15 Must-Know Furnace Buying Tips That'll Give You An Advantage
By: For Saving Heating And Cooling
Have you ever found yourself in shock when your energy bill arrives?
If you ever wondered where all the surprising charges came from, it's most likely time you seriously think about either calling a furnace repair company and getting a furnace tune-up or upgrading to a new high-energy efficiency system.
But before you jump the gun and buy the first thing you see, do your research.
Below we highlight 15 furnace buying tips that'll put you in a powerful position where you can make the right decision for yourself and your family.
Let's get into it!
Furnace buying tip 1: New is always better, high efficiency is the key
Do you know how old your home furnace is?
Because when it comes to heating systems, age does matter.
If your furnace is more than 20 years old, it's costing you almost 50% more than it actually should.
This also means you're burning more energy.
There is a thing called AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating) where furnaces are all rated with a specific rating, and this is one thing you should consider when thinking about replacing your furnace with a new one.
Furnace buying tip 2: The importance of high efficiency
Make sure you always opt for a furnace that has higher efficiency.
At the end of the day, the main reason why you are replacing your old furnace with a new one is to take control of your gas bill.
One of the latest high-efficiency furnaces that we install is proven to be high in efficiency can help you save up to 70% on your heating and cooling bill annually in comparison to older furnaces.
Basically, in the long run, the newer furnace can help you save and make your home cozier all while operating more quietly.
This is why you should aim towards having a furnace that has a 95% rating and is ENERGY STAR certified.
And of course, remember that to qualify for the government rebate, the furnace you are planning to install has to be at least 96% efficient.
Furnace buying tip 3: When is it time to replace your furnace?
If you are interested in maximizing your savings in the long run, you would want to get rid of your old furnace and replace it with a new one as soon as possible.
And if the winter is just around the corner, then it is better to do it sooner rather than later, and do it in a way that would not affect your finances as much as you think it would.
We suggest getting in touch with a furnace installation company near you so that they could provide you with a full deal on an HVAC system.
This HVAC deal usually includes is a humidifier, air conditioner, air filtration system, and a Heat Recovery Ventilator.
From an installation point of view, this makes things a lot easier.
Now if your furnace is not working at an optimal level and needs repairs...
It's better to make the full upgrade replacement instead of paying for repairs, especially if your furnace is 8 years or older, because the costs are generally high and you're better off with the upgrade.
And rebates.
There are some pretty generous rebates out there for those who are willing to replace their furnace with a new one, so make sure you take advantage of them before they expire.
Furnace buying tip 4: An annual what?
Let us go back a step.
The AFUE is considered a rough percentage of energy that your furnace is transforming into heat during the year.
It is well known that the older furnaces convert only 65% of all the energy, meaning that almost half of the amount is wasted and it also means you are wasting a lot more money!
To compare, the newer furnaces are about 98% efficient, which means you get the full amount of what you pay for regarding your heating bill.
Furnace buying tip 5: Make sure to choose a contractor that is registered for full government rebate programs
When we are talking about the full government rebate programs, what you need to make sure of in the first place is that you are choosing a contractor that is registered for this particular program.
Make sure you do all your reading and familiarize yourself with every step of the process, including how to choose a contractor that you would benefit the most from.
Remember that not all of the heating companies are actually registered to provide this type of service, so make sure to have that in writing before you proceed with the choice you make.
Here at For Saving Heating And Cooling, we do the application process for our customers so they don't have to go through the learning curve aches and pains.
Furnace buying tip 6: Check out all financing options
All right, let’s talk finances.
When it comes to taking care of the finances, you can pay for a new furnace or your new AC with a timely set schedule that works best for you.
What you need to think about is whether you wish to pay upfront (this means to make the payment as soon as the furnace is installed) or you wish to spread the payment out throughout a year, maybe two years (depending on what suits you best).
The best thing here is that there are always various options for payment.
The first option is regular financing, which will allow you to determine the number of years between one and fifteen that would be your limit for paying off the furnace, including some flexible payments every month that you can choose from.
The other option is what we call rent to own option.
This is a bit different from the first option because it doesn’t generally require credit approval and it offers full coverage. This means you would not have to worry about paying for any repairs for the long term, which is usually about 10 years.
Furnace buying tip 7: No matter how affordable it is, you still have to find the best option for you
Okay, so there is a difference from one furnace to another, and once you have decided to replace your furnace, how to determine which one would be the best option for you?
Ask yourself, do you require the best furnace there is?
The most expensive one?
The answer is that, when it comes to being fully objective while choosing a furnace, there is not a real difference in efficiency from one furnace to another.
Just make sure to remember that, while people will insist that the efficiency of the furnace is mostly connected to the brand, the actual thing you would need to take care of is that there is a proper installation which would be done by a licensed and an experienced professional.
