When it’s time to replace your furnace, there are many things you should consider before making a decision on a particular replacement furnace. With your house and your family’s needs in mind, Siloam Springs Heating & AC can help you choose the furnace that will keep your home warm and cozy.
Fuel Source
One of the first factors you need to consider is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America run on 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 necessary 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 are offered 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 among 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 chilly Siloam Springs days. However, if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
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 work at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to incorporate a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another thing to think about. You could save money 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 information about zoning options for your home, Siloam Springs Heating & AC can help.
Size
Another critical part of picking the best furnace for your home is confirming it’s the correct size for your space. 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 Siloam Springs days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating represents 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 looking for a replacement furnace. But, we can help. Siloam Springs Heating & AC is here to answer all of your questions and help you choose a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Chat with our technicians at 479-308-8176 or book an appointment with us online.