Sometimes replacing your old furnace with a new one is the only decision that seems viable. In most cases, this is a much wiser choice than repairing your old furnace. Today’s furnaces, in addition to polluting less and being sturdier, help you save more energy and enjoy more advanced features. Buying a new gas furnace might be quite a tedious task, especially if you have never changed your old furnace. However, by following certain steps and tips from our Gas Furnace Buying Guide, you can get the assurance that you have made the right choice.
Should you Repair or Replace your Gas Furnace?
Sometimes some simple tips will save you the trouble of seeking for a new furnace or asking for professional help. For example, if the furnace has low airflow, the problem might be a clogged filter. The issue might also be a thermostat malfunction or loose wires. If you have an electronic-powered thermostat which runs on batteries, changing the batteries might do the trick.
In case the fuses are burned down, you might need to call a professional to restore the configuration of the circuit board. With a furnace typically lasting up to 18 years, if your furnace has more than 2 decades it’s probably time to consider replacing it with a better, more efficient model.
What to Look for When Buying a New Gas Furnace
- Ask for Estimates: first of all, call local heating and air conditioning contractors and ask for estimates. It is imperative to become aware of how much installing a gas furnace costs if you want to minimize costs when installing it.
- Size Matters: when looking to replace your old furnace, it is paramount to choose one that can fit into the place of the old one. If you want to put it into a new room, make sure to measure it first.
- Energy Consumption: to make sure that you choose a gas furnace that will save you money in the long run , you want to work with a reputable contractor who can calculate your heating needs and know how to properly install the furnace in order to protect the environment. The overall installation project should take into account the local climate, size of the device, construction of your home and duct system.
- Know what Questions to Ask: in addition to the above, you also need to know precisely what to ask the contractor before shaking hands. For starters, inquire about the model you are going to buy. Is it fairly new? Is it old enough so that it has been tested? If the model is quite old on the market, has the contractor found it to have particular issues? How much money can it save during the cold winter months? Plus all other bullet points referenced in this Gas Furnace Buying Guide.
- Reliability: another important aspect to take into account when looking to buy a new gas furnace is efficiency and reliability. The great news is that the vast majority of furnaces available on the market in 2017 can save you up to $500 a year when compared to the old furnaces. With such a high energy efficiency, you only need to choose between the good and the best. Choose a model that saves you as much energy as possible, especially if you are an avid “heater”. Moreover, look for reliability. A reliable furnace does not break down so often and when breaks down has a low repair cost due to the easy to mount pieces.
- Top Features: you definitely need to look at the most important gas furnace features before choosing your favorite model. The fact of the matter is that each brand of furnace has its own trademark of features and advantages. Depending on the price and brand, you may want to focus on finding a furnace equipped with the following features: variable heat output, variable speed blowers, dual heat exchanger and air filtration.
- Warranty: ultimately, you need to ensure that your premium furnace comes with a generous warranty. As a rule of thumb, your new furnace should have a minimum of 5 years of warranty. However, if it is approved by American Standard, it should probably have over 10 years of warranty.
If you are looking for an alternative to the standard gas furnace, try heat pumps or oil furnaces. While heat pumps are famous in the South due to mild the winters, oil furnaces are exceptional in the Northeast. However, the ultimate decision is yours, so choose well and make the most out of your investment while referring to this Gas Furnace Buying Guide.
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