When it’s time to get a new furnace, there are many things you should consider before making a conclusion on a particular replacement furnace. With your house and your family’s needs in mind, Luikart Heating & Cooling can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and cozy.
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 appropriately meet your needs. Furnaces are available in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat constantly at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency among 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 Newark days. However, if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be an ideal solution.
Different from single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a certain number of stages to go through to deliver heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually operate at different capacities to answer your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to incorporate 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 every room at the same temperature. If you want more details about zoning options for your home, Luikart Heating & Cooling can help.
Size
Another critical part of selecting the best furnace for your home is making sure 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 warm your home on the coldest Newark 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 identifies 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. 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’re not in this alone. Luikart Heating & Cooling is here to answer all of your questions and help you find a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Just give us a call at 740-200-5591 or arrange an appointment with us online.