Furnace buying tip 8: The reliability of the furnace is divided – 60% furnace installation and 40% brand
In addition to that, there are plenty of brands to choose from when you are looking for a new furnace.
The one thing you need to remember is that it doesn't mean anything if the installation of the furnace is not done by a professional.
If you choose an unreliable contractor and receive a bad installation, you will have a higher chance of encountering some issues in the long run, and you can even have your furnace red-tagged by the company that provides for your gas.
This means that the company can shut off your gas supply after seven days if the furnace you own is not up to code.
The thing you need to be focusing on the most while getting a new furnace in terms of long-term reliability is the quality installation process.
Make sure that you choose a certified TSSA contractor so you can free your mind of any doubts, whether your gas furnace was installed wrong or right.
Also, you would have to make sure that the company you choose can offer you a one-year warranty.
You would not want to use a company that does not stand behind their work.
Remember: no matter how good the furnace is, the one thing you want to focus on is the quality installation.
Furnace buying tip 9: Beware of the reviews from customers online
We can thank the Internet for this one since whenever we want to try a product we go online and search for all the reviews we can find.
Nevertheless, the downside to this is that, for every brand that you research, you will find both good and bad reviews.
This can easily elongate the decision-making process.
There will always be some good and some bad reviews that could easily cloud your judgment, so the best thing to do would be to cross that bridge when you get to it and put your focus on quality furnace installation.
Furnace buying tip 10: Talk to the professionals
Of course, you do not have to go through the entire process alone!
You can look to furnace installation companies near you and get quotes from one or two places and talk to people who have experience in the subject.
They would be able to answer all of your questions and address any concerns you may or may not have.
When choosing the right furnace, there are things to take into consideration such as the local climate, the size of the home, the layout of the rooms, the levels of insulation, etc.
Here is where the professionals get into the scene.
They are the people you need to turn to when it comes to furnace installation and furnace cost, the entire process, the thermostat, and the overall system.
They will help you operate and take care of your new furnace in the proper way.
Furnace buying tip 11: Gather several free estimates
Since the cost of buying a furnace and having it installed can vary depending on the location of your home, the layout, and the existing furnace and duct system, you would need to choose a contractor that can offer you some free consultations and a free in-home estimate.
Here at For Saving Heating And Cooling, we offer free in-house consultations.
Furnace buying tip 12: What helps the environment?
If you care for the environment and want to help save energy, the furnace is a pretty good place to start.
The older furnaces, naturally, do not do that very well, or at all for that matter.
You are adding more pollution to the atmosphere by keeping an older furnace in your home.
They work harder while producing less heat.
High-efficiency furnaces produce more heat while saving plenty of energy and money at the same time.
Furnace buying tip 13: How to combine your new natural gas or propane furnace with some other choices, energy-efficient ones
Even if you dial down the thermostat a bit, you are contributing to a lower heating bill.
A few degrees can make up for all the difference.
The best way to do this would be to get a smart thermostat that would tune to a lower heat when you are away or when you are asleep.
And of course, you can even help your furnace too!
The best way to do that would be to take care of any leaks and damages that usually lead to loss of air.
Also, insulation on your doors, windows, and attic can be of extreme help to the new furnace as well.
Because once you install the new furnace, you would like to make sure you get the best out of it.
Furnace buying tip 14: Maintenance regularly is of utmost importance
If you want to maintain the efficiency of your furnace, make sure to get regular maintenance checks on the air filters.
If the filter does not work at an optimal level, then the furnace will work harder with lower quality results.
Annual maintenance and inspection of the air filters can increase the longevity of your furnace to lengths you could have only dreamed of.
The way to make sure that your furnace is always reaching peak efficiency is to maintain, maintain, maintain.
Set a time in the year and stick to it.
Here at For Saving Heating And Cooling, we offer monthly maintenance and protection programs for our customers.
So that's something you may want to consider when deciding on a furnace company that suits you best.
Furnace buying tip 15: Do you need to worry about the warranty?
Most of the furnace manufacturers can offer a warranty of up to 10 years.
Also, you can check with your furnace installation contractor whether there is a warranty on installation and labour.
This is something we have mentioned earlier, you don't want to hire a contractor who does not guarantee the quality of their work.
And on the other hand, in the rent-to-own programs, you get full coverage and unlimited service calls and you don’t pay even if there are replacements needed.
You just pay a flat rate every month.
Maybe in this option, you would pay more in comparison to paying upfront, however, it does give you peace of mind and shields you from any unexpected costs that may occur in the middle of the heating season.
Summary
And there you have it folks, 15 furnace installation tips that you should consider before committing to furnace repair services or when buying a new furnace.
Quality installation reigns supreme so make sure you find a certified professional who can install high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
If you have any questions about furnace installation and high-energy HVAC systems feel free to call us at 416-335-0881 or email us at info@forsaving.ca.