When winter is around the corner, everyone becomes conscious of the importance of a home heating system. As such, it is common for most people to shop for furnaces just before the winter period kicks in. Before you make your purchase, however, you have to consider a couple of things. It is imperative for you to get acquainted with the different options of furnaces available on the market. Additionally, you have to check on the characteristics of the heating system that you wish to acquire like the type, its size, as well as its efficiency. After you have these basics, you can now contact a HVAC professional to come and carry out the installation in your home.
Maintenance for Your Home Furnace
A home heating system should be operating at its best to ensure that your home stays warm throughout the winter season. In case your heating system experiences some problems, it would be wise to call HVAC professionals to carry out the maintenance and repair services.
Usually, furnaces malfunction due to a number of reasons. They can malfunction because they have developed problems with the thermostat, the distribution system, the heat source, or the cooling system among other things. Fortunately, maintaining a heating system regardless of its type is an easy task that can be handled by a professional in no time. Your heating system could also fail to run when it loses power or when the fuel doesn’t reach its unit to cause ignition. You, however, should not worry too much when your heating system develops such issues. This is because a qualified HVAC professional will start with the basic procedures to rectify every issue that might be affecting your system.
Gas Furnace
A gas furnace is one of the home heating systems that you could invest in. Such a heating system is designed with certain features, but you must know that higher-efficiency models may have more features than low-efficiency heating systems.
Basically, these type of heating systems come with variable-speed blowers that allow them to produce less noise as well as deliver air much slower. This feature ensures that the heating system delivers fewer drafts. Such furnaces might also come with a variable heat output, a feature that enhances their comfort and efficiency because it allows them to automatically vary the amount of heat that is produced.
They are also designed with an electrostatic filter that traps particles to minimize the level of dust that gets blown through your home heating system. Another component that comes fitted in these heating systems is a dual heat exchanger. They help to draw heat from the gas that gets burned. Additionally, they have an ignition system that could be hot-surface, direct spark, or intermittent ignition. They must also have thermostats to control the heat that gets to different rooms in your home.
Pros
- They are economically priced
- They deliver powerful heat
- They are compatible with heat pumps and air conditioners
Cons
- They cannot function without a natural gas line
- You might have to buy an extra indoor coil
- You must have a carbon monoxide detector in your premises
Electric Furnace
When you want a heating system installed in your home, you could also settle for an electric furnace. An electric furnace is different from a gas furnace, and it has its advantages and disadvantages. This heating option is also not as common as its counterpart is because of the high cost of electricity in most parts of US.
Instead of using gas burners, electric-powered furnaces use electric heating elements to warm your home up. These heating options come fitted with circuit breakers to control the electric elements. Usually, they are designed with a blower that first draws air inside the cabinet. After the electric elements have heat up the cold air, this component blows out the warm air into your rooms. Like the gas-powered heaters, electric heating systems also require maintenance services to function efficiently. Most maintenance activities are simple because they entail cleaning or replacing the air filter or the humidifier of the system.
Pros
- It is quite efficient in heating your home
- There is no need for natural gas lines
- It does not produce carbon monoxide
Cons
- It escalates your electricity bills
- It does not transfer heat. Rather, it produces original heat
- It may fail to deliver the needed level of heat in some areas
- Cannot function when there is no electricity
Furnace Filters
As a homeowner, you may not pay a lot of attention to your heating system. Your only concern might be that it keeps you warm during the cold months. However, you need to know that checking up on your heating system on a regular basis ensures it delivers an optimal performance. Towards that end, you need to have a professional HVAC company look at your home’s heating system. Some of the most essential components of a heating system are furnace filters, and there are numerous options available. It is critical to ensure that your heating system uses the right kind of filter to protect it from avoidable damages.
So, what’s the importance of a furnace filter? Well, it helps to protect the blower from dust particles and other unwanted elements. Moreover, it helps to improve the quality of the air that is delivered to your rooms by eliminating contaminants.
Normally, filters are rated using the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV Ratings). These ratings range from 1 – 16. You should go for a filter that has a higher rating because it will most likely eliminate more dust particles. A filter with the highest rating, however, is not always ideal. This is because it allows less air to go through your heating system, which may cause it to malfunction. The recommended MERV rating for the filters in your home’s heating system, therefore, should range between 8 and 11. Additionally, the higher the MERV rating, the more you will pay for the filter.
American Standard
American Standard is a brand that produces HVAC systems for both residential and commercial use. The company has been in operation for decades, and it offers its consumers thirteen different types of furnaces. Its products are sold under Silver, Gold, and Platinum product lines. Technically, platinum is the most expensive product line while silver product line is the least expensive.
