When it’s time to replace your furnace, there are several things you should assess before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. can help you select the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfy.
Fuel Source
One of the first aspects 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 houses are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s vital to know which type of fuel is necessary for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to consider which type of furnace you’d prefer to appropriately meet your needs. Furnaces are offered in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat continually at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency within these options. A two-stage furnace works well for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace operates at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating increase on the coldest Northglenn days. Though if you want to go for the ultimate choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
In contrast to 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 include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another feature to discuss. 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 details about zoning possibilities for your home, Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. can help.
Size
Another key part of selecting the best furnace for your home is confirming it’s the correct 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 provide adequate heat on the coldest Northglenn days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is determined by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating represents 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 escapes 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, it helps to do some research when looking for a replacement furnace. But, you’re not in this alone. Northglenn Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is here to answer all of your questions and help you choose a furnace that matches your home and heating needs. Contact our experts at 303-452-4146 or book an appointment with us online.