The best time to replace your heater is during the fall before winter weather blows through. A furnace is a significant investment, and you need to take your time to pick the best. Below are some of the factors to consider when shopping for a new furnace in Youngsville, LA.
Furnace Size
Properly sizing a furnace ensures efficient heating of your home. If a furnace is bigger than your home needs, it’ll run short cycles and consume more energy to switch on and off constantly.
A licensed HVAC service technician can help you calculate the best heating system size for your home. Service technicians consider your home’s square footage, windows and insulation when sizing your heater.
Fuel Source
A furnace can run on gas, electricity or oil. Homes with ready-installed gas lines will benefit from a gas furnace. Gas is also cheaper than electricity per unit and will benefit you during long, cold winters.
Electric furnaces are smaller and more cost effective to install. However, electric furnaces will cost you more in operational costs. Oil furnaces are also cost-effective to install, but the price of oil fluctuates and may even be costlier than electricity per unit.
Efficiency
The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of your furnace indicates the percentage of fuel converted to usable heat. New systems have a minimum AFUE rating of 81% with an average rating of between 80% and 85%. The best furnaces in the industry have a minimum AFUE rating of about 95%.
High-efficiency furnaces will lower your energy bills, especially if you replace an old system. This will also cut down your carbon footprint.
A service technician can help you pick the right heater for your home. Call Desormeaux’s Heating & Air Conditioning in Youngsville, LA, for heating installation and consultation and for our other HVAC services.
Image provided by iStock
