If your old furnace quits and requires costly repairs, it’s almost definitely time to replace it. But what are some other scenarios where you should consider replacing your furnace?

Here are a few:

• The furnace is more than 12 years old: All warranties have likely expired, and system components are nearing the end of their life
• You want a more efficient furnace: New, high-efficiency furnaces cost less to run. You can also choose a furnace with two stages of heat or a modulating gas valve to reduce operating costs.
• You’re already replacing your air conditioner: If the furnace is the same age as your air conditioner, it’s probably more cost-effective to replace it at the same time as your AC.
• You’re always uncomfortable: Your furnace might have been the wrong size for your home all along. Oversized furnaces are expensive to run, fail sooner, and rarely provide even temperatures throughout your home.

To ensure you get the right size and type of furnace, we follow a rigorous pre-installation process.

Here’s how we help maximize your investment in a new furnace:

• Manual J load calculation for proper HVAC sizing. This exercise helps us determine the proper number of BTUs for your new furnace.
• Ductwork analysis to assess airflow across your home, static pressure, and overall ductwork performance
• Additional calculations, such as Manuals D, S, and T help us recommend the right furnace and determine whether ductwork modifications are required to accommodate your selection
• Combustion analysis to ensure the furnace vents properly and isn’t at risk for sending carbon monoxide (CO) into your living space
• Options for two-stage and modulating furnaces that provide more efficient operation compared to single-stage units.

• Standard efficiency or 80% AFUE: These work well in vented attics or crawlspaces and may cost less to operate than the furnace you’re replacing. An 80% furnace uses atmospheric combustion and is probably similar to the type of furnace you’re replacing.
• High efficiency or 90%+ AFUE: This type of furnace uses closed combustion and is a good choice for tight, sealed environments or for when you want the lowest operating costs.

• Single stage: This is a standard furnace that turns on when you need heat and turns off when it satisfies your thermostat setting. It always runs at full capacity when it’s on.
• Two stages: These furnaces have “high” and “low” settings. They run at the low stage most of the time, providing even and consistent heat. They only use the higher stage when it’s very cold or you need to raise the temperature by several degrees. They’re more efficient than single-stage units.
• Modulating: With a modulating furnace, the system ramps up and down to provide the right amount of heat at the right time, no matter what the conditions are. Thanks to the included variable speed blower, the furnace fan usually operates at a low to medium speed (think less energy consumption). It’s the most efficient of the three furnace types.