When Replacing A Gas Furnace, Bigger Isn’t Necessarily Better 

Today’s generation of gas furnaces can boost indoor comfort levels and cut heating bills at the same time.  Is it any wonder that so many homeowners are replacing their old, inefficient units with these modern, high-tech models?

It’s important to select the right size furnace.  A unit that’s too small will lack the ability to give you the comfort you want.  A unit that is too large will cost more to buy and operate.  The heating experts also state that the size of a gas furnace refers to its heating capacity not its physical dimensions. The capacity of a heating system is measured in BTUs (British thermal units) per hour.

The correct furnace size depends on the size of your home, its construction and insulation, the way you use the house and the normal winter temperatures in your area.  Our qualified comfort consultants can estimate the heat loss of your home by measuring the amount of wall, roof and floor space exposed to the outside, and the amount of insulation you have.  Using a mathematical formula that includes the desired indoor temperature and the local outdoor temperature ranges, we can then recommend an appropriate size for your new furnace.

 In many cases, older homes have furnaces that are larger than necessary, and homeowners are pleased to discover they can replace them with smaller capacity units.  This is because of the addition of significant amounts of insulation or other energy conservation measures that may have been taken to reduce the heat loss of the house.

The increased efficiency of today’s gas furnace is another reason that a smaller unit may be right for your home. For example, a new, smaller furnace that’s 90% efficient can produce as much heat as a larger capacity furnace that’s only 60% efficient.  We can also tell you if any changes are needed in the venting of the furnace. In most cases, the new furnace is placed in the same location as the old and uses the same venting system. However, many of today’s high-efficiency gas furnaces can be vented out a side wall, similar to a gas dryer.

If you’re thinking about installing a new furnace, be sure to give us a call first.  We can analyze your needs and make the recommendation that’s right for you and your family.