When it’s time to get a new furnace, there are many things you should assess before making a decision on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning can help you choose the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first factors 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 vital to know which type of fuel is needed for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to determine which type of furnace you’d prefer to effectively meet your needs. Furnaces are offered 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 among these options. A two-stage furnace works well for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace operates at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating boost on the chilly York days. Though if you want to go for the greatest 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 specific number of stages to go through to provide heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually work at different capacities to meet your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another consideration. You could save costs by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you regularly use, rather than trying to keep the entire home at the same temperature. If you want more information about zoning options for your home, Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning can help.
Size
Another important part of picking 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 continuously cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to warm your home on the coldest York days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is measured 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. For a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll want to look for an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, many factors come into play when looking for a replacement furnace. But, you’re not in this alone. Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning is here to answer all of your questions and help you choose a furnace that suits your home and heating needs. Contact our experts at 717-383-4479 or book an appointment with us online.