If furnace replacement is in your future, you need to know the three primary factors that will influence your purchase decision, in order to get a full return on your investment.

Efficiency

How well your new system consumes energy (its efficiency) will impact your energy bills over the life of the system. And with furnaces generally lasting about 15 years, you don’t want to skimp on efficiency. You’ll need to look for the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating, which reveals a particular system’s ability to convert fuel into heated air. A high-efficiency furnace, beginning at 90 percent AFUE, will have minimal energy losses, of just 10 percent, and will lock in energy savings over its lifetime.

Sizing

No matter how efficient your furnace replacement is, if it’s not sized correctly, it won’t operate to its fullest potential. When you have your system installed, be sure to ask for a Manual J sizing calculation; it’s the standard method used industry-wide. It will take into account your home’s square footage, but also its heat gain, insulation amounts, and air leakage, among others. With an appropriately sized system matched to your home’s needs, it’ll be able to reach peak efficiency.

Features

There are several available features you can select from that will enhance not only efficiency, but comfort, too.

• A variable-speed furnace blower will create a more comfortable home because it can run at a lower speed, delivering an even heat, and consume less energy while doing so.
• A multistage gas furnace has a modulating valve that can adjust how much fuel is released, and respond to the weather’s demands accordingly.
• Two heat exchangers are generally used in higher-efficiency systems, as the second heat exchanger is used to capture more heat from the fuel-generating process.
• Ignition alternatives are now available, as the inefficient, long-burning pilot light is no longer used. Efficient options include intermittent ignition, direct spark, or a hot-surface igniter.

If you’re interested in discussing efficiency, sizing or features for your furnace replacement, contact us at Powers Heating & Air. We proudly serve the greater Peachtree City area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace replacement and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Powers Heating & Air serves Peachtree, GA and the surrounding areas.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!