7 Things to Know Before Buying a Furnace in Austin
Buying a new furnace may not be a priority right away. But it’s wise to know the things that will likely impact your choice when you’re ready to buy. Here are seven things you’ll want to think about when you’re due for furnace replacement in Fort Lauderdale.
1. Size and Installation Quality
To run at peak efficiency and comfort, your furnace must be properly sized for your home. When it involves furnaces, bigger is certainly not better. We frequently get requests from customers to install a big furnace in the misguided belief that a larger furnace is either more dependable or will provide better comfort.
The opposite is true. Large furnaces will short cycle, or constantly turn on and off. This leaves you cold, with more expensive energy bills and a furnace that could wear out much sooner.
This is why it’s important to work with the right company when purchasing a new furnace. Even if it’s the right size but installed wrong, the U.S. Department of Energy says you could forfeit as much as 30% of your energy efficiency.
Another crucial component of installation is ductwork. If yours is old or improperly designed, you might have issues with sound or comfort. A furnace is only as effective as the duct system it’s linked to.
At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, our Expert HVAC technicians are ACE certified, which means they’re skilled in repairing and installing various kinds of home comfort systems. Besides technical skill, our technicians are also trained in treating you fairly. We also stand behind our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for a year.*
2. Energy Efficiency
Furnaces are ranked by a term known as AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency. Like miles per gallon on cars, this rates the annual gas consumption of a furnace. The greater the number, the less gas is wasted during the heating process.
If your current furnace is 15 years old, it’s likely ranked well below 80 AFUE. As an example, if your HVAC system is 70 AFUE, you’re wasting up to 30 cents of each dollar you spend on heating.
Here’s how AFUE ratings work now:
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- 80 AFUE—minimum efficiency rating in the U.S. and Canada.
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- 90 AFUE—ENERGY STAR® rating for furnaces in the U.S. South.
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- 95 AFUE—ENERGY STAR® rating for furnaces in the U.S. North and Canada.
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- 98 AFUE—highest efficiency rating available.
3. Blower Motor Technology
As you research new furnaces there is one more important thing to consider: blower technology. This part moves air throughout your home. And it also consumes a lot of electricity, so it’s important to know about your options.
There are three kinds of blowers available on furnaces nowadays. They include:
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- Standard blower motor. Furnaces that aren’t ENERGY STAR rated have a traditional blower motor that’s been mostly the same for the past 30 years. This motor is the least costly and also the least energy efficient.
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- Constant torque motor. This technology strikes a balance between cost and energy efficiency. It delivers an electrical efficiency boost over a standard motor design.
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- Variable-speed motor. The most energy-efficient furnaces can operate at different speeds. Instead of operating at full speed 24/7, they will quietly run at a low or medium speed at times. This helps enhance your comfort while keeping energy costs down, both in the winter and summer. And it also keeps indoor humidity under control.
4. Sound Reduction Technology
Sound has become a very significant consideration with furnace installation, so another great improvement has been keeping noise under control. Some of these features include:
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- Sealed and insulated cabinets
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- Variable-speed blower technology
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- Nearly silent gas burners
With this technology, you might not even notice that your furnace is running.
5. Smart Thermostat
You probably use a programmable thermostat, but chances are you probably aren’t maximizing your energy savings. These thermostats can be complicated to program, especially if your schedule varies from day to day.
A smart thermostat removes all the guessing about energy efficiency. Many models can pick up on your temperature preferences and then produce an energy-saving schedule to match. They also know when you’re home or away and will adjust your heating and cooling as needed.
As an extra perk, you’ll also be able to monitor and change your settings from just about anywhere on your phone. Some models can even notify you if they detect a problem with your furnace or remind you when it’s time to change your air filter.
6. Warranty
There’s a significant difference in furnace quality and reliability. Like any large purchase, we believe it’s wisest to go with a major brand name. With a top brand like Lennox® or Goodman®, you’ll have more confidence in the technology and that the manufacturer will stand by its product warranty over the long term.
Furnaces usually have two main warranty coverage areas:
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- Heat exchanger. This is the heart of the furnace and the most expensive component to replace. This part typically has a 20-year limited warranty or lifetime limited warranty, but this can vary based on the manufacturer and furnace model.
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- Main parts. This includes the blower motor, electronic controls, ignitors and other important parts. Warranties can range from as short as a one-year limited warranty to as long as a 10-year limited warranty.
When going over warranty coverage, it’s important to know it’s limited. So, you should make sure you understand the limitations. For example, nearly all standard manufacturer warranties only include the price of the replacement part, not labor. And labor on a new heat exchanger could get costly.
Once your new furnace is running, make sure you finish the product registration right away. Many manufacturers may limit the warranty term if the product registration is not done. This step is easy and typically only takes a few minutes.
7. Cost
How much does all this cost anyway? It could vary from $1,700 for a basic furnace, or $5,500 or more for a high-efficiency model.
As you think about these costs and the impact to your budget, remember that unlike nearly every other appliance you may need to purchase, your new furnace may help pay for itself from the monthly energy savings it provides.
A couple of other ways to save include:
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- Replacing your air conditioner at the same time.
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- Buying at the ideal time, such as in early fall, mid-winter and early spring. You may be able to get additional discounts and rebates during this slower season.
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- Reap the benefits of rebates from the federal and state government, as well as from your local utility company. We can help you navigate this process.
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- Finance your new furnace or sign up for our exclusive HVAC Advantage Program™. For just one low monthly fee, you’ll get a new furnace with repairs and maintenance included.*
How Do I Know When to Replace My Furnace?
Now that you know what to look for in a new furnace, when should you replace your old one? Here are a few tips from our Experts that will help you make that decision.
Age
Heating systems typically last 15–20 years. How long yours will keep going depends on whether you’ve done furnace maintenance, where you live and your desired temperature. If you’re in a place with harsh winters, your furnace will operate more often, potentially making it wear out sooner. The same applies if you like to keep your home at a warmer temperature.
Repair Frequency and Cost
Just like any appliance, as furnaces get older, the likelihood for frequent furnace repair increases. If your system is more than 15 years old, those repairs can be particularly expensive. Common and expensive repairs on an older furnace include:
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- Blower motor failures
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- Ignition control failures
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- Heat exchanger failures
If repairs are more than the half the price of a new furnace, it’s generally best to replace it.
Energy Efficiency
Furnaces older than 15 years can be very inefficient. You could be wasting as much as 30% of the money you spend to heat your home. High energy costs and the desire to decrease energy use are also strong reasons to think about replacing your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst reveals nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to reduce their utility bills.
Trust Your Furnace Replacement to the Experts
It can seem overwhelming trying to investigate furnace features on your own. Or know exactly when you should get a new furnace. Our Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Experts are here to make the process much more convenient. Call us at 954-736-4314 or schedule an appointment online to book your free home comfort assessment today.
*For HVAC Service Memberships, certain warranty exclusions and limitations apply. See your signed agreement for full terms and conditions. For the Advantage Program™, please see your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. Lease with approved credit; visit ServiceExperts.com for details.