Summit Heating & A/C will help you uncover the right furnace at the right price for your Denver-area home.
Gas furnaces are more common than oil or electric models, especially in the Denver area where winters are fairly mild. When you’re faced with replacing your furnace or buying a new system, it’s important to remember your costs can vary based on a number of factors. Here are 4 things that determine the cost of a gas furnace for your home:
Size Matters When It Comes to Your Furnace
The size of your furnace has to match the size of your house if you want to save money on your purchase and through the life of the system. A unit that is too small won’t keep you warm enough on very cold days. And a furnace that is too large will cycle on and off more often than necessary, which wastes energy and may keep your home too warm.
Expert HVAC providers can help you determine the right size unit and ductwork required for your home using professional load calculations. The Manual J method developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America is the most popular way to calculate how much heating and cooling your house needs. It takes into consideration the size of your home, insulation, and window quality.
Reliable companies will use Manual J software programs that determine the heating and cooling load for each room of the house and then select a furnace and design ductwork to distribute heat in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Schedule a professional load calculation with a local HVAC provider to properly size a furnace for your Denver-area home. It will help you to prevent spending too much on a furnace now and throughout the life of your heating system.
Higher Efficiency May Mean Higher Prices
Gas furnaces are rated for fuel efficiency as measured by Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). AFUE measures how much energy put into your furnace is actually used to heat your home as a percentage of the money you spend. For instance, a furnace with 80 AFUE uses 80 cents of every dollar you spend heating your home while wasting 20 cents.
Gas furnaces can have AFUE ratings of 80 to 96, which also influences the price of your unit. The higher the AFUE, the higher the initial price tag. However, you may end up recouping some of your up-front costs.
We recommend choosing the most efficient furnace you can afford while keeping your monthly utility costs as low as possible. Your HVAC contractor can help guide you to gas furnaces that give you the most bang for your buck now and in the future.
The Bells and Whistles
Today’s gas furnaces have more features that will help with energy efficiency and ease of use than older models.
Here are a few you can choose from:
- Programmable thermostats allow you to reduce energy usage when you are away from home or sleeping by auto-programming your home to a lower temperature in the winter or a higher temperature in the summer.
- Variable-speed blowers help reduce your operating costs by allowing your furnace to run at higher speeds in cold weather and at lower speeds in milder weather. It also reduces wear and tears on the unit, which can decrease the lifetime of your unit.
- Two-stage gas valves control the amount of gas entering your heater. The valve can be set to fully open, which allows your furnace to operate at full blast; partially opened, which means your furnace is operating at about 65% capacity; or closed, which means no fuel is entering the furnace. The valve setting determines how often the furnace is kicking on and off based on the actual temperature of your home vs. the temperature set on the thermostat.
Remember, the more features you select for your gas furnace, the higher the price tag.
Check with your HVAC provider to see what features you should consider for a new furnace installation in the Denver Metro area. Some may be worth the initial investment while you can pass on others.
It’s All in the Name … Brand
Just like with anything else, the name brand on your prospective furnace is the first sign of quality and value. As a homeowner, you should familiarize yourself with the brands of furnaces available for you, the features of the brand, and the brand reputation. You can find unbiased reviews online with organizations like Consumer Reports.
Or check with a local HVAC provider. Some companies are certified vendors for specific brands, which means they meet certain quality standards or undergo training to install the brand. Even more important than brand, is finding a trustworthy contractor that is properly licensed and stands behind their work.
Furnaces can be a big investment. But the good news is that most furnaces last 15 years or more. And you will likely recoup some of the initial cost over the lifetime of your unit.
Contact Summit Heating & A/C for a free, no-obligation estimate for a new furnace. If it’s time to consider replacing your gas furnace, we’ll help you choose a heating unit that’s the correct size for your home, has low operating costs, reduces energy waste, and offers the best warranty protection for the money. Summit Heating & A/C offers free and guaranteed proposals, including a professional Manual J Load Calculation.
