your furnace running at peak efficiency.
Install a New High-Efficiency Furnace in Your Home and Enjoy This Winter!
Furnace Installation Service in Montgomery County PA
Furnaces use gas or electricity to heat air, then carry that heated air through ducts throughout the home. This process takes a great deal of energy to complete, and high efficiency units use far less than lower rated models.
Currently, all furnaces sold in the United States must score a minimum of 80% on an annual fuel utilization efficiency rating or AFUE. However, higher rated furnaces are available, and these high efficiency furnaces are far more efficient than the 80% models. The best furnaces achieve ratings of 95% or more for even better cost effectiveness.
Furnace Repair Service in Montgomery County PA
The fact is, a high-efficiency furnace uses significantly less energy to heat your home than its lower-rated counterparts. It also produces significantly fewer emissions, and this has a positive impact on the environment. This is an especially important benefit to consider if your household is concerned with climate change or you want to reduce your carbon footprint.
High-efficiency furnaces are more expensive than their lower-rated counterparts, but they typically pay for themselves in reduced energy costs over time. This is particularly true if your family uses the furnace extensively during the winter.
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Another factor that contributes to the higher upfront cost of a high-efficiency furnace is the fact that these units tend to require more extensive ductwork and venting to function correctly. This may add to the installation cost, as will any needed inspections or permits that your home’s location and zoning laws may require.
If you are considering a high-efficiency furnace for your home, it is a good idea to have a professional furnace installer in Montgomery County PA to assess the size of your home and determine what kind of unit would be most appropriate. A furnace that is sized too small will run constantly and cause your utility bills to skyrocket, while one that is too large will short cycle frequently, using more fuel in the process.
A programmable thermostat is the key to maximizing the effectiveness of your new furnace. It will help you keep your home warm when it’s occupied, while remaining cool enough to save money and energy when no one is in the house. You should also change the filter in your programmable thermostat on a regular basis to prevent it from becoming clogged, which can lead to decreased efficiency. These steps, along with proper maintenance and annual tune-ups, can greatly improve your new high-efficiency furnace’s efficiency.