Is It Time for a Furnace Replacement? | Tips from Your Fort Worth, TX Heating and AC Service Provider
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Have you been looking in the Fort Worth, TX area lately, for a new heating and ac system to install in your home to up your comfort level? It’s best that you start looking into your options before winter so you can enjoy the season in comfort.
We’ll help you decide if you actually need a furnace replacement, and guide you about the features to look for in a new gas furnace. So, you’ll have no trouble to find an ideal heating unit for your home and you can get it installed by a service company in Fort Worth, TX before the winter season arrives.
Understanding the Furnace System
We’re sure you want an efficient furnace that minimizes your costs without compromising on functionality. This requires you to get a better understanding of the system before you make the purchase and ask a heating and ac service company in the Fort Worth, TX area to install your latest investment.
Although every furnace has similar features, the ones with higher AFUE percentage are more efficient, but more on that later.
With better knowledge about each part of the heating system, you’ll be able to accurately diagnose the issues and perform maintenance.
Variable-Speed Blowers
The heating unit’s fan motor is able to function at different speeds controlling the heat and cool air that flows at your place.
Blower Motor
The blower motor pushes the air from the furnace into the ducts to cycle the air.
Air Filtration
The filter is fitted to the furnace to prevent the dust from getting into the system.
Heat Exchanger
Part of the furnace where the cool air gets heated.
Venting
Pipes that direct the gasses from the furnace to outside of your home.
Zoned Heating
The thermostat creates different zones at your place as it’s controlled separately.
Understanding the system will also make you more prepared for emergency situations. You’d know the precautionary measures you need to perform before calling heating and ac repair for help.
Does the Old Furnace Need a Replacement?
You don’t have to wait for the furnace to come to a halt before you finally replace it. You’d be able to dodge a number of problems and save money spent on unnecessary repairs, if the replacement is done on time. However, it’s difficult to figure out the perfect time for a replacement on your own. You can always get advice on the matter by a heating and ac service company.
But it’s about time you start exploring replacement options if your system is showing the signs listed below,
- System is 12-15 years old
- Require repairs more often
- Fails to heat up the place well
- Occasionally cycles off and on
- Higher electricity bills
- Unusual noise
- Poor quality and smelly air
When considering a replacement, consult a heating and ac service company if you should replace both the heating and ac units together as it’s a smarter option.
Key Features of Modern Heating Units
Today’s heating units are safer and more economic for you. Designed by keeping efficiency standards according to the industry regulations, they’re energy efficient and have lower energy usage, saving your money. They come with additional safety controls and sensors. They can pull in combustion air from the atmosphere and release the air from the sides.
Consider these features when getting a new system.
Size
Getting the right sized unit is crucial as it defines the heat that’s put out. The system’s size matters for efficiency, consistency, functioning, noise levels, comfort and costs of heating up your place.
You’d have to call a professional heating and ac service company to perform a home assessment. They’ll evaluate the place and determine the size that’ll complement it perfectly.
A furnace that’s too large would cycle on and off more often. It’s noisier as it blows out lot more air than required.
It won’t be able to provide the same comfort level as a properly sized unit, since the short cycled system would create hot and cold spots around the place. You’ll need frequent maintenance and repair and it would eventually fail sooner.
AFUE Rating
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating measures fuel efficiency, or to put in simple terms the efficiency of the system to convert fuel to heat.
Modern furnaces require a minimum of 80% AFUE rating. High-efficiency furnaces AFUE ratings range between 90% to 98%. They’re a bit on the pricier side as they’ve advanced features. However they’re energy efficient so can help you save money in the long run.
Multi-Stage Burners
These burners help in delivering different levels of heat. This feature allows adjusting the heat levels of the furnace electronically according to your preference.
Programmable Thermostat and Smart Controls
The programmable thermostat allows automatic adjustment of temperature and energy usage, so you can easily set it according to your schedule.
With smart controls in the modern system, you can also keep a check on outdoor temperature, humidity levels and system efficiency. It enables adjustment of indoor conditions and reminds you regularly for filter change of the system.
Speed Blowers
As we explained earlier, furnace blower is a fan that provides warm or cool air via the duct system to the entire place. Variable speed blowers are capable of altering the speed at which the warm air gets distributed across the place. Some systems come with smart a feature that allows adjustment according to the changes in the environment and vary the speed of air flow.
However, a system with fixed speed blower functions at a single speed. It’s based on the size and design of the unit.
Electronic Ignition
Most heating and ac units you’ll find would have a hot surface ignition (HIS) system or direct spark ignition system as their furnace ignition mechanism. These electronic systems save energy as they’re not on the entire time.
Conclusion
Now that you’re all updated, call us for installation and all of your HVAC services, One Hour Heating and Air to get the best heating and ac services in the Fort Worth, TX area.