Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Furnace Replacement and Maintenance Plans

Fall will be here before we know it, and with it comes the fall weather. Make sure you are prepared by having your heating equipment serviced, or look into replacing your heating system if necessary.

You may want to consider replacing your furnace if:
Your furnace is more than 15 years old. Furnaces built today are more efficient and breakdown less often
You want to change fuel types (e.g., from electric to natural gas)
You have expanded your house and the existing furnace cannot handle the new heating load
You have an older furnace that is not compatible with the new air conditioner you would like to buy

To keep your furnace working at its best, consider investing in a maintenance plan. Early warning signs can be detected and addressed before serious problems occur, saving you money. Also, a well maintained system will minimize energy consumption, prolong the life of your equipment and reduce the likelihood of emergency calls.

To determine the correct furnace size for a given house, a heat-load calculation must be performed. This calculation takes into account a number of factors including the size and orientation of the house, the local landscaping, the number of windows, and the number of occupants. Too large a furnace means you will use (and pay for) more fuel than necessary; too little means you won't be comfortable. Northern Air ClimateCare can advise you which size is best for your situation. The sizing of your furnace is critical to proper operation; never leave this to guess work.