With colder weather on the horizon, it might be time to think about replacing your furnace. You might think that buying a huge furnace would be the most effective way to keep a Twin Cities winter at bay. But when it comes to furnaces, bigger is not necessarily better. Buying a furnace that is too big for your home is not only less efficient but also will cost you more money initially.
Furnace Size and Efficiency
The size of your furnace should be appropriate for the size of your house. Installing a furnace that is bigger than necessary will cause the unit to frequently stop and start, which wears on the components and is less efficient. This process is similar to the inefficiency of a car in bumper-to-bumper traffic, as opposed to its efficiency on an open highway. If a furnace is the right size for your home, it will run for longer cycles, avoiding the wear and tear on the furnace components and increasing its efficiency.
Determining the Correct Furnace Size for Your Home
Calculating the correctly sized furnace for your home is a complicated process. Because of this, it is best to hire an experienced contractor who will perform the calculations accurately and correctly. The heating capacities of the furnace are measured as part of the calculations. These capacities are measured in Btu (British thermal units) per hour. The contractor will also calculate the heat loss of your home, based on its insulation, its construction quality, the number of windows and doors and the direction the house is facing. Knowing the heat loss of your home will help the contractor determine what sized furnace will work best for you.
At Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning, we have a team of professionals who will make sure that those calculations are performed correctly. If you are looking for a new furnace, give us a call. We will be happy to size and install your furnace for you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning services Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!