Choosing a furnace is similar to picking out a new car. It has to have enough capacity, run on the right fuel, and have the right amenities to boot. Above all, though, it will be a long-lasting investment.
The biggest difference between the two is that you can always trade your car in if you don’t like it; picking a new furnace is more permanent. As such, before you buy your new furnace, you need to know that you’re purchasing the one that will best fit your needs.
These are the factors you should keep in mind as you consider your options:
Fuel Type
Furnaces are designed to produce and spread heat throughout a space. The way they create that heat varies based on the type of fuel they use:
Natural Gas
Arguably the most common fuel type, natural gas is an economical energy source that many furnaces burn to create warm air. Many homes have gas lines pre-installed, so a new furnace simply has to connect to these lines to get up and running.
Single-stage gas furnaces use a gas valve that opens and closes with only one setting. Two-stage furnaces can have high or low flow rates to provide better efficiency, and there are also modulating furnaces that allow you to dial the heat precisely for even better control.
Propane
If a home doesn’t have natural gas lines, is far removed from residential infrastructure, or if the house already has a propane tank installed, propane is an excellent alternative. That is because, unlike natural gas, propane typically pipes into a furnace from a tank that sits outside the home or underground.
Fuel Oil or Heating Oil
Furnaces that use fuel oils or heating oils are much rarer, but they are still out there. These oils typically take the form of petroleum-based liquids such as kerosene or diesel. However, some manufacturers can make similar biofuels from organic sources such as corn or cooking oil.
Electricity
Some furnaces create heat through electricity alone. Operating much like a hair dryer, these furnaces use electric heating elements to create warmth, which is then blown into ductwork via fans.
Energy Efficiency
All furnaces use annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings to measure their efficiency. If a furnace has an AFUE of 95%, then 95% of the energy goes into heating the home, and the remaining 5% is lost.
A high-efficiency rating is between 90% and 98.5%. A mid-efficiency rating is between 80% and 83%. Electric furnace efficiency ratings can be as high as 95% to 100%, but these devices still cost more to run due to electricity costs.
Size
Finally, it’s important to ensure you choose the right size furnace. These devices use BTUs (British thermal units) to measure their output. Residential furnaces can put out as little as 40,000 BTUs and as much as 120,000 BTUs. The rule of thumb is to have 30 BTUs per square foot, which means that a 1,600-square-foot house would need 48,000 BTUs.
Work With Furnace Experts to Choose Your New Furnace At On The Spot Air Conditioning & Heating, we know that selecting a furnace can be tough, but our experienced technicians are ready to help. When you want the right furnace installation for your home, there’s only one call to make! Contact us today to find the perfect furnace for you!
