Homeowners are always looking for ways to cut their energy costs. This could be anything from regularly changing HVAC filters and sealing your home against air leaks to purchasing a new, more efficient furnace. Buying a new furnace is a big investment, and you’ll want to be sure that you’re getting the one that’s right for your home. A big part of this means making sure that your contractor properly sizes the furnace to your home. Making the wrong choice here can make your home uncomfortable and cost you big money in the years to come.
Big or Small
Surprisingly, it’s not only furnaces that are too big that are inefficient. A new furnace that’s too small also will waste your energy dollars. If the furnace is too large, it will cycle on and off frequently, wasting energy, wearing down parts, and not evenly heating your home. If it’s too small, it will have to run constantly in order to keep your home comfortable, and may fail to warm your home during the coldest weather. In either case, you will be wasting energy.
What the Contractor Can Do
Your contractor should use the industry standard load calculation software, Manual J, to determine your home’s heating load. Taking into account your home’s size and layout, along with a variety of other factors, the contractor can then recommend the proper size furnace to take care of that heating load.
Selecting a new furnace is a big decision, and the correct choice will save you money and provide you and your family with comfort for years to come. If you have any further questions about this topic, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We have proudly served Northwest Arkansas since 1968, and our team of experienced and courteous professionals will be happy to help you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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