Furnaces are an essential part of your home because they provide heat for your home during the chilly winter months. When the time comes to buy a new furnace, it is best to know what things you need to consider. There are many factors that weigh into this decision, depending on your needs, you may prefer one type of furnace over another. Some of these weighing factors include efficiency, size, power source, and brand type. We will discuss these different factors below.
Home heating systems come in two common types, packaged systems or split systems. Split systems are known for having two separate units for heating and air conditioning. As the times change more and more people are moving towards the packaged system. It is a little more space conscious and allows the homeowner to only have to manage one system for both air conditioning and heating.
There are a few options available when it comes to the fuel source for your new furnace. The most common types are gas, electric and oil. Of these three, gas and electric are by far the most commonly found. Oil powered heaters are very outdated and are mostly found in older homes around the country. Gas powered furnaces are great for areas that tend to have freezing temperatures because they are typically a little cheaper than electric to operate for long hours.
The key to perfect temperatures throughout your home is thermostat placement. If your home seems to fluctuate in temperature depending on what room you are in, you might want to look into zoning systems. These zoning systems work by using multiple thermostats throughout your home, determining the which parts of your home truly needs heating help. This will reduce unnecessary use of heat in certain parts of your home, in effect reducing your average energy consumption.
There are many different types of furnaces and all are different when it comes to energy consumption. Depending on the size of your home, you may not need a huge power hungry furnace. This will really be the biggest factor in determining how large of a furnace you will need. Square footage is the biggest factor because you need your furnace to provide heat for the entire home without the need to run for hours on end.
These days most furnace systems come with a good warranty depending on the brand you decide to go with. Frigidaire currently has a 10-year warranty on their products because of their commitment to quality products. Your local appliance store will have all the information regarding warranties.
These are just a few of the top factors involved in choosing your new furnace for your home. Just remember that there are a few more things to think about other than upfront costs when choosing a new heating system. The cost to operate a system can become a huge burden, make sure to weigh all of the top factors before jumping into a decision.
