When it’s time to look for a new furnace, there are several things you should assess before making a decision on a particular replacement furnace. With your home and your family’s needs in mind, ACS Heating and Air Conditioning can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfy.
Fuel Source
One of the first aspects you need to consider is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America utilize natural gas, but some houses are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s vital to know which type of fuel is needed for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to determine which type of furnace you’d prefer to effectively meet your needs. Furnaces are available in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat consistently at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency amid these options. A two-stage furnace works great for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace runs at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating boost on the coldest Tucker days. Though if you want to go for the best choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be right for you.
Different from single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a specific number of stages to go through to create heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually run at different capacities to meet your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another consideration. You could save money by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you typically use, rather than trying to keep the entire home at the same temperature. If you want more to know more about zoning possibilities for your home, ACS Heating and Air Conditioning can help.
Size
Another key part of choosing the best furnace for your home is ensuring it’s the right size for your home. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy continuously cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to keep up on the coldest Tucker days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to review your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating signifies the ratio of annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total annual fossil fuel energy it consumes. For example, an 80 percent AFUE rating means that 80 percent of energy in the fuel heats the home and the other 20 percent escapes through places like the furnace venting. For a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll want to look for an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when shopping for a replacement furnace. But, we can help. ACS Heating and Air Conditioning is here to answer all of your questions and help you choose a furnace that fits your home and heating needs. Chat with our technicians at 770-450-1539 or book an appointment with us online.