Ready or not, winter will soon be heading into the St. Albert area. If your furnace barely made it through last year, or if you have been told it is time to replace it, now is the time to get it done. A furnace replacement is typically one of the most significant investments you may make in your home. When properly maintained, it could last you for up to 20 years. So, you want to make sure to ask these five questions first before replacing it. Call us for a consultation!
Some HVAC contractors will just replace your existing furnace with a new one that is the same size and capacity. Even worse, they may just make an estimate of what size your home needs. The problem with this is that the furnace replacement could be too big or too small to efficiently heat your home. This means you could be wasting energy running a larger than needed unit or dealing with a unit that doesn’t keep your home warm enough. The furnace may also be more prone to breakdowns.
Your best bet is to have an HVAC contractor like A-1 Heating & Cooling who knows how to properly size a furnace. Our installation team performs a Manual J load calculation to determine the right size unit for your home according to its size, insulation, number of windows, and other pertinent factors.
AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This rating calculates how much fuel is actually converted into usable heat each year. All new furnaces have a label that shows their AFUE ratings, which makes it easier to compare units and their estimated costs to operate.
Furnaces with higher AFUE ratings are typically more expensive. But the benefit is that your heating costs will be lower, so you get a better return on your investment. A rule of thumb is to buy the most energy-efficient furnace replacement that your budget will allow.
Today’s furnaces feature new technologies that you might not have in your existing furnace. For example:
A variable-speed furnace will adjust its blower speed according to changes in temperature conditions. The blower runs faster when it is colder outside and adjusts to a slower speed when the weather is not as cold. This saves energy, keeps your home at a more consistent temperature, and cuts down on furnace noise.
Depending on the utilities available to your home, there are several types of furnace replacements to choose from:
When getting a furnace replacement, you may want to consider some of the accessories that are available to make your home more comfortable. If the air in your home is too dry during the winter, you may want to consider adding a humidifier to your HVAC system. If indoor air quality is a concern for your family, you might want to consider adding a UV light system, air cleaner, or air purifier to your system to remove contaminants from the air.
Ask your HVAC installer for a breakdown of what it will cost for your furnace replacement. The cost of a furnace installation depends on several factors:
We know that deciding to replace your furnace is a major decision, and you will have questions. A-1 Heating & Cooling has the answer you need to make the right decisions for your St. Albert home’s furnace replacement. Call us today!
