Tips for Purchasing a New Furnace

Tip #1: Repair or Replace?

Buying a new furnace isn’t at the top of the list of fun things to do. But if you avoid it, you could find yourself someplace you’d rather not be: an uncomfortably cold home with no furnace repairman in sight. Here are a few ways to help you determine if you should simply repair the furnace you’ve got or replace it.

Repair your furnace if…

  • It’s only the air filter that is clogged
  • You have a bad thermostat (learn how to check here)
  • The fuses are simply burned out or the circuit breakers have been tripped

Replace your furnace if…

  • Your furnace is more than 15 years old
  • A key component such as the heat exchanger or control module fails
  • Your energy bills keep creeping up year after year

We recommend a furnace tune-up every fall.

Tip #2: Look for these certain features

When replacing your furnace, it’s a good idea to also consider the quality of air in your home, especially if you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies. Today’s furnaces can include high efficiency air cleaners, humidifiers and ultra-violet lights. However, while it’s nice to have these features, there are others that should take priority when you’re looking for in a new furnace.

Variable Speed

Variable speed motors are not only quieter, they also ensure your home receives the precise amount of air required to keep your family comfortable. They consume less electricity than standard furnace motors, so they are much more energy efficient.

Two-Stage Heating

Unlike traditional furnaces, which operate at their full heating capacity, two-stage furnaces are designed to operate like two separate furnaces and maintain more consistent comfort levels throughout a home. You may think this is less energy efficient, but it’s actually not. A two-stage furnace operates at reduced capacity until it needs to adjust itself to meet higher demand for heat within the home.

Energy Efficiency

Consider buying the highest energy efficiency possible. Along with helping reduce your energy costs, an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) furnace leaves a smaller carbon footprint high when converting fuel to energy. It’s also important to look for a furnace that is ENERGY STAR rated. This means it meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards by using less energy.

Good Warranty

Look for a furnace that offers a good warranty, such as a 20-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger and a 5-year limited warranty on all remaining covered components.

Tip #3: Have a professional install your new furnace

ENERGY STAR states that an improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent. That means you may end up paying more on energy bills than you need to.

Tip #4: Take advantage of every tax credit available

Take advantage of all government and utility rebates, like the $500 tax credit for qualifying high efficiency furnaces. Check out www.dsireusa.org for more energy efficiency rebates. You’ll find information on state, local, utility and federal incentives that promote energy efficiency.

Bryant Logo
If you’re in the market for a furnace, give us a call. We can help you decide which furnace is right for you and then properly install it. We’ve been serving Metro Detroit since 1983, and our goal at Accu-Temp Heating & Cooling is to provide comfort you can feel from a family company you can trust. Give us a call today at 586-598-2828.