There are various factors to consider when getting a heating installation for your home.
- Heating capacity
- Efficiency
- Tax rebates
- Fuel type
One of the most important factors to take into consideration is the heating capacity of a furnace. You can get a good general idea of the necessary heating capacity for your house by doing a quick calculation. You’ll want to take your home’s total square footage and multiply it by 50 BTUs. While this calculation will definitely get you in the ballpark, it’s still important to consult one of our HVAC technicians to get a precise heating capacity measurement.
Another factor to consider is whether you want to invest in a high-efficiency furnace. The average furnace has an efficiency somewhere in the 80% range, while high-efficiency furnaces have an efficiency in the 90% range. High-efficiency models are more expensive to purchase, but they cost less to run over their lifespan. Additionally, high-efficiency heaters tend to come with federal and, sometimes, state tax rebates.
The type of fuel that your furnace uses is going to play a big role in its overall operating costs. All furnaces will run on one type of fuel, and there are four different options out there to choose from. These include electricity, propane, heating oil, and natural gas. With propane and heating oil, you’re going to need on-site storage. In general, natural gas will be the cheapest fuel to run, followed by propane, heating oil, and finally, electricity.
