When it’s time to replace your furnace, there are several things you should assess before making a conclusion on a particular replacement furnace. With your space and your family’s needs in mind, James Heating & A/C, Inc can help you choose the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
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 important 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 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 within these options. A two-stage furnace is a good fit 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 coldest Lexington days. But if you want to go for the best choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be an ideal solution.
In contrast to single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a certain number of stages to go through to create heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually operate at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another feature to discuss. You could save costs 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 to know more about zoning options for your home, James Heating & A/C, Inc can help.
Size
Another critical part of selecting the best furnace for your home is ensuring it’s the right size for your house. 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 Lexington days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to review your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is determined 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 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, many factors come into play when shopping for a replacement furnace. But, we can help. James Heating & A/C, Inc is here to answer all of your questions and help you select a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Contact our experts at 336-853-6070 or schedule an appointment with us online.