How To Buy A Furnace For Your Home
Think of an electric furnace as you would a hair dryer or toaster. The furnace pulls cold air into an exchanger where it is then heated over electric heating elements. Once heated, the warm air is pushed into your home via ductwork.
how to buy a furnace for your home
A natural gas furnace works by igniting natural gas inside of your furnace's burner. The flames heat up a metal heat exchanger, which in turns heats incoming cold air received from your home's ductwork. The warm air is then pushed into your home by a blower via its ductwork.
A gas furnace costs more to purchase than an electric furnace, but because it uses natural gas as opposed to electricity, it is less expensive to operate. It is also more powerful than an electric furnace because it is able to heat the air within the heat exchange chamber more quickly.
Oil furnaces work much the same way as a natural gas furnace. Once activated, the furnace draws oil from the tank into a burning chamber. Instead of being directly lit, however, it is first converted into a mist and then sprayed onto a burner. Once ignited, air is pulled into a chamber near the burner where it is heated and sent back into the home through the ductwork.
Propane furnaces also operate much the same way as a natural gas furnace, except they do not require a flue. It's possible, instead, to simply install a direct vent beside it on an exterior wall. This eliminates the need to have a flue regularly inspected and cleaned.
However, even though it is similar to natural gas, propane furnaces are more efficient. The result is that you don't have to burn as much propane to get the same amount of warmth you'd get with a natural gas furnace.
A single stage thermostat is more affordable, while a modulating furnace is the most expensive. To choose, consider your budget and needs. Smaller, single-story homes don't require as much heating power as larger, multistory homes. If your home is somewhere in the middle, then a multistage heat furnace may be the perfect fit for you.
AFUE stands for annualized fuel utilization efficiency. An AFUE rating reflects how much heat is produced for every dollar spent. The higher AFUE rating a furnace has, the lower the amount the homeowner should spend on fuel.
Ideally, you want a furnace with an AFUE rating in the '90s because these are the most fuel efficient furnaces. However, just be aware that furnaces with this high of an AFUE rating are usually some of the most expensive.
A midrange, new furnace costs between $1,500-$6,000 (for example, a Rheem furnace, which has an 80% AFUE rating, costs $1,488 plus installation). Opt for a high-end model with a higher AFUE rating and the cost may jump up to $10,000.
Because it is such a large investment, consider the cost of fuel and operating costs, too, before you decide. This is especially important if you plan on financing the purchase and will have monthly payments (but you could always offset your energy costs with some new solar panels).
Your furnace needs ductwork to transfer heat into your home. If you live in a newer home, your home's ductwork is likely already well taken care of. However, you will still want to have a licensed HVAC technician come to your home and test your home's ductwork system. It may or may not be able to handle a furnace with greater blowing power.
If you have been having issues with an older furnace, it's possible your ductwork may be to blame. The technician will be able to tell you if the ductwork was properly installed, or if there are any leaks or blockages. If there are any damages to your ductwork, it's unlikely you will need to get the entire system replaced. Instead, you may be able to get by with just replacing the damaged portions.
Chimneys aren't just for fireplaces. They can also dispel gasses from a hot water heater or furnace. If you purchase a high efficiency furnace, it's possible you won't even need a chimney at all. However, if not, you'll want to get your chimney inspected before getting your new furnace installed. Thereafter, you will need to get it cleaned once a year.
We're not referring to the air registers in each of your rooms that you can open or close. Instead, we're referring to the vents that direct flue gases to the outside of your home. If you change the type of furnace you use, you may need to replace your vents. Propane, oil and natural gas all burn a little differently, so the material used in your outdoor vents may not be strong enough to handle new temperatures.
