Are you finding that your furnace is no longer providing sufficient heat? It may be time to consider going furnace shopping and replacing your furnace with a new energy efficient model. The newer models are able to provide heat more steadily, they create less pollution and on top of that they use less energy.

One of the common mistakes that homeowners make is to install a furnace that is incorrectly sized. Undersized furnaces will not keep your home comfortable and oversized furnaces are costly to install, use more energy and cycle on and off more frequently. Ask your HVAC contractor to calculate your heating requirements by taking the size, construction and design of your home into account.

The efficiency of a furnace is reflected in its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. Higher ratings are an indication of improved efficiency and lower energy consumption. Furnaces with a higher AFUE rating are generally more expensive, but the cost can be recouped through the savings on your energy bills.

What to Look for in a Furnace

• Variable-speed blowers – furnaces with this feature are able to deliver air slower when less heat is required, resulting in less noise and improved temperature consistency.
• Variable-heat output – this feature is available on some of the furnaces with a variable-speed blower. The furnace automatically varies the amount of heat that the furnace delivers results in improved comfort and efficiency.
• Air filtration – furnaces that are fitted with a high efficiency particle arresting (HEPA) filter reduce the amount of dust in the system and can alleviate respiratory ailments.
• Dual heat exchanger – furnaces with a high efficiency rating generally use an extra heat exchanger to supplement the primary exchanger.

When installing a new furnace homeowner can improve comfort levels and save money on energy bills. Ask your HVAC contractor about the various options, costs and potential savings on energy consumption and maintenance.

For more expert advice and assistance with furnace shopping or other home comfort issues, please contact us at Powers Heating & Air. We have been proudly serving Fayette and Coweta counties 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).

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “www.3drenderedlogos-com/Shutterstock”