Tips for buying a gas furnace
Don’t let buying a new gas furnace become a terrifying prospect! Yes, a new heating system can set you back some dough, but with our tips you can make sure that your investment is worthwhile. Plus, if you play your cards right, your new gas furnace can pay for itself in efficient performance (when compared to that old, scary, energy-guzzling model).
Buying a new HVAC system doesn’t have to be your worst nightmare. Turn it into a positive experience by doing the following things:
- Do your research. This applies to picking the right system AND finding the right contractor. In fact, finding the right contractor is arguably the most important part of the purchasing process.
- Invest in efficiency. Whether it’s a new heat pump, air conditioner, gas furnace or air handler – it’s important that you buy the most efficient system you can afford. Yeah, it’ll cost you a little more out-of-pocket, BUT you’ll be smiling when utility bills come at the end of the month.
- Speaking of contractor search… Read online reviews and get recommendations from your friends, family and neighbors. It’s hard to run from a negative reputation with past clients.
- Check to see if your new system qualifies for a tax credit or rebate. This can help you justify some of the overhead costs of replacing your old system with something new.
- Enhance home comfort. Programmable thermostats, zoning system and variable-speed blowers can help you maximize the comfort levels in your home. With a programmable thermostat you can program your HVAC equipment to work around your schedule. With a zoning system you can divide your home up into zones. Each zone has its own separate thermostat. That way, when you don’t need heating in one zone, but do need it in another, you won’t be wasting energy dollars heating a room that doesn’t need it. Also, variable-speed blowers can give you consistent comfort throughout the day, even out temperatures and more.
- Registration. Maytag HVAC, for example, offers an extremely long parts warranty – 12 years! BUT, you must make sure that your equipment is registered to enjoy full warranty protection. So, whether it’s your contractor’s job or your job, you need to make sure this gets done.
Think your home can benefit from a new furnace? Ask your local heating and air conditioning contractor for more information.
What are you looking for in a new gas furnace?
I like what this article recommends about buying the most efficient system you can. I think this could be a very helpful improvement to my home as it could save a lot of energy in the winter. I’ll have to look into getting a new furnace before next winter.
I know it’s summer, but in my opinion, it’s never too early to start thinking about how you’ll keep your house warm in the winter. I love your tip about doing your research. I need to replace my furnace soon and I definitely want to make sure I make the right decision. Also, I’ll totally take your tip about investing in efficiency. Thanks!
Our last furnace was not name brand and it didn’t last us very long. While searching for a new one, I like how you point out to invest in efficiency. I bet the name brand furnaces are more likely to have a better efficiency rate and last a lot longer.
Having programmable thermostats does seem like a great feature for a furnace to come with. I know that I would want the temperature to be easy to adjust. That way, It won’t be a struggle when I need to change it.