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Choosing a New Gas Furnace for Your Home - Are you in the market for a new gas furnace for your home? Whether you’re buying a furnace for the first time or you’re ready to replace an existing one in your home, it’s important to do some research. Especially when purchasing a gas furnace before you make a decision.
This is a big purchase for a homeowner—one that should last 15 to 20 years. You want to ensure you’re getting the right furnace for your home at the right price.
Additionally, gas furnace efficiency is becoming increasingly important when choosing a furnace. Utility bills are ever-increasing. Making the right selection now can save you a bundle in energy costs in the future. Continue reading to learn how to navigate all of the gas furnace technical reviews online. This will help you make the best decision when it comes to heating your home.
Choosing a New Gas Furnace for Your Home
When choosing a new gas furnace for your home it’s important to consider many factors. Choose the right size for your home. When buying a gas furnace, one of the first things you should consider is size. It’s really important to choose the right size furnace for your space in order to get the most efficient and cost-effective solution.
If the furnace is too small for your living space, it won’t heat it properly. If the furnace is too big, it can waste energy, cause temperatures to fluctuate, and even wear down the hardware by constantly cycling on and off.
Gas Furnace Reviews Models Comparison Chart
| Gas Furnace Model Comparison Chart |
|---|
| Premium Model Series Mid Range Models Economy Models |
| AFUE Ratings for premium models |
| Warranty information for heat exchangers |
| Blowers for premium models |
| Modulating or staging (range of operation) |
| Cabinet insulation for heat transfer and sound |
| Inducer motor type |
| Heat exchanger construction |
| Overall warranty information for model |
| Does it meet ENERGY STAR Gas Furnace qualifications |
Firstly, how do you choose the right size? Every furnace has a heat output average measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). When browsing gas furnace reviews, take note of the BTUs of each furnace and compare this with the size of your home using a conversion chart or calculator.
It may be best to call in a professional HVAC contractor to complete an in-home evaluation. There are many factors, beyond just square footage, that go into choosing the right size furnace such as the climate you live in and how well your home is insulated.
Efficiency and Choosing a New Gas Furnace for Your Home
Efficiency matters. Another important factor to consider when buying a gas furnace is its efficiency—not only for environmental reasons but also to ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck.
Furnaces are rated annually based on how well they convert gas into heat, and this rating is reflected in an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE score. The higher the AFUE rating, the higher the energy efficiency. This higher AFUE rating will save you money in the future with energy bills through energy savings.
High AFUE or Efficiency of the Gas Furnace
With a high AFUE rating comes lower monthly heating bills, but it also comes with a higher price tag on your gas furnace. If you live in a very cold climate, a high-efficiency furnace is worth the price tag as the savings on your monthly fuel bill for the next 15-20 years will be worth the added cost upfront. If you live in a milder climate, it may not be worth the extra cash.
Don’t overlook the details. When perusing gas furnace technical reviews, there are seemingly endless features to compare between models. Some of these add-ons are unnecessary, but there are certain key features like variable-speed blowers and two-stage furnaces that are worth spending the money on. It’s also important to look at the warranty, as low-efficiency models have shorter, less comprehensive warranties than more premium models.
Since it’s a big investment, a good warranty on your new furnace may make or break your decision.
Furnace Model Pricing Guide | Choosing a New Gas Furnace for Your Home
High Efficiency Furnace Models
Higher Upfront Costs for Initial Purchase- High efficiency gas furnaces cost more for installation because of added features and components. The return on investment is higher and over the life of the equipment, if properly installed and set up, will save you money off the higher installation cost.
- An energy Star rating
- 95% AFUE+ rated
- Are modulating or 2-stage gas furnaces
- Have advanced controls and diagnostics features
- Generally have better warranties (although these are limited warranties)
- Require a trained technician for installation, servicing, and repairing
Mid-Range Gas Furnace Models
Medium Upfront Costs for Initial Purchase- Mid-range gas furnaces cost more than economy models for installation because of added features and components. The return on investment is higher over economy models and over the life of the equipment, if properly installed and set up, will save you money off the higher installation cost.
- High efficiency furnaces generally have:
- An Energy Star rating
- 90% AFUE+ rated
- Are 2-stage gas furnaces/sometimes single stage
- Some models have advanced controls and diagnostics features
- Generally have better warranties over economy models (although these are limited warranties)
- Most require a trained technician for installation, servicing, and repairing
Economy Model Gas Furnaces
Low Upfront Costs for Initial Purchase- Economy model gas furnaces are sometimes referred to as builders grade models. These are generally the least efficient furnaces allowed by Department of Energy guidelines for minimum efficiency appliances and equipment. These furnaces will give you heating but no big savings on the gas bill.
- Economy Model Gas Furnaces generally are:
- 80% AFUE rated
- Low upfront cost for initial purchase
- No fancy controls or diagnostics
- Higher utility bills than mid-range or premium models
- Have basic controls, features and components
- Come with lower terms for the manufacturer on the warranty.
Conclusion | Additional Features
Lastly, when it comes to heating your home always make sure humidification of the home is included. Low humidity in the winter will mean you will feel colder. High humidity will mean you feel warmer thereby allowing you to reduce the setpoint temperature of the thermostat and still feel comfortable. This is also a factor in air conditioning as a part of the air conditioner cooling cycle is to removed excess humidity in the air of your home.
This makes you feel cooler. However, you want to maintain a balance of humidity in your home. Too much is bad as well as not enough. Your HVAC contractor can help you maintain the appropriate levels in your home for comfort and health.
Now that you have some tips for purchasing a gas furnace, be sure to check out our gas furnace reviews to find the best one for you and your home.
To read more about gas furnaces including gas furnace reviews visit our gas furnace reviews pages.
Choosing a New Gas Furnace for Your Home
It makes sense that getting a furnace that is the right size for your home will ensure that it will run efficiently. My wife and I just bought a small house and would like to keep our living room warm during winter since our concrete flooring tends to make the house cold. We’ll be sure to find a furnace that is an appropriate size.