Over the winter season, your home will experience a lot of temperature changes and weather conditions. If you don’t have a heating system, the cold seasons will cause you a lot of worries. If you have a temperamental furnace, working well sometimes and worst in others, you should be concerned.

Therefore, the decision to replace or install a heating system will be the best decision you ever make for your home.

There are various factors you have to consider when selecting a furnace:

#1. Furnace Size

You need to install the right size of the heating system in your home to ensure that you have sufficient heat and are not overspending on energy bills. A small furnace may not heat your home sufficiently. A gigantic furnace while providing you with proper heating will waste your fuel and money. It will be generating excess heat that you don’t need, which will go to waste.

You can get the help of a professional HVAC technician to determine the right size of the furnace that will match heat output to your home size. Heat output is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs).

The best and easiest way to know the right size of a furnace to go with is to check the size of your existing heating system. If it emitted satisfactory heat, you should consider the same size. If you have made some adjustments in your home that require extra heating, you need to reconsider your furnace size.

#2. Energy Efficiency

You need to look at the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) when shopping around for a furnace. High energy efficiency will be indicated by a high AFUE number, meaning you can lower your monthly energy bills.

But for this to work effectively, your house should be adequately insulated, and the air duct systems must be intact. Even the most efficient heating system will not save you money if your doors, windows, and walls are not adequately insulated. The heat emitted will only go to waste.

The cost of a high energy efficiency furnace is slightly higher than a conventional heater. Consider a high-efficiency oven if you live in an area that has prolonged cold weather. The savings you will make monthly will account for the cost of the furnace in the long run. However, for moderate climates, you won’t benefit much from investing in a high energy efficiency system.

#3. Fuel Source

You need to consider your fuel source wisely. The fuel sources for a furnace vary from coal, oil, gas, and even electricity.

While electric fueled furnaces will be the go-to option for most users because it is cleaner, gas furnaces take the lead. Gas is cheaper than electricity and more reliable, especially in areas where winters are more severe and prolonged, like Virginia.

Gas or oil-powered furnaces will keep your home comfortably heated at the same time, reducing your energy consumption. While gas costs more than oil, it has the benefit of providing a higher efficiency power. You will spend more to purchase gasoline, but you will recover the cost over time with the fall of utility bills.

Oil powered heating systems are excellent for homeowners who want a friendly budget. Coal is much cheaper than all the other types of fuel, but it has deadly disadvantages. Carbon monoxide emission is one of the downfalls. It will also leave soot all over the house, therefore not a clean option. Nor is it environment friendly.

Nortech furnace services in Seattle may encourage electric heating because the weather is gentler in Washington.

#4. Fuel Prices

Both gas and oil prices fluctuate due to supply and demand. But oil prices fluctuate more. They can be down one month and shoot up the next, making it almost impossible to predict your utility bill costs.

For better consistency with monthly utility bills, you should consider gas-fueled furnaces.

Another reason to consider gas-fueled furnaces is that you have the option of choosing a modulating gas furnace. Of course, the model will be costlier than the regular gas heater. But you have an advantage in that you can adjust to the precise heating output you need. The model regulates production by a one percent increase making the system able to change gas needs by the minute. The result translates to comfort throughout the home and reduced heating costs.

Conclusion

You will need a pro HVAC contractor to help you choose wisely a furnace that will be beneficial for your home. However much you may have researched and understood the heating system that is essential for your home, a technician’s input is advantageous. They have experience in the repair and installation of heating systems. They thus have a better knowledge of what will work best for every home, including yours.