October 23, 2020

5 Tips for Buying a New Furnace

You suddenly find yourself in the market for a new furnace. The options currently on the market look nothing like your current furnace and have many different options and features. If you find yourself thinking, I want one like my old furnace; we may be able to help you navigate the options available to find just the right one for you and your home.

There are a couple of factors for you to consider when searching for your new furnace in Edmonton. Most importantly you will need to consider affordability, efficiency, warranty, and reviews, among other factors, Here is a guide for what to look for while you are doing your research.

Affordability

As you search for your new furnace, the price will be a huge factor and will ultimately determine which brand and model you will purchase. Thankfully there are many options available beyond the standard sale price.

Financing

There are many financing options for you to take advantage of when you are purchasing your furnace. Many companies and banking institutions will offer you financing options for your unit, so you will not have to pay all the cost of a new furnace upfront. Instead, you can spread the payments out over time at a more manageable amount.

There are financing options available for all situations. If you have:

• No Credit
• Terrible Credit
• Good Credit
• Excellent Credit

In all of these buying situations, you can find something available to you. Your options will differ depending on your credit score. Generally, the higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate. Conversely, the lower your credit score, the higher your interest rate will be.

Government Rebates

Utility companies and government agencies will also offer you rebates to upgrade your furnace to a newer model. Most newer models are energy efficient with lower emissions. Since it is important to have greener appliances in your home, many agencies will incentivize you to make the switch to a model that falls into an energy star rated category. A tax credit is also available when you are buying a model that falls into the green category.

Energy Efficiency

Buying an energy-efficient unit not only helps with the affordability of your unit overall, but it also saves in the long run on your energy bills. Energy Star rated furnaces that are forced-air use 6% less energy if they are gas, and 9% less energy if they are oil-based. Heating your home accounts for around 61% of your energy bill, so buying a furnace that will save you energy will save you more money in the long run.

There are a few differences in how these models operate that make the difference. Most importantly is that energy-efficient models have a high-efficiency blower motor. These fans self modulate their speed so that the distribution of air does not go off and on, instead stays at a constant to meet your warming needs.

Environmental Rating

It is essential to look for the Energy Star symbol on your unit to ensure you are buying one that meets all of Canada’s environmental standards. Gas, electric, and oil furnaces are all regulated.

Gas furnaces cannot have an input that is greater than 117.23 kW, or it will not meet the standard of the Energy Efficiency Act. These units will use either natural gas or propane.

Emissions of carbon and nitrogen are monitored to ensure that these units are not releasing any additional pollutants into the air while they are running.

Likewise, oil and electric units are monitored as well. Electric units, on average, need an input rate of less than 65.95kW. Environmental standards require oil units to have an input of less than 65.92. Otherwise, they will not comply with the energy-efficient regulations.

All units must emit less than 125 g of carbon monoxide to be compliant with environmental standards.

Customer Reviews

When debating between different furnace models, you may find it helpful to read customer reviews. Reviews give you a broad perspective from people who have purchased the unit and have used it in their homes. If you are lucky to find detailed reviews, you can easily spot the pros and cons. This gives you a great starting point to decide which modal is best. Some places you can find reviews are:

Manufacturers website

Professionals

Brands Google Page

BBB

Consumer Reports

Amazon

Facebook

The most important thing to keep in mind with reviews is balancing out the positive and negative reviews. It is possible to “buy” reviews, though sites like Amazon try to regulate the practice. If you take a mix of reviews, you should be able to get a good idea of the product.

Local professionals and installers are other great resources for brand knowledge. When you are putting in units daily, you learn quite a bit about the brands, and if you are feeling stuck, we can help steer you in the right direction for your needs.

Warranty

An incredibly important factor for choosing your furnace is the warranty options. Many manufacturers offer a warranty up to 20 years on the heat exchanger, which is the most important part of the furnace, and the most expensive to replace. Having this warranty in place can save you money in the long run.

If you are lucky, you may be able to find a manufacturer that offers a limited lifetime warranty. However, these are rarer and generally do not cover things like labor. A limited warranty usually only covers your functioning parts, such as your blower motors, igniters, and electronic components.

Conclusion

Keeping these tips in mind when buying your new furnace will help you make the correct choice to keep your family comfortable. Having your heater correctly installed is just as important as choosing the right model. Professional installation ensures proper function and may be necessary for your warranty. Proper maintenance will also help maintain the longevity of your furnace and keep your family warm for many winters to come.