7 Things to Know Before Purchasing a Furnace in Louisville

Purchasing a new furnace may not be a priority in the immediate future. But it’s wise to know the things that will likely influence your selection when you’re ready to buy. Here are seven things you’ll want to think about when you’re due for furnace replacement in Fort Lauderdale.

1. Size and Installation Quality

To operate at peak efficiency and comfort, your furnace must be correctly sized for your home. When it comes to furnaces, bigger is definitely not better. We frequently get requests from customers to install a big furnace in the misguided belief that a larger furnace is either more reliable or will provide better comfort.

The opposite is true. Oversized furnaces will short cycle, or continuously turn on and off. This leaves you cold, with higher energy bills and a furnace that could wear out much sooner.

This is why it’s important to work with the right company when buying a new furnace. Even if it’s the correct size but improperly installed, the U.S. Department of Energy says you could forfeit as much as 30% of your energy efficiency.

Another key component of installation is ductwork. If yours is old or designed wrong, you might have problems with sound or comfort. A furnace is only as effective as the duct system it’s linked to.

At Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, our Expert HVAC technicians are ACE certified, which means they’re knowledgeable about repairing and installing various kinds of home comfort systems. In addition to technical skill, our technicians are also trained in treating you fairly. We also support our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for a year.*

2. Energy Efficiency

Furnaces are rated by a term known as AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency. Like miles per gallon on cars, this rates the annual gas consumption of a furnace. The greater the number, the less gas is spent during the heating process.

If your current furnace is 15 years old, it’s likely rated well below 80 AFUE. As an example, if your HVAC system is 70 AFUE, you’re throwing away up to 30 cents of each dollar you spend on heating.

Here’s how AFUE ratings work today:

80 AFUE—minimum efficiency rating in the U.S. and Canada.
90 AFUE—ENERGY STAR® rating for furnaces in the U.S. South.
95 AFUE—ENERGY STAR® rating for furnaces in the U.S. North and Canada.
98 AFUE—best efficiency rating available.

3. Blower Motor Technology

As you evaluate new furnaces there is one more important consideration: blower technology. This part moves air throughout your home. And it also uses a lot of electricity, so it’s essential to know about your options.

There are three kinds of blowers available on furnaces today. They include:

Standard blower motor. Furnaces that aren’t ENERGY STAR rated have a traditional blower motor that’s been mostly unchanged for the past 30 years. This motor is the least costly and also the least energy efficient.
Constant torque motor. This technology finds a balance between price and energy efficiency. It provides an electrical efficiency boost over a standard motor design.

Variable-speed motor. The most energy-efficient furnaces can operate at different speeds. Instead of running at full speed 24/7, they will quietly run at a low or medium speed at times. This helps improve your comfort while keeping energy costs down, both in the winter and summer. And it also keeps indoor humidity under control.

4. Sound Reduction Technology

Sound has become a very significant consideration with furnace installation, so another dramatic improvement has been keeping noise under control. Some of these features include:

Sealed and insulated cabinets
Variable-speed blower technology

Nearly silent gas burners

With this technology, you might not even notice that your furnace is running.

5. Smart Thermostat

You probably have a programmable thermostat, but it’s quite possible you probably aren’t making the most of your energy savings. These thermostats can be challenging to program, especially if your schedule varies from day to day.

A smart thermostat eliminates all the guesswork about energy efficiency. Many models can learn from your temperature preferences and then produce an energy-saving schedule to match. They also recognize when you’re home or away and will adjust your heating and cooling as needed.

As a bonus, you’ll also be able to monitor and adjust your settings from just about anyplace on your phone. Some models can even notify you if they find a problem with your furnace or remind you when it’s time to replace your air filter.

6. Warranty

There’s a major difference in furnace quality and reliability. Like any big purchase, we believe it’s wisest to go with a major brand name. With a leading brand like Lennox® or Goodman®, you’ll have more confidence in the technology and that the manufacturer will stand by its product warranty over the long term.

Furnaces usually have two primary warranty coverage areas:

Heat exchanger. This is the center of the furnace and the most expensive component to replace. This part typically has a 20-year limited warranty or lifetime limited warranty, but this can vary based on the manufacturer and furnace model.

Main components. This includes the blower motor, electronic controls, ignitors and other key parts. Warranties can range from as short as a one-year limited warranty to as long as a 10-year limited warranty.

When reviewing warranty coverage, it’s important to know it’s limited. So, you should make sure you get the restrictions. For example, nearly all standard manufacturer warranties only include the cost of the replacement part, not labor. And labor on a new heat exchanger could get costly.

Once your new furnace is running, make sure you complete the product registration immediately. Many manufacturers may limit the warranty term if the product registration is not done. This step is simple and usually only takes a few minutes.

7. Cost

How much does all this cost anyway? It could range from $1,700 for a basic furnace, or $5,500 or more for a high-efficiency model.

As you think about these costs and the impact to your budget, remember that unlike nearly every other appliance you may need to purchase, your new furnace may help pay for itself from the monthly energy savings it offers.

A couple of other ways to save include:

Getting a new air conditioner simultaneously.
Purchasing at the ideal time, such as in early fall, mid-winter and early spring. You may be able to get additional discounts and rebates during this slower season.
Take advantage of rebates from the federal and state government, as well as from your local utility provider. We can help you figure out this process.

Finance your new furnace or enroll in our exclusive HVAC Advantage Program™. For just one low monthly fee, you’ll receive a new furnace with repairs and maintenance included.*

How Do I Know When to Replace My Furnace?

Now that you know what to search for in a new furnace, when should you replace your outdated one? Here are a few tips from our Experts that will help you make that decision.

Age

Heating systems typically last 15–20 years. How long yours will last depends on whether you’ve kept up with furnace maintenance, where you live and your temperature preferences. If you’re in a place with harsh winters, your furnace will run more frequently, potentially making it wear out faster. The same applies if you like to keep your home at a warmer temperature.

Repair Frequency and Cost

Just like any appliance, as furnaces age, the potential for frequent furnace repair increases. If your system is more than 15 years old, those repairs can be especially costly. Common and costly repairs on an older furnace include:

Blower motor failures
Ignition control failures
Heat exchanger failures

If repairs are greater than the half the price of a new furnace, it’s generally recommended to replace it.

Energy Efficiency

Furnaces older than 15 years can be extremely inefficient. You could be wasting as much as 30% of the money you spend to heat your home. High energy costs and the desire to reduce energy consumption are also strong reasons to think about replacing your furnace. In fact, an independent study by Decision Analyst reveals nearly 20% of homeowners who recently replaced their furnace specifically did so to lower their energy bills.

Trust Your Furnace Replacement to the Experts

It can feel overwhelming trying to investigate furnace features on your own. Or know exactly when you should replace your furnace. Our Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Experts are here to make the process much easier. Contact us at 954-736-4314 or schedule an appointment online to request your free home comfort assessment today.

*For HVAC Service Memberships, certain warranty exclusions and limitations apply. See your signed agreement for full terms and conditions. For the Advantage Program™, please see your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. Lease with approved credit; visit ServiceExperts.com for details.