The decisions you make before a furnace installation will affect home comfort and your energy costs for years ahead. Buying a new furnace isn’t something homeowners do often, since these appliances last for years. As you start the selection process, pay attention to these critical elements involved.
- Contractor qualifications. Be certain that the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. A contractor with NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certification has earned the top distinction in the HVAC industry and has demonstrated exceptional expertise with heating and cooling systems.
- The load calculation. This calculation takes into account many factors of your home that contribute to its energy efficiency, its physical layout and characteristics and your family’s comfort preferences. The contractor will use software called Manual J to gather the inputs that affect how energy efficient your home is. The building’s physical layout and its cubic footage also contribute to the size of the system you need.
- Efficiency rating. Furnace efficiency ratings tell you how much fuel the system uses is used as heat for your home versus what is wasted up the chimney as gases. The minimum efficiency stands at 80 AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), which means that 80 percent of the gas it burns goes toward heat, while 20 percent is wasted.
Efficiency ratings approach almost 100 percent, and given the long, cold winters in this region, a more efficient furnace will pay for itself in fuel savings faster than one that meets the minimum AFUE rating. Furnace upgrades, like those that operate at variable speeds, offer greater home comfort as well.
- Home preparation. The furnace installation will move forward faster if you prepare your home first. Remove any furniture from the areas affected by the installation.
Going through each of these aspects of a quality furnace installation does take time, but using the most qualified contractor, choosing the best size and features will assure your comfort and satisfaction for the long term. To learn more, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, serving Lorain homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area