How to Choose a Gas Furnace

The temperature in your home may be uncomfortable, or your existing furnace may be 10 to 20 years old. Time for a new gas furnace? Shopping around for the cheapest unit may not be the right solution. There are many other things you will need to take into account before making your choice. Here are some guidelines that will help you select the best gas furnace for your home:

How Large should the Gas Furnace be?

When it comes to furnaces, size counts—a lot. A gas furnace that's too small won't keep the house comfortable during extreme cold. To avoid that situation, many gas furnaces are too large for the home they're installed in. The problem with an oversized furnace is that it will cycle on and off more frequently, compared to a correctly-sized one. That puts more wear on its components, wastes energy, and may cause the temperature to vary uncomfortably. Also, upgrading to a larger furnace may require larger ductwork to be installed for the increased airflow. Without proper duct sizing, the airflow can be noisy.

If you're not sure what size you need, Contact JD Swallow Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors; they can take a look at the number of windows and size of rooms in your home, as well as insulation levels, construction materials and other information, and determine what size is best for your home.

How Long Do You Plan to Stay in Your Home?

A typical gas furnace heating system will last around 25 years. If you plan on staying in your home for at least 10 to 15 years, you will need a better quality, reliable, high-efficiency gas furnace. On the other hand, if you plan to live in your current dwelling for only a few years, you will still want to select a good quality gas furnace, but you may not want the most expensive, highest-quality one available.

Looking for a new gas furnace? Check out the three choices for Home Heating and Air Conditioning packages — the Platinum, the Gold and the Silver. Find out more about all of the different gas furnace models that JD Swallow Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors has to offer.

What Is the Efficiency Rating of the Gas Furnace?

Efficiency in a gas furnace lowers your heating bills. Gas furnace efficiency is described by its annual fuel-utilization-efficiency (AFUE) rating, which is measured as a percentage. The higher that percentage, the more heat the furnace can produce from each unit of gas. This also translates into a lower environmental impact of its emissions.

Today, all gas furnaces sold in Canada are high-efficiency, which means you won't find anything with an AFUE of 90 per cent. In general, higher efficiency rated furnaces are more expensive; but you will be able to recoup the extra money you spent through the energy you save, particularly if you opt for an Energy Star-rated furnace.

To find out what others are saying about their gas furnaces, read some of the testimonials that our satisfied customers have provided.

For more information about purchasing a new gas furnace, contact JD Swallow Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors.