| Sometimes the new furnace performs no better | | | | It’s part of a system that depends on other |
| than the one it replaced. | | | | parts. |
| Issues such as comfort and inferior indoor air | | | | How To Get The Full Benefits Of A High |
| quality still exist in their home. | | | | Efficiency Furnace |
| The reason for the disappointing results is the | | | | 1.) Insist that the heating contractor do a heat |
| heating contractor fails to recognize that a | | | | loss calculation of your home using the industry |
| furnace is only one part of a heating system. | | | | standard Manual J to specify the right size |
| Other components of the “system” | | | | furnace. |
| include ductwork, air registers, air filters and | | | | 2.) Have the contractor perform a static pressure |
| thermostat. | | | | test on the duct system. A good HVAC company |
| Some contractors install a new furnace with the | | | | will do this on the initial sales call as well as after |
| same heating capacity as the old. | | | | the furnace replacement. Doing this helps the |
| This can be a big mistake especially if new | | | | contractor evaluate your duct system and avoid |
| windows have been installed or insulation added to | | | | all of the problems associated with inferior furnace |
| the home after the original furnace was installed. | | | | replacements. |
| You’ll end up with a furnace that is oversized | | | | 3.) Make sealing the ducts part of the process, its |
| for the house. Oversized furnaces are less | | | | well worth the small extra cost. |
| efficient and have short run cycles that lead to | | | | 4.) Ask the heating company about two-stage or |
| discomfort with large room temperature | | | | modulating gas valve options for increased |
| variations. | | | | comfort levels. |
| High efficiency furnaces that are attached to | | | | 5.) If the salesperson balks at these requests, find |
| poorly designed or leaky duct systems never | | | | another company. |
| come close to their rated efficiency. | | | | Abiding by these suggestions may increase your |
| Installing high efficient air filters that restrict air | | | | upfront costs but will save you month after |
| flow not only affect the efficiency but will not | | | | month and year after year. |
| deliver the available heat output of the heating | | | | One of our customers said it best: |
| appliance. | | | | “A low price always costs more in the long |
| A furnace is not like a refrigerator that all you | | | | run. |
| have to do is plug it in. | | | | |