Purchasing a new furnace is a sizable investment that will affect energy expenses and comfort in your Twin Cities home for many years. In order to leverage the greatest return on investment, which is the actual lifetime costs of owning and operating the furnace (not just the initial costs), take the right approach by educating yourself about the two-step replacement process – selection and installation.
Overview For New Furnace Selection and Installation
Home preparation is the first step for a professional installation. These basic steps are the foundation for maximizing your investment:
- Home-efficiency inspection: Make sure your home is properly sealed and insulated to keep warm air inside the living spaces. This will also improve cooling efficiency in the summer.
- Air ducts: A duct inspection reveals leaks and loose connections, uninsulated ducts outside the insulation barrier, and dirty ducts that contribute to poor indoor air quality.
- Heating load: A heating load calculation (using the ACCA’s Manual J) is needed to determine the correct size furnace to install. New furnaces available today are much more efficient than those manufactured a decade or more ago, so you may sell yourself short if you simply purchase a furnace the same size as the old one (and you may pay more for a furnace which is too large, and, therefore, performs poorly).
New Furnace Selection
After you’ve prepared your home and conducted a heating load calculation, you’re ready to select the furnace. It’s wise to compare energy-efficiency ratings, and explore advanced features.
- AFUE: A furnace’s average heating efficiency is measured and indicated by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating, or AFUE. A higher AFUE percentage means more fuel dollars are converted to heat for the home.
- Sealed combustion: Consider a furnace with direct-vent intake and sealed combustion. This prevents back-drafting carbon monoxide into the home, and saves energy by using only outside air for combustion.
- Modulating heat output: A modulating gas valve and variable-speed blower operate at lower heating output for longer cycles, which delivers optimal comfort, reduces maintenance issues and saves energy.
For best results with your new furnace installation, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota 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.
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