When it’s time to get a new furnace, there are several things you should consider before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your space and your family’s needs in mind, Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. can help you find the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first aspects you need to decide is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America utilize natural gas, but some houses are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s important to know which type of fuel is required for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to consider which type of furnace you’d prefer to successfully meet your needs. Furnaces come in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat consistently at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency amid these options. A two-stage furnace works well for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace operates at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating boost on the frigid the Rio Grande Valley days. But if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be an ideal solution.
Unlike single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a specific number of stages to go through to provide heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually run at different capacities to meet your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to incorporate a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another thing to think about. You could save costs by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you regularly use, rather than trying to keep the whole house at the same temperature. If you want more to know more about zoning solutions for your home, Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. can help.
Size
Another important part of choosing the best furnace for your home is making sure it’s the proper size for your house. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy continuously cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to warm your home on the coldest the Rio Grande Valley days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is calculated by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating identifies the ratio of annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total annual fossil fuel energy it consumes. For example, an 80 percent AFUE rating means that 80 percent of energy in the fuel heats the home and the other 20 percent gets out through places like the furnace venting. For a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll want to look for an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, it helps to do some research when searching for a replacement furnace. But, you’re not in this alone. Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. is here to answer all of your questions and help you select a furnace that matches your home and heating needs. Just give us a call at 956-630-3522 or arrange an appointment with us online.