Shopping For A New Furnace? Here Are Some Helpful Tips

Replacing your older furnace with a newer and more efficient model can lower the cost of keeping your home warm. A newer furnace produces less pollution and provides heat more consistently than older models. However, there are certain factors you should consider when shopping for a new furnace. Keep the following in mind:

Efficiency

The efficiency of a furnace is rated in terms of its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. The more efficient a furnace is, the more expensive it will be to operate in most cases. A furnace with 90 percent AFUE may go for $1,000 more than a unit with a 10 percent lower AFUE rating. However, you’ll be able to recover the cost via lower utility bills over the course of the unit’s life.

Note that while electric furnaces are more efficient than gas ones, electricity is often a more expensive fuel than gas. This means that an electric furnace may still be more expensive to run.

Size

It’s extremely important that you select the right-sized furnace. An undersized furnace will not be able to keep your home sufficiently warm when the weather outside is very cold. On the other hand, an oversized furnace will cycle on and off too frequently, which can cause parts to wear out more quickly.

Reliability and Servicing

No matter which brand you choose, you’ll need to maintain your unit to ensure that it functions properly over the long-term. This includes regularly changing filters and having it inspected by an HVAC technician.

If you’re shopping for a new furnace, contact Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning. We have been providing quality HVAC services to the Manhattan and Westchester areas for over 20 years. Our HVAC experts will be able to provide the advice you need to make a good decision.