When it’s time to get a new furnace, there are several things you should assess before making a decision on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, JTech Mechanical can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and cozy.
Fuel Source
One of the first aspects you need to think about is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America utilize natural gas, but some homes are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s vital to know which type of fuel is required for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to decide which type of furnace you’d prefer to appropriately meet your needs. Furnaces come in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat continually at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency amid these options. A two-stage furnace is a good fit 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 frigid Magnolia days. However, if you want to go for the ultimate 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 certain number of stages to go through to create heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually operate at different capacities to answer 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 possibilities for your home, JTech Mechanical can help.
Size
Another key part of picking 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 continuously cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to provide adequate heat on the coldest Magnolia days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to consider your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated 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, there’s a lot to consider when looking for a replacement furnace. But, we can help. JTech Mechanical is here to answer all of your questions and help you find a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Contact our experts at 281-231-8768 or arrange an appointment with us online.