Replacing Your Auburn Heating System
In some cases, you might want to replace your furnace before it breaks down.
When deciding if now is the time to make a replacement, consider the following:
- The age of the furnace
- Your monthly bills
- If repairs are needed
- Any strange noises coming from the unit
- If your house is dusty
- If every room in your home in a comfortable temperature
Once your furnace reaches a certain age, it is inevitable that it will have to be replaced. Replacing it sooner, rather than later, can actually save you money if your energy bills are increasing constantly. Newer units are more energy efficient and, therefore, will save you money.
Also, older furnaces tend to require more repairs, struggle to maintain a consistent temperature, and can kick up dust around the house. Therefore, purchasing a new heating system in Auburn can make your home an all around more comfortable place.
It is also a good idea to consider how your family has been feeling. A furnace that isn’t working properly can start to leak carbon monoxide, which is extremely dangerous. If family members have been experiencing headaches, nausea, or frequent flu-like symptoms, make sure that you air out the house and give us a call to check things out.
Things to Remember When Choosing a Furnace
Once a technician comes to your home to have a look at your furnace and decides that the unit has to be replaced, you will have some decisions to make. Not all furnaces are the same and, therefore, you will have to decide between a few different models. Remember, the most expensive unit won’t always be the best for your individual situation. Having the right information is key when making this choice, so keep the following things in mind:
The Efficiency of the Model
The higher the efficiency of the furnace that you choose, the more money it will save you on heating costs. This efficiency number is determined by the amount of waste that the furnace creates while running. Many technicians will recommend that you purchase a furnace that runs at 97 percent efficiency or above, as this can save you 20 percent on your bills each month.
Another thing to remember, however, is that with increased efficiency comes increased complexity and when a furnace is more complex, there is more that can go wrong. It will also cost more to fix when it does break down, which is something to keep in mind. A new furnace shouldn’t run into problems for years to come, but the part and labor could be significant when the time comes.
Choosing a Brand
You will also have to consider the brand of furnace that you want to go with. It is usually a good idea to select a reputable brand because you can be certain that the unit will have been built to the highest specifications. Although you might be able to spend a few hundred dollars by choosing a cheaper brand, this could end up costing you even more money in the future.
When in doubt, go with a brand name that you have heard of rather than taking your chances with something that hasn’t been established long enough in the industry to get a proper read on.
Downsizing Your Unit
If your home has an older furnace, there is a good chance that it is too large for your house. This is because older furnaces were less efficient and, therefore, needed a higher Btu in order to heat the home.
A newer furnace will work more efficiently and can get away with having a lower Btu rating. Basically, a new furnace that runs at 95 percent efficiency with a Btu rating of 80,000 will put out just as much heat as a furnace with 100,000 Btu that runs at only 75 percent efficiency.
This is important information to have because you could possibly get away with choosing a less expensive model, while still keeping your home at the same comfortable temperature. Ask your technician from Hunt’s Services about the best choice for your size of home to ensure that you are making the right choice.
