Your decision to shop for a new furnace is not like deciding you want a new car or suit; you either need a new furnace or you do not. Fashion and whim have no part in your decision, but cold economics—and cold days—matter. When you shop for a new furnace, consider these factors.
Sizing
Your old furnace in your Los Angeles home may be two decades old, and inefficient compared to today’s models. You may be able to get a smaller unit that produces more heat. Smaller units come with lower labor costs, generally. Your HVAC contractor should size your heating needs without regard to the old model.
Fuel
Furnaces today can be fired by electricity (very pricey), oil (pricey), liquid propane or natural gas. Air-source heat pumps are alternatives to furnaces that were not readily available 20 years ago. When you shop for a furnace, be open to looking at heat pumps; they are cost-effective because they can cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Labor
Every new furnace installation comes with labor costs to remove the old model, install the new one and modify ductwork if needed.
Accessories
Valuable and helpful accessories can be added to your new furnace. When you shop for a new furnace, consider these add-ons:
- zone control
- whole-house humidifier
- deep-media air filter
- programmable thermostats
Efficiency
Your Los Angeles home’s old furnace may have provided good, but not great, service for many years. If it performed at around 80 percent efficiency, you lost a little money with each firing. When you shop for a new furnace, consider stepping up to much higher efficiencies. These models, such as condensing gas furnaces, will wring every bit of heat energy from your expensive fuel, saving you money over their lifetimes.
Warranties
The manufacturer’s warranty protects you from mechanical defects. The contractor’s warranty safeguards against installation errors. Extended warranties and third-party warranties are often available on new furnaces, but at a price. Expect written warranties, of course.
To learn more strategies when you shop for a new furnace, contact us at Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace shopping and other HVAC topics, downloadour free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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