Has your furnace broken down? Are you tired of paying to repair your aging furnace? Stop throwing good money at bad and start shopping for a furnace replacement instead. Before you have a new model installed, arm yourself with these questions to ask your HVAC installer.

• Should I make any changes around my home? Prior to a furnace replacement, it’s wise to make energy efficiency upgrades that may help you qualify for smaller, less expensive equipment. Seek a home energy audit from your HVAC installer to learn specific ways to tighten your home before investing in a new furnace.
• What size furnace do I need? Basically, asking this question is a sneaky way to find out if the HVAC installer will take the time to perform load calculations. If so, the installer will point out the need to determine various factors, such as air infiltration, insulation levels, home orientation and window layout. If the installer says they will use square footage alone, or simply recommend a furnace replacement based on the size of your old system, look for a different installer to work with.
• What efficiency should I choose? An installer simply trying to make the most money will insist you buy the most efficient option available, which is about 98 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). A reputable contractor will explain that, because you live in a warm climate and rely more on cooling, your investment dollars could be better spent on a high-efficiency air conditioner. Ask the contractor to sit down with you and calculate the return on investment if you opt for a 95 AFUE or higher furnace compared to an 80 AFUE model.
• What maintenance should I plan to perform? Once the installation is complete, ask the installer to stick around and show you how to replace the filter and operate the thermostat with energy efficiency in mind. Then, plan to schedule preventative maintenance every fall to keep your investment in top working order.

For help finding the perfect furnace replacement for your home, please contact Powers Heating and Air, serving Peachtree City residents since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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