Relying on an older furnace to get you through this winter means you are at risk for a heat emergency and likely spending more than you need to heat your home. If you are worried about that old furnace making it through the winter and you are noticing ever increasing heating bills, it’s not too late to take action.
Older furnaces become less efficient as years pass, adding dollars to your monthly heating bill and potentially leading to a break down. Regular maintenance will help extend the life of your furnace, but it’s worth considering a new, more efficient model.
The fact is, if your furnace is more than 10 years old, you can probably save a lot of money and keep your family more comfortable with a new, high-efficiency furnace.
The most efficient new furnaces are gas, forced-air models. They vent through a sidewall rather than the roof, so they use less energy and reclaim more heat before it can escape—a key problem with older models that vent through the chimney. The result is a warmer home and lower gas bills in the winter.
If you are considering a new furnace, first look at the AFUE rating. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit. More efficient furnaces come with a higher price tag, but by choosing a model that is the right size for your home you will recoup that investment through your lower heating bills. Add a zone heating system and you can save even more money.
Zone heating systems and programmable thermostats work hand-in-hand with a high-efficiency furnace to provide you maximum savings on your heating bills. Zoning in your home places sensors in multiple locations so you can avoid heating spaces that your family does not use. By programming your thermostat, you can have rooms in your home comfortable for family members at the time they are using them.
Your HVAC specialist can help you determine whether it is time to upgrade your furnace to a newer model, as well as calculating your investment to fit your budget. Installation of your high efficiency furnace may also include upgrades to ductwork and ventilation, and there may be some costs associated with an advanced thermostat.
Most homeowners, however, find they recoup the cost of a new furnace and programmable thermostat in just a few years.
For a full explanation of how a high-efficiency furnace and zoning control system can save you money and keep your family comfortable through a cold Northeast Ohio winter, contact the experts at Falls Heating & Cooling, or click here for details.