Buying a Replacement Furnace
The winter having set in and with a view to help your house keep warm, have you decided to replace your old furnace by a new furnace? Follow these steps to save yourself a couple of dollars. Foremost thing you have to do is to make your home weather –tight before buying a new furnace and then install a properly sized furnace.
Proper insulation and air–sealing is required in a house to eliminate excessive
heat loss. This is more important when you are dealing with old property. Before
buying a replacement furnace sufficient amount of attic and wall insulation must
be added in order to eliminate drafts from poorly sealed windows and doors and
proper care must also be taken to seal the leaky ductwork. This will help in
minimizing the load that is put on the replacement furnace bought.
After this if you want to replace the unit you can actually buy a smaller
furnace than you had actually installed before and there by saving money in both
the installation charges of the replacement furnace and ensuring the smooth
running of the furnace to the maximum efficiency since it will be of the optimum
size.
If you buy the replacement furnace, install it and then go in for air- sealing
and insulating the house then you would end up in buying a over-sized furnace
and there by spending more than what is required.
Now your house is insulated and air –tight and you have decided to buy a
replacement furnace what are the things you have to keep in mind?
Firstly you have to consult to a qualified heating contractor. Secondly you
should be aware that gas-savings is only part of the equation. A furnace uses
some amount of electricity, to power the fan motor which helps in the movement
of air through the house. Electricity usage isn't part of the Annual Fuel
Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE, rating, so to maximize efficiency, you need to
take that into consideration too.
Furnaces with variable-speed direct current are more efficient when compared to
those fitted with standard electric. If you intend to run the fan continuously
all throughout winter in order to keep the air circulating then you should buy
the replacement furnace with a variable – speed direct current as it will prove
more efficient.
So before buying a replacement furnace do make some enquiries in the market.