Now that winter is officially here and you’re using your furnace every day, you may be experiencing some signs that it’s time to replace the unit. Signs like uneven heating, unpleasant smells when the heat blows or unexplained knocking noises from the furnace.
Whether you have a 15-year-old furnace that’s just beginning to show its age or a 23-year-old unit that’s barely limping along, it may be time to consider replacing that furnace. Doug’s is here to help make choosing your new furnace easy with these 5 simple steps.
Step 1: Have an HVAC professional assess your furnace’s condition and efficiency.
A licensed and experienced professional (like Doug’s!) can tell you whether the poor performance you’re experiencing from your furnace is due to a major problem or just needing a tune-up.
Step 2: Determine whether your furnace needs to be repaired or replaced.
Having a new furnace installed is a big expense, so it’s a good idea to do some math and determine whether repairing your furnace is a more cost-effective solution. You can do this by multiplying the cost of repair by the age of your furnace. If the total is greater than the cost of a new furnace, it’s time to replace the unit.
Step 3: Look for energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency standards have improved significantly over the last 15 years, so a new furnace is guaranteed to be more efficient than what you have right now. But you should still look for a high AFUE rating in your new furnace. AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Use Efficiency, and the higher the number the more efficient your furnace will be. Here in the Thibodaux area an AFUE rating of 80%-90% is ideal.
Step 4: Determine the correct size furnace for your home.
A good energy efficiency rating won’t do much good if the furnace you buy doesn’t have the heating capacity to keep you home comfortable. Furnace capacity is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units, and the rule of thumb for sizing in our warm climate is 30-40 BTUs per square foot of heated space. So if you have a 2,000 sq. ft. home, your new furnace capacity should be 60,000-80,000 BTUs.
Step 5: Evaluate the warranty.
A good furnace will come with a good warranty to cover any defects or unexpected repairs the equipment may face. Look for at least a 5-year warranty; 10 years is even better. If you have the opportunity to purchase an extended warranty, go for it. This helps offset the cost of major repairs down the line.
Or Just Call Doug’s!
If you follow these 5 steps, you’ll be able to choose a new furnace that meet your home’s heating needs, but if you want to do it the easy way Doug’s can help.
We’ll evaluate your existing furnace and get you an honest appraisal of whether you need to replace it. If we find you need a new furnace, we’ll recommend a unit that has the right capacity and working efficiency to comfortably heat your home, and it will come with a rock-solid warranty.
Contact Doug’s at (985) 746-1116 to have one of our 5-star technicians evaluate your existing furnace and hvac system or learn more about our local family owned and operated full service home comfort system business.