So you’re thinking about a new furnace. Maybe the furnace sitting in your basement is 15 years old, perhaps it’s been red-tagged and for all intents and purposes condemned… or maybe you’re simply trying to figure out a way to become more efficient.
Whatever the reason is for look at a new furnace, this guide will show you exactly how to choose a furnace. This process is the same every single time.
There are 5 Factors that always come up when looking at a new furnace:
1. Brand – How to choose a furnace brand? Most brands these days are pretty reputable, but like all other things in this world, some are better than others. Most furnaces are manufactured in the United States, though the odd few are made in Canada… or assembled in Canada (some of these have components that are made in China). What ever you choose, do yourself a favor and ask around, check the Better Business Bureau, or talk to your neighbors. Choosing a brand is not as big a deal as choosing the right installer. In other words, if the most fantastic furnace in the world is poorly installed, it will not operate properly… you’ll be calling for service calls all the time, and you’ll be utterly frustrated… and ultimately, you will blame the furnace. Find a good installer, that does good clean work… and by the way, almost always that installer will not be the cheapest one out of all your quotes! Personally, I’m a little biased towards Lennox products, but that’s just only because of my personal experience.
Skilled Labor is not cheap… and Cheap Labor is not Skilled!
2. Efficiency – You’ll find as you do your research, hit different websites and talk to different contractors that many furnace differ in their efficiency. Some are 95% efficient… others 97.5%… some 93%… what does it all mean? The fact is that it doesn’t really mean a whole lot. Naturally we lean towards the most efficient furnace as being the most sought after right? But why? Well 97% has got to be better than 96% right? The reality is that when using natural gas to heat our house, that 1% difference accounts for about $7/year for most houses… a really big house (with a big furnace) that number may be $10/year. When using propane, perhaps $12-$15/year for that 1% difference in efficiency. What I’m getting at is to not put a lot of emphasis on the efficiency of the furnace as a major factor in how to choose a furnace. I’m not saying that a 97% furnace is not a good idea… it is… but given the cost of all the fuels we use in the course of a year, $7 – $8 /year is small potatoes.
3. Size – Size matters! When a furnace is installed that is too small, it will not operate properly. When a furnace that is installed that is too big, it will not operate properly. So how do you know when the furnace that is proposed to you is indeed the right size? There’s only one way to know for sure. Make sure that the heating contractor you choose has done an “actual” calculation…. not just scanned over the house while walking through and determined the right size furnace. Nor should you simply assume that the furnace you have was sized correctly as well. Just because it’s sitting in your basement now, and has been for the past 15 years, it doesn’t mean it’s the right size. In fact 90% of the homes built within the past 25 years had oversized furnaces. No joke! I go into many homes for a furnace quote… often I’m the third or fourth contractor in the house… and usually I’m the first one to actually measure the house and do a real calculation. A properly sized furnace is key in how to choose a furnace.
Size Matters! It is imperative that a furnace is not too small… or not too big. Be 100% certain that when you invest in your furnace, it is sized correctly. It’s your money… spend it wisely!
4. Type of furnace – What comfort level, noise level, additional functions such as WiFi, or communicating technology may be the biggest factor in how to choose furnace. There are three major types of furnaces – and this goes throughout the brands. One brand may have a slight deviation on how it operates compared to another, but these three types of furnaces are common throughout all the brands on the market: A modulating furnace, a 2 stage furnace, and a single stage furnace. I won’t go into a lot of detail here as I there is another full article here, complete with videos that explains the difference between the technologies and why you might want to choose one over the other. Click Here to Learn about Single Stage, 2-Stage, and Modulating furnaces.
5. Blower Fan Motor – A high efficient blower fan motor may be the biggest bang for your buck regarding how to choose a furnace. At 2015 electricity prices in Ontario, using a variable speed ECM blower fan motor in your furnace will save you about $450/year (over your older 10-20 year old furnace) if you only use your furnace during the heating season. If you run your circulation fan all the time, which is recommended in most cases, add another $100/year in savings… and if you’re like me and you both heat and cool your house… and run the fan pretty much all the time, then figure on over $600/year in savings… or $50/month discount on your hydro bill. Here’s a video that I did a few years ago that explains the difference between a DC (ECM) blower fan motor and a standard AC (PSC) blower fan motor. Blower Fan Motors.
Hope fully I have given you some food for thought, and perhaps given you a better path, or more direction, on to to choose a furnace. If you live in the Greater Ottawa Area, feel free to contact me for your furnace quote or to share your thoughts.
Leave your comment below and I will be certain to reply promptly. Cheers!