Whether your furnace is nearing the end of its service life or it has already failed, you’ll definitely want to get the best furnace available to you. After all, choosing the right furnace can easily help you and your family stay comfortable for the next 20 years. Furthermore, today’s furnaces are now optimised for energy efficiency, which can help you save on your energy bills.
Of course, this is all assuming that you purchase the correct furnace for your home. To do that, you may want to avoid committing any of the following mistakes as you shop around:
Ignoring SEER
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. In other words, this figure rates how energy efficient a particular furnace is. Respected HVAC companies in Toronto, such as Laird and Son, recommend going with a furnace that boasts the highest SEER score, but is also within your budget. As a point of reference, the lowest SEER score you should go for is 13. Naturally, the higher the SEER, the more you save in the long run.
Failing to Check the Fuel Source
Take the time to check the type of fuel your new furnace runs on. Electrical furnaces should pose no problem, but if your new furnace is built to run on propane or kerosene, you may want to pause for a moment. Try to map out where you can get your hands on the type of fuel your new furnace will need, and how easy it is to drive there for when you run out of fuel.
Forgetting to Have Manual J-load Calculated
How large of a furnace you need to purchase will largely depend on the size of your home and how well insulated it is. After all, a furnace that is too small for your home will only be overworked, which may lead to early failure. The best way to determine the size you need is to have an HVAC professional come to your home and perform and manual J-load calculation.
Once you’ve found the best furnace for your home, be sure to choose professional furnace installation. Incorrect installation can lead to inadequate cooling or even complete furnace failure—and that’s the last thing you want to happen after investing in an energy-efficient furnace.
Source:
10 Things to Consider When Buying a Furnace, angieslist.com