Replacing Your Residential Heating System? Here Are 3 FAQs To Guide You

The furnace is a crucial piece of equipment that provides heat in most households during winter. Despite that, every furnace has a projected service life within which it provides peak performance if effectively maintained. Nonetheless, your heating system's efficiency reduces drastically as it approaches the end of its lifespan. Since you want to sustain your household's comfort, it is essential that you engage an HVAC expert for timely unit replacement.

The following are FAQs you may have as you seek to replace your furnace.

What Types of Units Are Available?

You can choose an oil, natural gas, or electric furnace when replacing your previous heating unit. Natural gas furnaces use cheap fossil fuels as a source of energy, making them an energy-efficient selection. Moreover, these furnaces utilize a pilot light to ignite the gas flowing into the system. Consequently, the hot combustion raises the air temperature and circulates it through your home.

On the other hand, oil furnaces burn oil to convert it into energy. These heating systems require an on-site storage tank to feed the furnace with oil for combustion. Although they are cheaper than gas furnaces, they require more maintenance due to soot build-up.

Electric furnaces use electric heating elements to heat the air that warms your home. They operate like gas-fired systems but comprise electric starters instead of pilot lights. Despite the high running costs of electric units, they operate more efficiently, cutting overall operational costs.

How Long Does Replacing a Furnace Take?

Typically, a furnace technician can replace your heating appliance within a day. However, if they determine that your ducts need sealing or additional insulation, it may take more time. The professional may also spend more time if you want to install a different type of furnace than what you had previously. This is because additional time goes towards tasks such as ductwork installation and additional venting.

Another factor that determines the duration of the furnace replacement project is the size of your house. Generally, a bigger home with more occupants will require a larger unit, which will likely take longer to install.

What Size of Furnace Do You Need?

A furnace specialist will help you establish what size of furnace you require for your household. They conduct a load calculation test for your home, check the airflow and determine how well air circulates through your house. Furthermore, they factor in openings such as doors and windows, the number of occupants, and rooms to ascertain the furnace size that will meet your household heating needs.

When you're looking to replace your heating system, you need to engage the services of an HVAC expert. This technician can guide you through selecting and installing your replacement for optimal performance.

Reach out to an HVAC contractor to learn more.

About Me

Perfecting My Home HVAC System

After dealing with almost constant air conditioner and furnace failures, I realized I might not be doing my part to keep my systems clean and operational. To sort out the issues, I turned to a professional repairman for help. He explained that since I wasn't changing the filters regularly, there was no telling what would happen. I learned how to clean evaporator coils, replace filters, and even sort out power failures on my own. I want other people to experience the confidence and comfort that comes along with protecting your own HVAC system, so I put up this blog.

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