When it’s time to replace your furnace, there are a number of things you should consider before making a judgement on a particular replacement furnace. With your space and your family’s needs in mind, Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning can help you select the furnace that will keep your home warm and comfortable.
Fuel Source
One of the first aspects you need to decide is which fuel source your new furnace will use. The majority of furnaces in North America utilize natural gas, but some houses are set up to use liquified petroleum gas, propane or even electricity. It’s critical to know which type of fuel is required for your new furnace.
Furnace Type
You’ll also want to consider which type of furnace you’d prefer to effectively meet your needs. Furnaces are available in single-stage, two-stage or variable capacity models. A single-stage furnace blows heat continually at one speed and isn’t the strongest in efficiency amid these options. A two-stage furnace is a good fit for many homes. Stage one of a two-stage furnace operates at about 65 percent of its capacity, and stage two will kick in for a heating increase on the frigid Winnipeg days. However, if you want to go for the greatest choice in flexibility and efficiency, a variable capacity furnace may be an ideal solution.
Unlike single- and two-stage models, variable capacity furnaces don’t have a certain number of stages to go through to deliver heat. A variable capacity furnace can actually work at different capacities to reach your heating needs.
Zoning
Whether you want to include a zoning system with your replacement furnace is another thing to think about. You could save on your energy bills by more efficiently using your furnace to heat the areas you regularly use, rather than trying to keep the entire home at the same temperature. If you want more details about zoning possibilities for your home, Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning can help.
Size
Another key part of picking the best furnace for your home is ensuring it’s the proper size for your house. If your furnace is too large for your home’s heating needs, it will waste a lot of energy incessantly cycling on and off. If your furnace is too small, it won’t be able to provide adequate heat on the coldest Winnipeg days.
Efficiency
Last, but certainly not least, you need to check your furnace’s energy efficiency rating. A furnace’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This rating signifies the ratio of annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total annual fossil fuel energy it consumes. For example, an 80 percent AFUE rating means that 80 percent of energy in the fuel heats the home and the other 20 percent escapes through places like the furnace venting. A high-efficiency furnace will have an AFUE rating of 90 to 98.7 percent.
As you can see, many factors come into play when searching for a replacement furnace. But, you don’t have to tackle this by yourself. Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning is here to answer all of your questions and help you select a furnace that suits your home and heating needs. Chat with our technicians at 204-272-8128 or book an appointment with us online.