Tips For Choosing Your New Furnace: It's More Complex Than You Think

Posted on: 13 December 2021

Your home's heating system is an essential component. It's one of those things that you need to give careful consideration to when you're replacing it. If you've decided that it's time for a new heating system, you shouldn't necessarily just settle for the same unit you already have. Instead, it's important to work with a heating services technician to evaluate your home's actual needs and find the right furnace model to fit those needs. There are a few key factors that help determine the right furnace for your home. Here's a look at a couple of the things that your heating services technician will consider.

What Is Your Home's Actual Heating Demand Rating?

Your home's heating demand, or load calculation, is a crucial part of choosing the right furnace. This calculation isn't something that you can easily do yourself, though. You'll want to work with a heating installation contractor to evaluate your home and determine the proper furnace size.

It's important to do this because you can't be certain that the furnace installed previously was adequately rated for your home's needs. In addition, if there have been any changes to the insulation, windows, or floor plan, all of these factors can affect that heating demand assessment.

Your home's heating demand rating will depend on a variety of factors. The orientation of the house matters because it directly affects the amount of sunlight you'll receive. The more sunlight your home gets, the warmer it's likely to be. The insulation type and levels throughout the house matter as well. The better your insulation, the less energy it will take to heat your house.

The contractor will also assess the overall floor plan and layout of the house because that directly affects airflow. This includes an assessment of the number of bedrooms and the overall square footage.

What Kind Of Ductwork Do You Have?

Another important factor in your home's furnace installation is the type of ductwork that you have. Many homeowners don't realize that the size and structure of the air ducts contribute to the performance of their heating system. If your air ducts are too small, you'll have a hard time getting the heat where you need it to be. If they are too large, you risk heat dissipation before the air reaches the vents. Your heating installation technician will assess the air ducts and may recommend changes if necessary to help ensure adequate heat distribution throughout your house. This includes both the distribution ducts as well as the air returns.

What Type Of Air Conditioner Are You Using?

When you've narrowed down your furnace options based on the demand of your home and the airflow situation, the final consideration for a comprehensive heating system is whether or not the furnace will work in conjunction with your air conditioner. If you have a central air conditioning system, it's more convenient to install a furnace system that will work with it. When the blower fan is compatible, your systems will work in collaboration to ensure the proper distribution of both heated and cooled air throughout your house. This may help you to moderate your climate control costs because your entire climate control system will be working at peak efficiency.

These are some of the most important factors that directly affect the type of furnace that you should install when you're ready to replace your existing unit. If you've decided that you want to change the type of furnace you're using, that's a far more complex process. In either case, it's best to work with a heating services technician who can help you assess your home's needs and find the solution that best fits those needs as well as your budget.

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