Gas Furnaces: Repair or Replace?
Furnace Service Salt lake city
When your heating system experiences issues or simply stops working altogether, you are faced with a frustrating choice: Do you attempt to repair the busted component, or invest in a totally new system? The first thing to think about when faced with this concern is the age of your present gas furnace. If it is older than 10 years, opportunities exist have actually been improvements in effectiveness or sector criteria that you can take advantage of if you change your system.
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Next, consult your guarantee information. Several heater manufacturers cover the heat exchange for 10 or more years, while some have life time protection. Depending on the components that require to be replaced, your heating system could be covered by a producer's guarantee. Furthermore, lots of HVAC installers supply guarantees on their job, which can save you cash if they are in charge of the trouble.
Gas Furnace Service Salt lake city
Often, HVAC experts recommend that you update or change your existing gas furnace when you replace your central air device. This is an excellent method to conserve cash gradually, as a high-efficiency heater and also a cooling system that are the same age and brand interact far better than a mismatched-efficiency set of an older heating system and new Air Conditioner unit. However, this is not always a feasible choice economically, as top notch HVAC units can be priced in the thousands. If your present heating system's age is within 5 years of the new Air Conditioning unit, it should function well with your new air conditioning system.
Ultimately, it's up to you if you wish to replace your furnace. To assist you choose, think about the present efficiency of your house heating system, its age, as well as if you agree to change a part that may remain to fail in the years to come.
Gas Furnace Efficiency: It's Not Just About the cash
Dimension Matters
Unlike most significant appliances that improve in capability as they raise in cost and also size, furnaces need to be the appropriate size for the format of your house. This implies that buying the most significant and also most energy-efficient heater on the market is usually not the very best answer for your home.
Every home is different, whether in its design, air flow system or products. A gas furnace that is as well little will certainly not have the ability to produce sufficient heat in the winter or push enough awesome air in the summertime. On the other hand, a system that is as well large for your home will certainly set you back even more to run and also not efficiently keep appropriate temperature levels.
Energy Efficiency
If your gas furnace was installed in your home greater than 15 years back, you are practically assured to be heating your house inefficiently. With a high-efficiency heater, the quantity of gas you need to warm your home reductions, as do the costs on your utility statements.
When picking the best heating system, consider the device's yearly fuel usage efficiency (AFUE) ranking. This number is represented as a portion and also suggests just how much heat a heating system can acquire from each cubic foot of gas. To make clear a lot more, as an example, an AFUE score of 96 percent means that as much as 96 cents of every dollar is made use of to warm your house. The nationwide criterion for lowest allowable performance is 78 percent, and numerous modern systems attain up of 98 percent.
A heater with a high AFUE rating can conserve you a considerable quantity of money in heating and also power costs. While a device with more than 90 percent AFUE usually costs greater than one with an 80 percent rating, you're most likely to recoup any kind of distinction of expense over the heater's lifespan.
An additional means to raise the performance of your brand-new heating system is to have a suitable programmable thermostat installed in addition to it. Many gas heating system makers have their very own lines of thermostats that can push and run your heating system to its peak performance degrees. While this is an added cost, an updated, suitable thermostat enables you better control over your residence's temperature and comfort degrees.
What You Need to Know About Furnace Installation
A heating system is a major home-improvement investment, so any type of expertise you can arm yourself with before choosing which brand-new unit to acquisition can save you time and money over time. Below are some crucial elements to forced air home heating that you need to be aware of as you speak with your local HVAC expert.
Sorts Of Gas Furnaces
Gas heaters can be found in 2 ranges, single-stage as well as two-stage. Single-stage furnace blowers use a single-speed blower, which turns on as well as off up until it gets to the desired temperature level. These heaters are typically older versions, but you can still acquire one for your residence that has an AFUE of 80 percent.
While these systems can be a more economical financial investment initially, the reduced performance from changing on and off frequently winds up costing you much more gradually than a heater with a variable-speed blower. That being said, if you have a smaller residence, speak with your HVAC expert to see if a single-stage heater would be a much more sensible option.
