If your energy bills have been on the rise, your furnace service provider might have recommended you get a new furnace. Will a new furnace save me money? You might be wondering.
Yes, a new furnace will save you money as it’s more efficient. A new furnace also doesn’t break down too often, so you don’t keep spending money on repairs.
While a new furnace is a no brainer before you rush to get one, you need to consider several things that include:
Do you need to fix or replace the furnace?
Before you run to the stores to get a new appliance, ask yourself whether your furnace is ripe for replacement. A good rule of thumb is to replace the furnace if it’s beyond three-quarters of its life expectancy, and the repairs have become more frequent.
How do you know the appliance is beyond three-quarters of its life expectancy? Check the back label for the date of manufacture. You can also ask your contractor about it.
Do efficiency math.
One of the reasons you are looking to get a new appliance is that it’s more efficient, saving you money in the long run. Most standard furnaces are 80% efficient, but it’s not unusual to find furnaces that are up to 98.5% efficient.
You can tell the efficiency of the unit by checking the product information at the back. Look out for AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating.
You should note that the higher the efficiency rating of the appliance, the more expensive it is. So when making the purchase, do the calculations and find out whether it’s sensible to invest a huge upfront for a highly efficient furnace.
For example, if your furnace is currently 80% efficient, getting a modern 95% efficient appliance will set you back at least $2000, and the 15% bump in efficiency will save you about $300 a year. This means you need 8-10 years to see your money’s worth.
Sit down with your contractor and find out whether getting a new appliance is worth it.
Check the ducts
If you are new to furnaces, you should know there is more to heating systems than the furnace. There are ducts, which are tubes that deliver heated air from one room to the other. If dirty or leaking, they can be a source of inefficiency and yet be blaming the furnace.
Before heading to the stores, ask your heating contractor or duct technician to inspect them and find out whether they can improve them by insulation, taping gaps, or any other way.
One excellent way to increase the appliance’s efficiency is to seal the ducts by spraying a high-tech substance inside the ducts that congeals around the opening, creating a rubbery seal over every single gap crack.
This method seals even the smallest openings that are inaccessible to repair technicians. Although the process is expensive, it can improve your appliance’s efficiency by up to 20% or even better, annihilating your need for a new furnace.
Reduce your heating needs
Did you sometimes know you might have the impression your furnace is inefficient, and yet it’s your heating needs that are over the top? To reduce your needs, lower the number of rooms you are heating at the same time.
A good rule of thumb is to not heat a room you aren’t using at that time.
You can also reduce your heating needs by making your house more efficient. Begin with undertaking an energy audit. Most companies will do it for free or at a subsidized price as long as you will give them the work.
After the audit, the HVAC companies Falls Church will recommend ways to improve your efficiency levels, which might be adding attic floor insulation, spraying foam along the top of the foundation, or blowing insulation into your house walls.
Parting shot
While getting a new furnace will save you money, you should consider the above tips before getting a new appliance. If you have done everything under your control and confirmed you have no other way out other than to get a new unit, get a highly energy-efficient appliance that will save you a lot and last for a long time.
