When it’s time to get a new furnace, there are several things you should think about before making a decision on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, TopTec Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical 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 homes are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s critical to know which type of fuel is required for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to determine which type of furnace you’d prefer to effectively meet your needs. Furnaces are available 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 works well 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 boost on the chilly Libertyville days. However, if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
Different from single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a certain number of stages to go through to provide heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually run at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to factor in a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another consideration. You could save money by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you normally use, rather than trying to keep the whole house at the same temperature. If you want more details about zoning possibilities for your home, TopTec Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical can help.
Size
Another critical part of selecting the best furnace for your home is confirming it’s the proper size for your home. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy constantly cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to provide adequate heat on the coldest Libertyville days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to review your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is measured 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 gets out 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 searching for a replacement furnace. But, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself. TopTec Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical is here to answer all of your questions and help you find a furnace that matches your home and heating needs. Just give us a call at 847-362-0262 or arrange an appointment with us online.