| These days, everyone's trying to save some | | | | be generally less efficient and more expensive. |
| cash, and one great way to put money back in | | | | Also, be sure that you don't assume when |
| your pocket every month - especially during the | | | | replacing your furnace that you should get |
| winter - is to invest in an energy efficient furnace. | | | | whatever size the old furnace was. The furnace |
| Most furnaces last for about twenty-five years, | | | | that is coming out is, for one thing, less efficient |
| but even if your furnace is only ten or fifteen | | | | than the new model you're about to buy, and it |
| years old, the models that are on the market | | | | may have been incorrectly sized in the first place. |
| today can probably far outshine it in terms of | | | | Furnace Efficiency |
| energy efficiency. | | | | Choosing how efficient you want your furnace to |
| However, there are so many Energy Star rated | | | | be is a different matter altogether. While furnace |
| models out there that you might have trouble | | | | sizing is dependent on a number of objective |
| choosing the right energy efficient furnace for | | | | calculations, the efficiency of your furnace will |
| you. There are lots of things to consider when | | | | depend largely on what you can afford and what |
| you're making this decision, including the size of | | | | you prefer. You should always shoot for a |
| the furnace and the actual efficiency rating it gets. | | | | furnace that is at least 80% efficient because |
| Start narrowing down your choices by size, and | | | | otherwise you'll be paying a lot more for your |
| then figure out which energy efficient model is | | | | energy than you should. |
| right for you. | | | | Beyond this, though, take into account some |
| Furnace Sizing | | | | numbers. Any furnace that is more than 80% |
| Obviously the large a furnace is, the more it will | | | | efficient is going to start getting pretty expensive. |
| cost on a monthly basis to operate. Also, larger | | | | Most of the time, these furnaces can make up |
| furnaces will cost more up front, and they may | | | | for the extra cost, but you'll want to ballpark |
| be slightly more expensive to install. If you're | | | | estimate how much money the furnace will save |
| talking to an HVAC contractor to figure out what | | | | you each year to figure out how long it will be |
| furnace you should get, be sure that the person | | | | before the furnace pays for itself. |
| performs a load calculation to determine what size | | | | If, for instance, you invest in a great furnace that |
| furnace you need. | | | | will pay for itself within five years, that's probably |
| A load calculation should take into account things | | | | a good investment. If, however, your furnace |
| like the size of your home, how well insulated | | | | won't make up for its cost for ten years, and |
| your walls and roof are, the number and size of | | | | you're planning on moving before then, it might |
| windows and the rooms in your home, and other | | | | not be such a good idea. On the other hand, you |
| factors. This information will let you know what | | | | may want to consider the problem from an |
| size furnace you need for your home, which is | | | | ethical standpoint; if you believe in doing all you |
| important because if the furnace you buy is too | | | | can to reduce your carbon footprint, you should |
| large, it will frequently switch on and off and will | | | | buy the highest-efficiency furnace possible. |