When to Replace Your Furnace

Replacing the old furnace in your central heating system with a new, more efficient model can offset volatile energy prices. Money aside, today's furnaces pollute less and boost comfort by producing heat more steadily than older furnaces. Natural Gas is the most common heating fuel used in the Phoenix Metro area. 

How do most people go about buying a furnace? First, they call contractors and ask for estimates. Remember size matters, a lot. The furnace's specifications should fit your needs. A furnace that's too small won't keep your house comfortable during very cold weather.

Partly to avoid that possibility, the furnaces in most homes are larger than necessary. Initial cost is only one of the drawbacks of that strategy. A furnace that's too large will cycle on and off more frequently. That puts more wear on its components, wastes energy, and might cause the temperature to vary uncomfortably. Also, a larger replacement furnace might require larger ducts. Without the right size ducts, airflow can be noisy.  Once the furnace is installed, maintain it regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Furnaces have become more energy-efficient over the years. A gas furnace made in the early 1970s typically has an AFUE of about 65 percent. The lowest efficiency allowed by law for new gas furnaces is 78 percent, and some new models achieve 97 percent--near-total efficiency.

How quickly you recover the investment depends on more than just AFUE. The electricity to run furnaces with different AFUEs can vary significantly. The climate where you live, how well your home is insulated, and your local gas and electricity rates also affect payback times.

You can make your home more energy-efficient in several ways. Turn down the thermostat in winter; just two degrees cooler will save you money and reduce emissions by about 6 percent. You might not even feel the difference, especially at night or when you're out of the house (a programmable thermostat can help here). Draw the curtains at night to block the chill from a cold window. Keep the windows covered on sunny days during the summer, and uncover them on sunny days during the winter to benefit from some free solar heating. Reduce heat loss from ducts by sealing leaks and, where feasible, insulating ducts.

Looking for a fast and fair company to work with for your HVAC Heating Needs or furnace replacement requirements?  Give Aaron’s Mechanical Service a call and let us help you get cooled off! Call 623-388-4436

Presented by;
Aaron’s Mechanical Service
623-388-4436
info@aaronsmechanicalservice.com
http://aaronsmechanicalservice.com