Two-stage gas furnaces operate similarly to single-stage ones, but when the temperature drops and also the first stage is not creating enough heat, the 2nd stage turns on to supplement your residence's heating demands. This second phase allows your furnace to create as well as use even more warmth with less effort and gas. An additional great adverse effects of a two-stage device is that it normally runs much quieter than the single-stage models.
Variable-Speed Fans & Modulating Valves
Variable-speed fans are an added alternative to boost the efficiency of the heating system. Instead of regularly shutting off and also on as well as blowing at an unalterable speed, the variable-speed blower has the capability to slow down the motor to provide constant heat with a longer, less stressful cycle. This speed control allows the furnace to use less gas and to operate much more quietly, a great bonus for heating large homes or awkward floor plans. Generally, two-stage furnaces are equipped with variable-speed fans, helping them run even more efficiently than they would with a standard, single-speed blower.
Some furnaces are equipped with a special modulating gas valve. This specialty component works in tandem with a variable-speed blower to provide consistent temperatures. This is much like driving an automobile on a freeway at a constant pace, rather than stopping and starting at every stoplight downtown. Modulating furnaces can reach an AFUE of up to 98 percent. While they cost more to purchase, these furnaces maximize your comfort levels and can greatly reduce your overall energy costs.
Other Furnaces
While gas furnaces are the standard for forced air heating across the nation, there are still some regions, such as the northeastern United States, that still use oil furnaces as their heaters. Oil furnaces burn a refined oil that is pumped in from a storage tank and burned as a mist. Once ignited, the oil furnace functions nearly identically to a gas furnace in gathering and distributing the generated heat.
If you are considering converting from an oil furnace to a gas furnace, be sure to consult with a licensed professional and get multiple quotes from your local HVAC installers. The overall cost of converting to a gas-line furnace varies, depending on availability, location and labor. Depending on your situation, it may be best to stay with an oil furnace rather than converting.
Measuring Your Home
When you call for a quote, your local HVAC professional should take some measurements of your home during their visit. This step is essential to selecting the best gas furnace for your home. If the HVAC professional does not come to your residence and perform a home measurement and analysis, this is a red flag that they do not have your best interest at heart and you should call another company to get a second opinion.
The way the installer measures your home is more than just calculating the square footage. Their measurements take into account your design of the interior of your home (which affects airflow), the local climate and construction materials of your home. These factors help the HVAC installer determine which size and type of furnace would be best. Then they can make a proper recommendation based on these facts.
Get It in Writing
When you get a quote, be sure to have any agreement or estimate put down in writing. This is not a petty thing to ask, and it helps ensure that any work that needs to be done is fully disclosed. Having your estimate in writing reduces the chances of being surprised by a different amount at the end of the job. A good HVAC professional is upfront with unit and labor costs, as well as knowledgeable about the gas furnace warranty they are installing.
In addition to getting a written estimate for furnace and material costs, be sure to get a start and finish date in writing. This will help you make plans accordingly and to know when you can expect to have heat again. Don't settle for weak answers in this regard. A quality professional HVAC installer will gladly set deadlines and promptly notify you of any unforeseen delays.
When an HVAC company replaces your home furnace, it is common practice to remove and replace older water heaters or ventilation piping, especially when they are not up to code. Having a new water heater or AC unit installed with your new furnace helps keep costs down, as they will most likely be of equivalent efficiency.
Your HVAC estimate should include any work that needs to be done besides a furnace replacement. Many newer, high-efficiency gas furnaces need to have additional plumbing worked into your existing furnace area. Be sure to ask if your new system will require any additional parts or systems beyond the main unit. Again, get it in writing.
