Important Questions To Ask When Replacing A Furnace

Important Questions to Ask When Replacing a Furnace

Furnaces are one of the biggest investments you’ll make for your home. Ideally, your furnace will last 15 or 20 years, especially if you keep up with regular maintenance and repairs.

No matter what, your furnace will start to show its age eventually. Wear and tear from a decade or more of service causes furnaces to lose some efficiency and suffer some minor issues. If you have constant repairs or your furnace can’t keep up, you may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade to a new system.

Here’s all you need to know about replacing your furnace.

What Type of Furnace Should I Get?

Furnaces come in natural gas, oil, and electric versions. Natural gas furnaces are the most common and offer energy efficiency and clean burning. They operate by igniting a pilot light, which then lights the gas in the system to fuel the burners. The result is heated air that comes into your home.

Electric furnaces are also common. They operate like gas furnaces and rely on the same internal components, though they don’t have a pilot light. Instead, they use a blower to bring cool air in and push warm air out.

Finally, there’s the oil furnace. These furnaces aren’t common, but you will find them in older homes or extremely cold climates. They may be used because the home lacks the ductwork for natural gas or electric heating.

Can I Install a New Furnace on My Own?

Installing a furnace may seem simple – especially with a YouTube video, but this is not a DIY project. The average homeowner is not equipped to replace their own furnace. If it’s not done properly, it could lead to dangerous complications. Always leave furnace installation to the pros.

Image: Inside Of A Furnace.

How Do I Know It’s Time to Replace a Furnace?

Here are some signs you should replace your furnace:

  • Your home is cold: If some parts of your home aren’t as warm as they should be, despite your thermostat on high and the furnace running, you could be dealing with an aging system. It no longer has the efficiency to keep up with your home’s heating demands.
  • You have constant repairs: If you’re dealing with regular repairs for your furnace, and not just the occasional, minor repair, consider if you’d save by replacing it. The upfront cost will be more, but if your repairs are totaling half the cost of the new furnace, just cut your losses and upgrade.
  • Your furnace is older: As mentioned, furnaces last 15 or 20 years with regular maintenance. Less if you don’t take care of it. If your furnace is nearing this milestone, you should start thinking about replacing it.
  • Skyrocketing energy bills: older furnaces struggle with efficiency. You may notice a spike in your energy bills without an obvious source, such as adding rooms or a particularly cold winter.

When is the Best Time of Year to Replace a Furnace?

You can replace your furnace at any time of year. The best time is the spring and fall, however, when the HVAC technicians aren’t busy with emergency calls and repairs. You can install a new furnace in winter, but you may not want to deal with cold temps while you wait.

Image: A Calendar.

How Big Will My New Furnace Be?

Furnaces come in different sizes and choosing the right one has a big effect on your efficiency and comfort. Work with an HVAC professional to determine the ideal size for your new furnace according to your home’s needs. The HVAC professional will perform a heating load calculation test in your home, which shows how well the air circulates and the quality of the air. Then, they can recommend the most efficient furnace for your needs.

Remember, any changes you’ve made to your home will affect the furnace you need, such as adding rooms, replacing insulation, or replacing windows and doors.

How Much Does a New Furnace Cost?

Furnace costs can vary by size and efficiency, especially if you need supporting installation like ductwork or ventilation. Some homes may need more than one furnace, which will increase the costs.

Image: A Woman Going Over Her Bills.

Should I Replace My Furnace and AC at the Same Time?

There’s no rule that you have to replace the furnace and air conditioner at the same time, but it’s a good idea. Your air conditioner is probably getting old as well and pairing an older cooling system with a newer heating system puts strain on the components. Consider replacing both at the same time or within a short period of time, such as a year.

Image: A Condenser Being Installed.

How Long Does It Take to Install a New Furnace?

Most furnace installations can be completed in one day. If you’re getting a new type of furnace or adding ventilation and ductwork, this may add a few days to the installation timeline.

Will my New Furnace be Energy Efficient?

Energy efficient furnaces may cost more upfront, but they can pay off in lower energy bills over their lifespan. Furnace efficiency is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE. A high-efficiency furnace will have an AFUE of 90 or greater.

Image: A Lit Pilot Light In A Furnace.

Need your furnace repaired or replaced? Contact the pros at Sierra Air Inc. to schedule your appointment!

we are currently experience technical issues with our phone systems and will be down for a short time. We are currently working on fixing the issue and hope to be back up momentarily. Please consider using our live chat at the bottom right of the screen to reach us for now. we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are currently facing issues with our phone system. However, you can still reach our team by submitting a form on our website, and we will respond to you as quickly as possible. Contact form.