Controlling the Humidity in Your Home

Does your old furnace need to be replaced? Here are a few things to think about before deciding which furnace to replace the old one with:

Energy Efficiency

There are a variety of furnace installation options on the market, all of which require different amounts of power to function properly. Some are designed with large households in mind and tend to use more power in order to meet the demands of such a household. Others are designed more with the conscious consumer in mind and use just enough power to get the job done.

Let your furnace contractor know what your typical household furnace usage is now and what your future performance expectations are so they can recommend furnace models that will meet your needs as time goes on. And if energy efficiency is important to you, your service provider can show you options that have earned an Energy Star certification.

Warranty Requirements

You should also make sure that you fully understand the warranty requirements of a prospective furnace before purchasing it to ensure that you'll be able to meet those requirements throughout the lifetime of the warranty policy. You might not only be required to have the furnace professionally installed in order to keep the manufacturer's warranty intact, but you may also have to perform some specific maintenance functions on a regular basis.

And if you can't keep up with the maintenance, you could lose your warranty coverage prematurely. So take the time to read through the manufacturer's warranty policy of the furnaces you're interested in before actually making a purchasing decision. This can save you a lot of stress and inconvenience if your furnace ever breaks down and needs repairs while it's covered under the warranty.

Installation and Maintenance

Installation and maintenance should be another important consideration to make before deciding which furnace to purchase for your home. Do you have the tools and knowledge it will take to properly install the furnace? Should you have the furnace professionally installed? If you choose to have the furnace professionally installed as most homeowners do, you should schedule a consultation appointment with your service provider to get an accurate estimate of the installation costs.

This will allow you to factor those costs into the price of the furnace and get a realistic idea of what your budgeting requirements will be. And make sure you understand what kind of maintenance your new furnace will require before having it installed to determine whether you can do it yourself or if you should ask your service provider to keep up on the legwork for you.