A modern gas furnace is an effective home heating option that’s durable and energy efficient. Bearing these facts in mind, it should come as no surprise that many people choose to heat their homes with natural gas if it’s available for their home. Every home heating system should be installed by a certified professional that has experience with domestic heating systems. This is especially true with a gas furnace, a poorly installed heating system can cause a host of problems, and it may even be dangerous to use. In this article, we will look at seven critical ways that a poor furnace installation could cost you more money in the end.
- Installing the Wrong Size Furnace
A poor installation can start before any work begins if you choose a gas furnace that’s the wrong size for your home. A good HVAC contractor should be involved early in the process, and they will be able to carry out the correct load calculations. Many people wrongly believe that a larger size of furnace is always better. It’s important to understand that if your furnace is too large, it could lead to a variety of problems, such as humidity issues, poor indoor air quality, frequent breakdowns, high energy costs, and strange noises when operating. If your chosen installer suggests installing the same size furnace and you’ve mentioned having problems be wary about their competence. Finally, when you’re choosing a gas furnace, know the size you need first and get a newer model that will be energy efficient.
- Bad Air Distribution Design
The gas furnace is only a part of the heating system in your home. The heated air has to be distributed throughout the home, and this is carried with the duct system. The ductwork system must be well designed to suit the equipment that you’re using and the size of your home. It’s important that the chosen duct size matches the output capacity of the furnace. Some contractors may take a shortcut by installing a new furnace and using the existing ductwork, which may not be suitable. If new ductwork is needed it should be installed carefully to avoid any leaks to ensure that the efficiency is maximized.
- Bad Ductwork Installation Techniques
We briefly mentioned this above, but this is important enough to talk about in more detail. A good HVAC contractor will put in the work to install new ductwork that’s suitable for your heating system and home. Some less diligent contractors may cut corners by using cheaper materials that are not adequate for prolonged use. In some cases, a bad contractor may rush the installation or use bad techniques. Any or all of these factors can lead to bad ductwork that is prone to cracks and gaps. When you’ve paid good money to heat the air, the last thing that you want is for that treated air to escape. This will lower the efficiency of your heating system, and it could lead to other problems, such as cold spots, strange noises, and humidity issues.
- An Incorrectly Sized Exhaust System
A home heating system can be a source of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide that have to be vented out of your home. This gas is exhausted via a flue and if the exhaust flue or damper is incorrectly sized those toxic fumes could linger in your home. Even a small accumulation of carbon monoxide can lead to a number of health issues, such as dizziness, nausea and even a fatality in extreme cases. Your chosen HVAC contractor should take this seriously to ensure that your home is safe. It’s also important that carbon monoxide detectors are installed to warn you in the event of a gas leak.
- A Badly Designed Drain System
Many people are unaware that their furnaces can create a large quantity of wastewater during normal operations. This water needs to be drained away from the unit safely with a well designed drain system. If the drain system is poorly designed or incorrectly installed it can cause water leaks in your home. Water damage is bad enough, but during the colder months any water backed up in the pipes could freeze. This may damage the furnace and lead to a costly repair bill. If water is allowed to accumulate in the home, it could also lead to mold growth and a reduction in indoor air quality.
- Electrical Supply Problems
If you have an electric furnace, you will know that it needs to draw a considerable amount of power from the electrical circuit in your home. Many people are unaware that their gas furnace also needs a supply of electricity to function. Many modern gas furnaces have an electronic ignition to start the furnace up, and this will need to be connected to a breaker. Ideally, a furnace should be installed on a separate electrical circuit so that heating is not interrupted by other appliances. This circuit breaker needs to installed correctly, if it’s too small, it will constantly trip, and this will affect how well your furnace works.
- Fuel Leaks
Any type of combustion furnace will need to be connected to the relevant fuel source before it will work. This is an extremely important connection, and if it isn’t done right, it could lead to fuel leaks. Obviously, this is dangerous, and it could lead to a number of serious situations that you want to avoid to protect your family.
A home heating system represents a significant investment in your home comfort. It makes good sense to protect that investment by using a professional local HVAC specialist to help you plan and install your new system. Everyone likes to save money, but hiring a lazy or incompetent contractor that cuts corners and uses inferior materials is not a smart strategy. Sooner or later problems will surface that will cost more to fix than it would have cost to hire a good contractor in the first place.