As we approach the end of winter here in Bridgeville, DE, you may be looking at the end of your furnace’s life too. When properly maintained, a furnace can last for many years, but sooner or later, every system gives up the ghost, and if you were wrestling with high monthly bills or frequent repairs with an older furnace, this off-season may be the perfect time to replace it with a new one. Planning for it now gives you the most amount of time to have it installed, leaving plenty of room to ponder your options and have it ready to go before the temperature drop next fall. Here’s a brief list of what to look for in a new furnace to give you an idea of the variables involved.
Power Levels
The furnace’s “size” refers to its heating capacity and how readily it can warm your home. A new furnace needs to be neither too small nor too large, but sized appropriately for your home. If it’s too small, it won’t heat your house, and if it’s too large, it will heat it too quickly: short cycling on and off multiple times throughout the day and wasting a great deal of energy in the process. A good installation service will size your home to find the correct furnace size for you.
Efficiency
Efficiency in furnaces is measured in AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). The higher the rating, the more efficiently the furnace makes use of its fuel. Look for the furnace with the highest AFUE rating you can afford, or use the Energy Star sticker – used to denote particularly efficient models – as a handy cheat sheet. Above all, you want a new furnace with a higher efficiency rating than the one you’re getting rid of.
Call Atlantic Refrigeration to install a new furnace in your home.