Choosing a Gas Furnace

If your gas furnace is old, you need to replace it with a new, high efficiency gas furnace which will save you a lot of money in heating bills while keeping you warm on cold days.

Old gas furnaces are not very efficient and you are paying for it every month in your heating bills. New gas furnaces produce more heat for less energy, making them highly efficient and end up paying for themselves over time through savings on your heating costs. While the cost of everything seems to be rising, better technology can save you money on your heating bill, so you can stay warm for less.

Gas furnace prices can initially scare people away, but this in an investment in your home and it will be used for a long time. If you think of the gas furnace price as an investment and think of lower heating bills, the cost won’t seem so bad. Gas furnace prices vary depending on their size, brand, and the AFUE rating.

AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency and the higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the gas furnace is. A high efficiency gas furnace will have an AFUE in the upper 80’s and in the 90’s. All new gas furnaces will have a sticker on it which estimates the annual usage cost as well as the AFUE. Pay attention to these numbers. The higher the AFUE, the better.

A highly efficient gas furnace will cost more than a gas furnace which isn’t as efficient, but they make up for it in energy savings and heating costs, saving you up to 30% in your heating bills which will add up to big savings.

The benefits of having a natural gas furnace are that it heats your water fast and if you’re environment conscious, it doesn’t cause pollution. Natural gas heats your home using clean energy.

The most popular brands are Trane, Rheem, Bryant, as well as others. To find the right gas furnace for you, pick the right size furnace for your home, check reviews, the manufacturer warranty as well as efficiency compared to cost.

All gas furnaces will need routine maintenance to perform at their best like any piece of equipment. Be sure to change the air filter regularly to prevent them from becoming clogged and not performing well. The gas furnace will also need to be checked periodically for cracks and leaks. Routine maintenance can prevent future problems, damage, and repair costs.

If you regularly use a furnace in your home, or are planning to do so all winter, then replacing the furnace air filter must and should be made a part of your home maintenance. Contrary to most people’s fears, replacing furnace filters is a very easy task. More often, it’s just our lethargy that stops us from pursuing it, as opposed to difficulty.

Most of the furnace manufacturers recommend that a furnace filter be replaced monthly. The benefits of replacing your filter are increased efficiency of your furnace which equals lower utility bills and less wear and tear on your furnace. If you are unsure how often your filter needs to be changed, check your furnace operating manual. Once you have determined the frequency at which you need to replace the furnace air filter, educate yourself about the steps that need to be taken. Here is a broad outline of the process that you need to follow:

1. Power-off the furnace by turning off the electrical switch, before you replace the furnace filter. If you have a gas furnace, turn off the gas.
2. Locate the blower door and open it. Depending upon the model of the furnace, you may have to lift it up and then out, swing it open or just slide it out. Check the manual in case of difficulty. Some models have the door at the top of the blower.
3. Locate the furnace air filter and slide it out of its slot. Make sure you remember how the filter went in so you won’t have difficulty putting it back in the same way.
4. If the filter is coated with a thick layer of dirt, or you are unable to see through it, it is most likely not reusable. This is a sign to replace the filter.
5. Before you replace the furnace air filter, also make sure that you look for dust around the blower area. Dirt could clog up the furnace causing it not to work properly. You can sweep out this dust or vacuum it and then replace the furnace air filter.
6. You most probably have a fiberglass disposable filter that needs replacement. Look for the size and model number of the furnace air filter. Then, throw out the old filter and purchase a new one. Furnace filters are available at local hardware or home improvement stores.
7. Make sure to replace the new filter the same way you did the old one. This is important because furnace air filters are designed in a way that filters air only from one side, while the other side collects the dust. Usually, fiberglass furnace air filters have an oily side, meant to be facing the blower. If that’s difficult to determine, look for arrows on the air filter. These would indicate which way it needs to be installed.
8. Lastly, close the door of the blower and latch it on firmly. Your new furnace air filter is installed and ready to be used.

If you are looking for a quality brand go with Honeywell furnace filters. They may cost a little more at the outset but they will last longer and save you money in the long run.