When you're in the market for a new furnace for your home, you don't want to assume that the biggest and most powerful model is the best, and you also don't want to make the mistake of buying a very cheap model that won't heat your entire house just to save money. There are also other considerations to keep in mind when buying a new furnace; note a few of these so you ensure you get the right model for your home and that you'll be happy with it for years to come.
Load size
The load size of a furnace refers to the rate at which it supplies warm air, not the actual size of the unit. A too-large load size can be uncomfortable since the furnace may blow out warm air so quickly that you suddenly feel too warm. Then the home cools down just as quickly as it would with a smaller furnace, and the furnace cycles on and off repeatedly. On the other hand, an undersized furnace won't heat your home sufficiently and it will run continuously, trying to raise the temperature, thus putting constant wear and tear on the unit.
One thing you need to consider when determining the load size is the amount of direct sunlight you get in the home and the quality of insulation in your home. If your home has high-quality insulation, double-glazed windows and gets lots of sunlight even in wintertime, you can often opt for a lower load size for your new furnace.
Ease of maintenance
Don't overlook how easy it is to maintain your new furnace; can you remove the front panel and access the blower and hoses of the unit so you can clean them yourself every year without having to call a technician? This simple step can prolong the life of your furnace, but if you choose one with a panel that is difficult to access because of heavy-duty screws or because of where it's located on the furnace, you will have additional costs each year when you have to call a repair person to do this job for you.
Propane or gas versus electric
Even if your home is outfitted with gas lines for a furnace, you may want to consider switching to an electric model, depending on the cost of gas or propane in your area. An electric furnace may be easier to maintain since you don't need to worry about cleaning the pilot light or having a gas leak from the furnace. You also don't need to worry about getting propane delivered or storing it on your property if you switch to an electric furnace.
For more information on how to choose a furnace, contact a company like Kintore Airconditioning.
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