American Standard has single-stage and two-stage gas heating systems that provide you with a wide selection. This in turn makes it easy for you to find the most suitable product for your home. Single-stage products run at more than 80 percent energy efficiency, ranging from 80 – 95 percent AFUE. On the other hand, the firm’s two-stage products operate at 80 – 97 percent AFUE. A majority of the models from the company are designed to improve energy efficiency and help you reduce your energy consumption and bills.
Its models include PLATINUM 95, GOLD 95V/95, SILVER 95/95H, GOLD S9V2, PLATINUM 80, GOLD 80/80V, AND SILVER 80H.
The company offers its clients with an extensive warranty policy to guarantee the durability of their home’s heating system. The company’s 92 model, for instance, comes with a limited 20-year heat exchanger warranty while the other models have a limited lifetime heat exchanger warranty. The model also includes a limited 10-year warranty on parts.
Goodman Furnace
Goodman Furnace is also a renowned brand that manufactures HVAC systems. The company manufactures products that will leave your home heated and energy-efficient even during the coldest months of winter. The company also has a line of single-stage and two-stage models where most of the heating systems operate at an energy efficiency of 96 percent AFUE and above. Moreover, its models are eligible for Energy Star ratings, and they provide quite an economical way of heating up your home.
Goodman Furnace is a suitable company for homeowners who need a high-efficiency propane or natural gas heating system at a friendly price. Their products feature a sturdy and durable construction. Moreover, you will hardly find a company that matches the price and value of its products such as Goodman does. The affordable prices that the company offers, however, could be because it doesn’t incorporate innovative technology apart from ComfortNet™ Communications in some of its models.
The options available from this company include GMSS92, GCSS92, GCSS96, GMVC96, GCVC96, GMEC96, GCVM97, and GMVM97.
Goodman heating systems also include an insulated cabinet, as well as a tubular primary heat exchanger that is usually made from aluminized steel. What’s more, you might be impressed by the warranty options that the company offers on its products. It offers a limited lifetime heat exchanger warranty, a limited 10-year warranty on parts, and a limited 10-year unit replacement warranty on its mid-range and premium-priced models.
Lennox Furnace
When you are deciding on the heating system to get your home, you might want to check out some of the products from Lennox Furnace. The company offers its consumers single-stage, two-stage, and modulating furnaces. Additionally, Lennox Furnace has three product lines of gas-fired heating systems. The product lines include Elite Series, the Dave Lennox Signature Collection, and Merit Series, and you can rely on any of them to increase the energy efficiency within your home.
Interestingly, one of its products has the highest energy efficiency available. It runs at 98.7 percent AFUE. Moreover, about half of Lennox’s products are eligible for Energy Star rating. Usually, single-stage models from the manufacturer run at 80 – 95 percent AFUE while its two-stage models run at between 80 and 96 percent AFUE.
The products that you can find from this brand include ML193, ML195, EL195E, EL296E, EL296V, and SLP98V.
You’ll be glad to know that its products have SilentComfort™ technology and Power Saver™ technology for a more efficient operation. What’s more, the company’s products also have an ECM motor and a PSC motor. The company also offers an impressive warranty coverage although each product line comes with a different warranty. The company ensures to provide its clients with exemplary value.
York Furnace
If you are looking for a brand that can offer you affordable gas furnaces to keep your home warm during the winter, then you might want to check out York Furnace. York Furnace is a reputable company that offers reliable products to its clients. Its products are designed with a ClimaTrak comfort system, a technology feature that allows HVAC professionals to customize the motor so that they can set it to suit the climate of your region.
York offers you with three product lines that you could choose from – Affinity, Latitude, and LX series. The Latitude series has two single-stage furnaces. The Affinity series has two modulating furnaces while the LX line has single-stage, two-stage, and modulating furnaces. You should also know that only three of its products qualify for Energy Star rating.
York’s products have energy efficiency ratings that range from 80 – 95 percent AFUE. Some factors that make this a favorable brand is the fact that it delivers an extensive warranty coverage, excellent pricing, and good energy efficiency. What’s more, its products include Affinity™ Wi-Fi Residential Communicating Control innovative technology that allows you to set your thermostat remotely.
The models under this brand include TG9S, TM9V, TM9Y, TM9T, TM9E TM9M, and YP9C.
The Affinity and LX product lines include a Complete Assurance™ Warranty Pledge. York’s products also come with a 10-year limited warranty on parts and a limited lifetime heat exchanger warranty.