Furnaces dry out the air in a house, which isn't a good thing during the cold and flu season. Sinus infections can result from breathing too much dry air. To combat this, many homeowners opt to install furnace humidifiers. The cost of a furnace humidifier varies a lot depending on which make and model you choose. You can spend as little as $200 to as much as $1,600. Putting a single humidifier in each room is also a valid option.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to have a licensed HVAC technician come out to your home. Once there, they can address your concerns about your old heating system, as well as give you their professional opinion about the best type of furnace for your home. While there, you may also want to speak to them about your cooling system, too. Window units are often the best choice, but sometimes there is room for an upgrade.
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These three sources can warm a home quickly, and they all have their pros and cons. For instance, depending on the area in which you live, one source may be cheaper than another. In general, gas is the least expensive heating source.
If gas supply is not available in your area, oil is the next best choice. Finally, electric furnaces are the cheapest to buy and install, but they do not heat large homes very well and will cost the most to operate in electric bills.
The Federal Trade Commission requires all new furnaces display AFUE ratings so consumers can compare their efficiency. The AFUE represents the annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total annual energy consumed. An AFUE of 90% means that 90% of the energy heats the home and the other 10% escapes. AFUE does not include any heat lost through the duct system.
When it is time to buy furnace online, choose a high-efficiency furnace with an AFUE of over 90% in very cold climates. In milder areas, choose one with an AFUE of 80%. The price difference between the two types of furnaces can be $1,000 or more, which may not be worthwhile in a milder area.
Installing a properly sized furnace is the key to heating your home. If your furnace is too small, it will not heat your entire home. A furnace that is too big will waste money on fuel by producing heat you do not need. Many factors determine the best size: square footage, ceiling height, number of windows, and insulation. Ask an HVAC contractor for an in-house evaluation to determine the best size for your home.
When deciding where to buy a furnace, check reviews through Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau to see how customers respond to problems and complaints. If you are having the furnace professionally installed, check reviews for the HVAC contractor as well.
Now that you have a basic understanding of furnace types, sizing, efficiency, costs, accessories and maintenance, learning how to buy a furnace is the next step. Carrier offers a complete family of furnaces for nearly every home and budget, starting with our Comfort Series models and including our top-of-the-line Infinity 98 gas furnace with Greenspeed Intelligence. If you do not already have an established connection with and HVAC professional, your local Carrier expert can assess your home and work with you to find the right Carrier furnace for your home. Carrier has well over a century of experience in the HVAC industry, highlighted by inventing modern-day air conditioning systems in 1902.
Multi-stage or modulating furnaces are the most efficient option as they can continuously warm your home within two degrees of the programmed temperature. The flame in the unit increases and decreases slowly, allowing your house to remain consistently comfortable. Modulating furnaces cost between $5,000 and $7,500 for parts and labor.
Gas is the most economical energy source for furnaces, making it the most popular type of heating system. Gas furnaces burn cold air with natural gas to create heat, then use a fan to move the warm air through the home via air ducts.
Electric furnace systems work similarly to gas units. They produce heat by pulling air through a heat exchanger to warm it, then use a blower to push the warm air through the ducts. Electric furnaces are an option for homeowners who may not have access to a natural gas line or for those who prefer to avoid any risk of carbon monoxide fumes.
There are a variety of comfort features available with different furnace systems, including lower noise levels and temperature controls. While these options often come at an additional cost, a furnace is an investment you will be living with for the next 15 to 20 years, so consider what will work best for your household in the long term.
As a general rule, higher quality furnaces, such as two-stage and multi-stage units, are quieter. You can also opt to add a furnace dehumidifier, which helps regulate the levels of humidity in your home. A whole-house dehumidifier costs anywhere from $1,300 to $2,800.
When you have a new furnace installed, the system should include at least one manufacturer warranty for the parts. These warranties need to be registered and are generally valid for five to 10 years. You may also have the option to purchase additional coverage, such as an Installation Warranty or an Extended Warranty.
Although a new furnace price quote generally includes parts and labor, there are other costs that may come into play. Be prepared to pay additional installation fees for upgrades to other elements the heating system needs to work properly, including ductwork, vents, and the chimney. 041b061a72