Things to Consider Before Installing a New Furnace in Your Home
It’s easy to install the wrong furnace in your home. By buying the first cheap furnace on the market and hiring a pro to install it, you are taking a 50/50 chance that the unit is adequate. Selecting the right furnace for your home is complicated. It’s about the unit’s type and features compared to the home’s size and existing configurations. A technician with a trained eye can determine which unit is perfect based on those observations and a little math.
1. The Home
The furnace needs enough reach to heat the entire house, and the square footage will help the technician pick the correct furnace size and type. An undersized unit cannot reach every inch of the home. That leads to uneven heating. An oversized unit adds too much power to a house that doesn’t need it.
The home’s location, seasonal climate, and existing configurations will determine the power source. If you want to switch to another power source, the technician can survey the area to see what changes are necessary to make that happen. Our HVAC technicians will check the old unit’s location to see if it’s good enough for the new unit or if another location is better. The number of windows is also factored into the correct unit.
The home’s age plays a role in unit type and size. Newer homes have good insulation, which traps heat indoors in the winter and cool air in the summer. Older homes have worn insulation, bringing unnecessary drafts into the home. It also loses the necessary heating and cooling inside the house to the outdoors. Unless you reinforce it, you will need a high-powered unit to salvage poor insulation in older homes.
2. Power Source and System Type
The type of furnace to select hinges on the power source and system type. Power source choices are gas, electric, propane, and oil. The prevalent system types are combo and split systems. Combo HVACs are air conditioners and furnaces packaged in one unit. Split systems make the furnace and air conditioner two standalone units. There are also geothermal, heat pumps, boilers, hybrid splits, and mini-splits. Contact Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. for more information on the types of furnaces we offer in Nacogdoches, TX.
3. Ductwork and Thermostat Compatibility
The technician will check the ductwork and air vents carefully. They must be satisfactory to handle a new furnace’s power and efficiency. Older ones are more likely to require an upgrade than new ductwork and vents. If they don’t need an upgrade, they will need repairs and routine cleaning to keep up with the new model. That seals up holes and cracks and removes clogs and blockages, including animal infestations.
A furnace will be compatible with most thermostats. The technician needs to program it to work with the new furnace. However, programmable and smart thermostats are the best way to keep up with new furnace models. It comes jam-packed with features to get the most mileage out of your furnace. It also aids in lowering energy bills and prolongs the unit’s lifespan.
4. Furnace Features
The furnace unit also has features that benefit the home. The main one is energy efficiency. It should be able to run at peak performance while using less energy. The best types are those with a high annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating, a SEER rating, or an ENERGY STAR label. Zoning systems are another in-demand feature. With a thermostat’s help, the furnace can heat select areas of the house. It also stops heat from entering unoccupied rooms.
The unit should also be low-maintenance and easy to understand. You should be able to access the filter compartment and swap out the dirty one for a fresh one. A clean filter traps dirt, dust, debris, and other pollutants so indoor air is pure. A dirty one overheats the unit and shortens its lifespan. It’s working harder to keep the air clean when it’s releasing dirty pollutants back into it.
Call Us for Furnace Installation and More
Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. prides itself on exceptional quality and handiwork for our East Texas community. As a Lennox-certified dealer for over 80 years, we offer exceptional furnace installation, repair, and maintenance for HVAC combos, standalone AC systems, and freestanding heating units. Our team will find the best unit that meets all compatibility and configuration requirements.
Our sheet metal fabrication services set us apart from the competition. We also have plumbing repair and installation services. There are specific plumbing services for water heaters, garbage disposals, sewers, and drains. Check out our indoor air quality, air duct, air cleaning, 24/7 emergency repair services, and new construction plumbing services. Contact Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. for more information about our services in Nacogdoches.