subject: Choosing The Perfect Gas Furnace [print this page] Making a choice among the many providers of gas furnaces to heat your home can be an overwhelming decision. The following tips can help you choose the most efficient model that best fits your needs. Keep in mind that qualified HVAC specialists provide excellent advice and can make installation recommendations.
Consider Size
Deciding on the size of the unit can be difficult, and must include such concerns as weather seasonally and year-round, the desired heat of the home, and the square footage. The size of the heater should not be too small, which forces the gas furnace to continuously run. A large furnace will run off and on, or use far too much power to keep a smaller home warm. Purchase and installation of a gas furnace should be completed with the help of a qualified HVAC specialist.
What features should I look for in a gas furnace?
When considering purchasing a gas furnace, two main types of these appliances are available: condensing and non-condensing. A more expensive and efficient type of gas furnace, condensing units have separate heat exchangers that absorb exhaust fumes that are side effects of heating with this type of appliance. Cheaper but less efficient, non-condensing gas furnaces do not have the separate heat exchanger. Remote thermostats, timed thermostats or differentiated speeds make up other features that homeowners may find important to them.
Efficiency of Heating
Gas furnaces come with a variety of features, and arguably the most important feature is heating efficiency with an AFUE percentage score. The AFUE score, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, tells a homeowner how efficient a particular model of gas furnace is. For highly efficient gas furnace needs, AFUE scores should be above 90%, and these models tend to be the most expensive options. More common AFUE scores fall in the 60-90% range, which are often priced competitively. AFUE scores of less than 60% show an inefficient heater, although these models are priced very low. Low AFUE gas furnaces should only be purchased for home that intermittently need heating services, as they will offer inefficient and expensive heating.
Is it worth it?
A good way to decide if a gas furnace is worth the money, simply divide the cost of the heater by the drop in fuel costs each year. Cheaper furnaces will use far more energy than others, but may not need to be used for much. Use the AFUE range to determine which heater is the best for your home, and have a qualified HVAC inspector and specialist assist you.
What are some popular brands for a gas furnace?
Some popular gas furnace choices include Rinnai, Fedders and Rheem products. Carrier produces many large-grade, efficient products. Stores like Home Depot, Lowes or Amazon.com offer reviews and recommendations of gas furnace ideas for homes like yours.