Get a Second Opinion
Just because you called an HVAC company and it performed an estimate doesn't mean you are obligated to purchase from it. Natural gas furnaces generally last 10 to 15 years, so don't budge on getting the best furnace your budget allows. When you call for a quote, ask the HVAC company about its licensing. A suitable contractor needs to be licensed and certified to install your new system. If a contractor is not able or is reluctant to supply this information, don't use them, even if they are the lowest bid. Protect yourself and your home by hiring licensed professionals.
Make sure the HVAC contractor performs the home inspection mentioned above and that they explain all your options. If you feel pressured to buy without clearly understanding what you are purchasing, there is no guilt in telling a contractor "no thank you." The best HVAC contractors provide you with answers to your questions, clearly outline the work that is required and listen to your requests.
If you have the luxury of waiting a couple days before needing a new furnace, gathering a couple estimates can give you the opportunity to save money beyond the initial cost of the furnace and installation. By comparing and making a well-thought-out choice, you can be sure you will not only find the best deal on a heating system, but most likely find a reliable, quality installer as well.
What Else Is Important When Selecting a Furnace?
Gas furnaces have other factors to consider beyond efficiency and installation. For example, furnace warranties vary between manufacturers. Yearly maintenance and reliability are also important to consider.
Warranty & Rebates
One of the most important elements of even the most high-efficiency furnace is its warranty. Replacing a furnace in its entirety is an incredibly expensive endeavor, and having to replace it every few years is problematic from a financial-planning standpoint. The ideal furnace carries two individual warranties: one for the heat exchange and another for all other parts. In addition, the best contractors provide a labor warranty to back up their work.
The heat exchange is the heart and soul of the furnace, as it influences how much heat a unit can get from burned gas. This warranty can extend up to and beyond 20 years, whereas the warranty for all parts may only be five to 10 years. Also, the brand of the furnace can influence its reliability. Lesser-known brands generally do not have quality parts or long warranties, and while they may be cheaper initially, repairs will cost you more in the long run.
Be sure to discuss the availability of manufacturer rebates or tax credits with your installer. This can be a great way to save money and offset the initial cost of a new furnace. Federal and local governments are encouraging homeowners to improve their dwellings' energy consumption, and you may be able to deduct the purchase of a new heating system on your taxes. Check with your contractor and tax agent to confirm any eligibility or programs currently available.
Maintenance
The lifespan of your furnace is influenced greatly by how well you, the owner, perform regular maintenance. This doesn't mean you have to know how to repair and rebuild a furnace unit, just that you should be able to perform basic maintenance tasks such as changing and correctly installing air filters, keeping the airflow path free of obstructions, and giving the main unit a visual inspection a couple times a year.
Air filters are one of the most important components of an efficient gas furnace. While older designs and cheaper furnace filters block large particles, they do not remove small particles such as pollen from the air that circulates through the system.
Fortunately, there are high-efficiency filters that you're better off using, especially if you have allergies, live in a dusty region or have pets that shed. While the high-efficiency filters cost more, the amount of particles they remove from the air helps you and your furnace breathe easier.
High-efficiency filters need to be changed approximately every three months, but you may need to replace them more often if you have multiple pets or someone who smokes in your home. While three months may seem quite often, if you use cheap, thin filters, you need to replace them at least every month, as they do not take as long to reach capacity.
Keep the area around your furnace free from obstructions, such as boxes, that can block air circulation. The burner inside your gas furnace needs to have enough oxygen to function properly, and a reduced air intake can be dangerous and cost you more money. Also, a couple times during the year, take a quick visual assessment to see if anything looks wrong, such as loose wires, bent panels or any ventilation pipes that need repair. Simple maintenance chores such as these can help keep your furnace in tip-top shape for years and your family toasty during the winter months.
Being left in the cold is definitely no fun, but fortunately, you won't be in the dark when you use our articles on gas furnaces to assist your educated decision. While you consider the different brands of furnaces as you read through this site, remember that it is just as important to find a local HVAC professional who will give you the best service possible by putting your needs before a sale. The best combination for your home and wallet is to choose the most efficient gas furnace that provides adequate coverage and to have it installed correctly by a qualified professional.
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