When it’s time to look for a new furnace, there are several things you should think about before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, Phelps Heating & Cooling can help you select the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfy.
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 run on natural gas, but some houses are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s important to know which type of fuel is needed for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to consider which type of furnace you’d prefer to successfully meet your needs. Furnaces come 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 amid these options. A two-stage furnace works well for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace works at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating blast on the chilly Hodgenville days. However, if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
Unlike single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a specific number of stages to go through to create heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually work at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another thing to think about. You could save costs by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you normally use, rather than trying to keep the entire home at the same temperature. If you want more details about zoning solutions for your home, Phelps Heating & Cooling can help.
Size
Another critical part of choosing the best furnace for your home is confirming it’s the proper size for your space. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy incessantly cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to keep up on the coldest Hodgenville days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to consider your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is determined 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. 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, there’s a lot to consider when searching for a replacement furnace. But, we can help. Phelps Heating & Cooling is here to answer all of your questions and help you select a furnace that matches your home and heating needs. Contact our experts at 270-358-3167 or book an appointment with us online.