How to Buy a New Gas Furnace

A bad gas furnace will cost you money and leave you cold.

A furnace can be one of the more expensive and important items for your home. A furnace is necessary for heat and hot water, especially in colder climates. However, running an inefficient furnace contributes to a high energy bill and has a negative environmental impact. Therefore, it is in your best interest to choose a furnace that is both safe and economical, since a bad choice will negatively affect both the environment and your finances.

Instructions

1. Read the reviews of gas furnaces you are interested in. Many consumer websites such as consumerreports.org have reviews of products from actual users. They are usually accurate and honest and can at the very least give you an idea of the type of service you can expect from the product.

2. Purchase an energy-efficient gas furnace. According to energystar.gov, "ENERGY STAR qualified oil and gas furnaces have annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 85% and 90%, or greater, making them up to 15% more efficient than standard models." This will directly reduce your energy costs, saving you money. Energy Star-qualified models have a sticker on them clearly displaying their ratings and cost effectiveness.

3. Size the furnace correctly. A furnace that is too large will cycle off and on more frequently, which wastes energy, causes temperature variations and puts more wear and tear on its components. A furnace that is too small can't heat a house comfortably during extremely cold weather. Hire a contractor that has verified experience using industry-standard calculation to correctly determine the heating needs of your house. Use these calculations to find the correct furnace size for your home.

4. Purchase a system with automatic features. Automatic climate control and an automatic on/off emergency switch are examples of automatic features. These features allow you to leave your furnace on without worrying about forgetting to turn it off or having to constantly set the best temperature for your home.

5. Prepare the duct work in your home. Hire a contractor to check your duct work and repair any breaks in the seals or replace any damaged areas. This will ensure that your new furnace will run efficiently and remain operationally sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Although highly energy-efficient models may cost more initially, they actually save you more money in the long run due to lower energy costs.

References

• Consumer Reports: Heating with gas: A guide to choosing size, efficiency, and features
• Energy Star: Furnaces for Consumers
• Galt: Replacing a Furnace