Furnaces

If you’re in the market for a new furnace, you must be prepared not only financially, but also practically. Choosing your next heating system isn’t as easy as picking a washing machine or a dishwasher. There are more factors you need to consider. Since it is going to be one of the major pieces of equipment in your home, you should do some research and get relevant information. You need all the help you can get to make sure you’re buying the right unit.

Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your reliable heating company in Andover MN. We have been helping homeowners establish comfortable homes in the most energy-efficient ways. Here are four factors you might want to consider as you search for your new furnace.

Stages of Heating

Furnaces can be classified as single-stage, two-stage, and multi-stage heating systems.

Single-stage furnaces are the most common on the market; they are also the cheapest. They have a singular-size flame and is either on or off without options in between. These units create a loud sound before delivering warm air to the vents, and when the desired temperature is reached, it turns off and back on when needed.

Two-stage heating systems are engineered to be more efficient than their single-stage counterparts. They have two flames, with a smaller one that runs non-stop when temperatures are milder. But when it gets colder, the larger flame starts up to provide more heat. These furnaces are quieter than single-stage units.

Multi-stage or modulating furnaces are the best option for your home because they are the most efficient. They can heat your home uninterruptedly with minimal energy use. The flame slowly increases or decreases, giving your home consistent heat.

Proper Sizing

Buying the most advanced or the most expensive furnace doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be getting the greatest comfort. When it comes to furnaces, size does matter—that is to say, sizing your furnace based on your home’s needs.

If you tend to worry about your budget, you may lean towards a smaller, cheaper unit. However, when a furnace is too small, it doesn’t have enough power to properly heat your home, making it run longer, in an attempt to reach your desired temperature. Not only does it use more fuel, but it also forces your furnace to work with added strain. An undersized furnace uses more energy to perform its job and is more likely to fail prematurely compared to a properly sized unit.

Meanwhile, an oversized furnace heats the home too quickly but consumes too much energy. A furnace that is too large tends to short cycle, which means the unit will shut itself off before it even reaches the right temperature. Frequent short cycling isn’t good for the furnace as it causes the unit to fail prematurely.

Features

Shooting for high-end features offers significant benefits and adds substantial value to your furnace. If you want a more efficient unit, look for one with a variable-speed blower, variable heat output, and dual heat exchangers. You can also look for advanced filtration systems to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Choosing a unit with digitally-controlled zoning systems is perfect if you have a larger home. If you want a peaceful environment, choose a furnace with low noise levels and sound-absorbing materials. And don’t forget to look for an ENERGY STAR-labeled system. Such a furnace meets and even exceeds federal standards for energy efficiency. But keep in mind that with these features, you will be paying more than with a standard unit.

Warranty

Not every homeowner pays close attention to the warranty of a furnace. However, this is an important factor to consider, especially when the system fails unexpectedly or prematurely.

The warranty on your furnace will differ depending on the manufacturer, model, and dealer. High-efficiency furnaces typically have longer warranties compared to low-efficiency units. With a furnace having at least 90 percent AFUE, it is especially important to have a long-term warranty on the heat exchanger because this part is quite expensive to replace or repair.

Upgrade with Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning

If you need help finding the right furnace for your home, be sure to reach out to us and speak to one of our heating specialists. As your dependable Coon Rapids heating and air conditioning installation company, it would be our pleasure to assist you in making a well-informed decision.

No one wants to deal with a winter storm because it creates a number of negative effects on people, including, a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, and carbon monoxide poisoning. And if there’s one piece of equipment that you’re going to need the most during such a time, it would have to be your furnace.

Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your leading heating company in Coon Rapids MN. Should your furnace fail, give us a call and we’ll get it back in shape in no time. But we also want to help you get your heating system ready for extreme weather, that’s why in this article, we’re giving you important tips on how to prepare your unit for a winter storm.

Give your furnace a thorough inspection.

A simple physical inspection of your HVAC system can help you detect potential problems. So, check your furnace from the inside out, including the ducts, registers, and vents.

Don’t forget to turn off the power to the system at the circuit breaker first. Then, using a screwdriver, take off the steel cover of the air handler. Inspect the blower, which is the largest rubber belt in the system. In case you detect any signs of damage, call a professional immediately.

Also, check your ducts. If you see any poor connections, and leaks in the ductwork, call a qualified technician since visible problems in the ducts are only a part of the problem. There’s a possibility of serious problems in areas you can’t see.

In addition to these parts, also check the unit’s combustion system. If you can get a stench of rotten eggs, it could mean that the furnace has a gas leak somewhere, which requires immediate professional attention.

Check the insulation, too.

Insulation plays a significant part in your overall comfort. Energy Star estimates that 90 percent of U.S. homes are not properly insulated. As a result, their HVAC systems consume more energy and work too hard to heat the home. Despite the hard work, the furnace still delivers subpar heating throughout the home.

Therefore, you should physically inspect your home’s insulation. Check your windows, doors, and other openings, and determine if there are leaks. If so, you may experience drafts of cold air entering the house and heated air exiting from your home. This issue forces your furnace to overheat while providing unsatisfactory results.

If you discover any anomalies in your insulation, be sure to seal them off completely. Improving your insulation alone can work wonders in terms of keeping your family warm when a winter storm hits.

Keep your filters fresh.

As mentioned earlier, an overheating furnace is a problem, and one of the main causes of system overheating is a clogged filter. When it does, it uses more fuel to distribute heated air while suffocating your furnace. This is why you should check your filter regularly and replace it at least once per month, especially during the coldest months of the year. When the system has a new filter, the airflow within the system improves significantly, it uses less fuel and prevents the spread of airborne contaminants.

Be sure to stock more filters for the cold season. You don’t want to rush to the home improvement store just to get one, especially during a winter storm.

Use a smart thermostat.

During this time of year, you want to regulate your indoor temperature as accurately as possible. That’s when a smart thermostat comes in handy. It can learn your daily activities and adjust the settings appropriately. With this nifty device at your disposal, you can predetermine the temperatures at which the thermostat should operate at specific times of the day. This setup makes your furnace more energy-efficient and helps create a more comfortable home even during a winter storm.

Call the Heating Pros

To ensure the best performance from your heating system, be sure to call Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule a visit from our HVAC professionals. We can calibrate your unit to improve its energy-efficiency. We are your trusted Andover furnace maintenance company.