Purchasing a heater involves more than just picking out a heater and taking it home. Before purchasing a new furnace, you need to consider important characteristics that contribute to efficiency, including the type of system, size, fuel source, and price. Taking these four factors into account will help you to decide on the furnace that will most completely suit your individual needs.
1. Type
If you have central cooling and heating, then you have one of two systems, split or packaged.
Split System
Split systems are composed of a top coil on top of the furnace and a condensing unit. This type of system is more common than packaged systems and found in more of today’s homes.
Packaged System
A packaged system is ideal for homeowners who do not have extra space, such as a basement or an attic. This type of system can perform the same functions that a split system. The only difference is it is compact. Packaged systems are also perfect to use if you have a basement, crawl space, or attic and want to conserve more space.
2. Fuel Source
Gas, electricity, and oil are the three choices of sources of fuel to consider when purchasing a new furnace.
Gas Furnace
Gas incinerators operate by using natural gas. If you are looking for a way to save money on your heating bill, then you may want to consider purchasing this type of furnace. Gas heaters will not increase your household expenses by a tremendous amount when the weather gets cold.
Electric Furnace
An electric heater is another economically friendly solution for saving money and an alternative to gas furnaces. Electric heating systems heat a home by transferring heat from one airstream to the next which consumes less energy. These heaters have different uses, including a heating and cooling system.
Oil Furnace
An oil furnace heats a home well but is the most expensive option. Oil or propane heaters use more space than the options available and are a lot dirtier. A lot of older homes have these types of furnaces.
3. Pricing
The installation of your new boiler will be the majority of the furnace’s price. Contributing factors that affect the price include labor costs, changes made to the unit, and the size of the heater.
4. Sizing Your Furnace
Ensuring your furnace is the correct size is essential for the proper heating of your home. The bigger the boiler, the more expensive it is. Heaters are available in different sizes. A furnace that is too small or large will not heat your home efficiently.
Buying a furnace is an important investment that keeps your home comfortable and cozy. Make sure you are satisfied with your new heater and ensure it functions as it should. Contact us today to learn more about furnaces and how they can benefit your home.
