The furnace is an essential part of your home that should be appropriately taken care of. If you are considering installing a new one, it can seem like there are too many options, and you don’t have enough knowledge to make the best decision for your family. This article will help you navigate all the available options to choose the right one for your needs and budget.
What does a furnace do?
Furnaces are machines that are designed to heat up a space. It takes cold air and uses it as the fuel source for heating your home, which is then blown out through vents or ducts. They make great heaters for homes, but they can also be used in industrial settings for manufacturing and other commercial uses.
In addition to their heating capability, furnaces are designed to remove humidity from the air. This is an essential feature because it means you can avoid having damp walls and floors, which cause mold growth that could be hazardous for your health.
Components of a Furnace
Several main components make up the whole of a furnace. Each has its own specific function. They all work together to make the furnace run effectively.
Blower: This component circulates air throughout your home to ensure consistent warmth and humidity removal. It usually operates on electricity, so it is essential to check if this matches your current setup or if you need an alternative power source for installation purposes.
Burner: This part of the furnace ignites the fuel to create heat. It can be fueled by natural gas, propane, or oil and must be appropriately vented to function safely and effectively.
Heat Exchanger: The exchanger transfers heat from the burning fuel source to the blower. It is typically made from metal treated with nickel or another protective coating to resist corrosion and rust over time.
Air Filter: The filter is designed to keep the blower clean and free of debris that could interfere with its ability to circulate air. It must be checked regularly for buildup in order to maintain optimal functionality.
Draft Inducer: The draft inducer sits at the front end of the furnace, where it absorbs warm air from inside your home, which then gets pushed into the exchanger. This component is vital because it helps prevent backdrafting, which is a dangerous situation in which the gases from the furnace are drawn back into your home.
Thermostat: The thermostat is the control center for your furnace. It tells the burner when to start and stop and how much heat to produce. There are a variety of different models available, so it is crucial to choose one that will be compatible with your existing setup.
Ductwork: The ductwork is responsible for distributing air throughout your home. It must be installed appropriately to ensure that heated air does not escape into the rest of the house or recirculate through the same vents.
Flue: This part of your furnace removes dangerous gases and moisture from your home. It must be appropriately sealed to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, which could lead to serious health problems or even fatalities.
Pilot light: The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the fuel in the burner. It must be lit before the furnace can start heating your home, and it should be checked regularly to ensure that it is burning correctly.
What are the things to consider in furnace installation?
You need to consider a few things when installing a furnace in your home. And this will significantly affect the type of furnace you want to install. Here are a few of the most important things to consider:
Furnace Size
The square footage of your home determines the size of the furnace you need. You can get a rough estimate of this by multiplying the length and width of your home. The result will be in feet, so you’ll need to convert it into cubic feet by dividing it by 1000. This number is the minimum BTU rating that your furnace should have.
A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, measures how much energy it takes to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. So if you want your home to be heated efficiently and adequately, the minimum size furnace for your family is about 40,000 BTUs.
Location
Where you live affects how much insulation is in your home, what type of climate that you have, and if there are any significant temperature changes in the area. All of this will affect where you should install your furnace and what kind of furnace is needed to heat it properly.
Energy Efficient
While furnaces are generally reasonably priced for how much they do, their cost can quickly add up over time if not maintained or used correctly. One of the best ways to save money on your furnace is purchasing an energy-efficient one.
The EPA rates furnaces for their efficiency in terms of AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This is a measure of how much usable heat is released per unit of fuel consumed. The measurement ranges from 75-90%, depending on the type or model of furnace.
Number of Occupants
The number of people living in your home also affects the size and type of furnace you need. If many people are occupying a small space, they will create more heat that needs to be removed from the air than if there were fewer people in a larger room. So make sure to consider this when choosing your furnace.
Furnace Cost
The cost of a new furnace depends on your chosen model’s size, features, and energy efficiency. You can get a reasonable estimate by multiplying the square footage of your home by $600 to find how much it will likely cost for installation alone. Then add an additional 20% if you want extra efficiency or special features that come with higher prices.
Furnace Repair & Maintenance costs.
The cost of furnace repair and maintenance is often overlooked, but it’s an important factor to consider when investing in a new furnace. The cost of repairs and maintenance over the lifetime of your furnace will likely be more than you spent on it, to begin with, so if this is part of your budget, you might want to choose a model that’s easier and cheaper to keep up.
What is the best furnace fuel type?
The most significant decision is choosing between gas, electric, or oil furnaces. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before making your final choice.
Gas Furnace
Gas furnaces are considered the most efficient heating option available because they use clean-burning fuel. The downside to this type of furnace is if there was ever a leak in one of the lines, it could be potentially dangerous inside your home.
It’s also important to check with local authorities about any zoning restrictions for using natural gas as an energy source within city limits.
Electric Furnace
Electric furnaces work by having coils on the unit heat up from electricity running through them—similar to how a dryer works when clothes are tumbled around near hot coils. Electric furnaces are known for being very quiet, but they also cost more to run on a monthly basis than gas or oil heating methods.
Oil Furnace
The benefit of using an oil furnace is that it can be cheaper overall compared to other options—but the downside is you have to have your home close enough to where fuel oil is delivered in order to be a feasible option.
Furnaces also come in different AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings, which is the percentage of fuel used that actually turns into heat for your home. The higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace will be.
Propane Furnace
A propane furnace works similarly to a gas furnace, but the fuel is stored in tanks outside your home. This can be more expensive than natural gas in some cases. Still, it’s often seen as a more reliable option because you’re not dependent on the local utility company for service.
This fuel type is an excellent option for those living in rural areas where natural gas lines may not be available. We recommend a propane furnace with an AFUE rating of 92% or better for maximum fuel efficiency and cost savings over time.
Contact My Favorite Service Company for Quality Furnace Installation San Antonio, TX
At My Favorite Service Company, we’ve installed furnaces for homes and businesses in San Antonio, TX for years. We are a family-owned HVAC company that cares about the community and our customers’ needs. We have a team of experienced technicians who can help you find the right furnace for your home.
If you need a new furnace, feel free to talk with us. Contact us today at (830) 212-4231 to learn more about our services or need information like Why a Heat Pump is the Best Way to Heat your Home? and how we can assist you in heating up your San Antonio area home or business on a budget! We’re always happy to help!
