Furnace Replacement In Your Future? Right Sizing Is Crucial

Furnace Installation & Replacement Tulsa

A furnace replacement may be one of the more challenging decisions you make as a homeowner, since these systems are complex and involve a number of factors. The right size is critical, not just for energy efficiency, but also for your comfort and the longevity of the system.Before homes were as air tight and energy efficient as they now are, larger equipment was needed to adequately compensate for lower insulation levels and more air infiltration. If you live in an older home and have made any improvements to either the insulation and plugged the air leaks, chances are you need a smaller system than you now have.HVAC contractors use a tool called Manual J to pinpoint the size that you need. This system was developed decades ago and it factors many aspects of your home, including:

• Cubic footage you need to heat;

• Layout of your home;

• Number of windows, their efficiency and exposure to the sun;

• Insulation levels in the attic and walls;

• Air infiltration rates;

• Heat-producing appliances under roof;

• Outdoor landscaping characteristics;

• Preferred indoor temperatures; and

• Age and number of household members.

Once the HVAC contractor finishes the analysis and knows the BTUs you need, he moves onto evaluating your current ductwork, using Manual D.Knowing the precise size you need not only saves you money initially for a furnace replacement, it also saves money over the life of the equipment. When furnaces are too large, they short cycle, which means they turn on and off more frequently. Short cycling increases your energy costs because the more the furnace runs, the more fuel it uses, and a portion of it goes up the flue, which is wasted. Running frequently also increases the wear and tear on all the components inside the system. Your comfort also suffers, since rooms may not thoroughly warm enough.If you'd like more information about furnace replacement, contact Air Assurance. We've provided HVAC services for the Broken Arrow area for more than 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

While You're Enjoying Your AC, Is it Too Early to Think About Your Furnace?

The climbing temperatures of the summer create the need to feel that cold blast of air from your cranked-up air conditioner. It might surprise you, but this is the time to also think about furnace maintenance. Keep reading to discover why it's essential to have some summer furnace thoughts, even though you won't have to keep warm for a few months.

Changing Your Air Filters

Your filter-replacement schedule runs throughout the year. You should typically replace your furnace filter every three to six months. The regularity depends on factors such as the filter's Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) and if you have indoor pets.

Did you know that the filter gets dirty even when you're not using the furnace? If the filter gets too dirty, it could cause your system to suffer long-term damage in addition to impairing its efficiency. A clean filter is necessary for maintaining energy efficiency.

The Pilot Light

If your furnace is 15 years old or older, it has a pilot light that stays lit 24/7. Considering how much the summer temperatures can take a toll on your energy bills, it makes sense to save a few dollars by switching off the pilot light. Doing this helps your air conditioner run efficiently. Don't forget to relight the pilot light when the next heating season arrives.

Your Furnace Gets Dirty

Your furnace, just like the filter, needs to be clean. After working hard to keep you comfortable during the winter, it's likely to have debris or dust on the exterior and interior components. If you don't clean the unit regularly, the debris may prevent it from running efficiently. It's always a good idea to contact a qualified contractor to carry out a safe cleaning process, especially when going from the winter to the summer.

Furnace Replacement

If you've been thinking of purchasing a new furnace, now is the perfect time. By not waiting until temperatures start dropping, you'll have ample time to do thorough research, consult professionals, and shop properly for the right replacement system.

Your summer furnace thoughts will go a long way toward preventing major problems when the cold weather returns. If you need help with furnace or AC maintenance, contact Air Assurance. Since 1985, we've been assisting Broken Arrow-area homeowners with their heating and cooling needs.

Important Tips to Consider When Purchasing a New Furnace

Buying a new furnace for your home may seem like a daunting task, but with the right information, you can easily choose a heating system that will serve your needs for many years to come. The following tips can help you identify what's important in a new furnace.

• Efficiency: The efficiency of your new furnace will determine how effectively it heats your home and how much it will cost to maintain indoor comfort during the colder months. Higher-efficiency models use less fuel and, as a result, provide heating for a lower cost. Look for a furnace with a high AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, usually 90 or above.

• Size: Proper furnace sizing is essential to buying a system that works well for your home. Sizing, in HVAC terms, refers to the system's capacity to produce heat and keep your indoor living spaces at the temperature you prefer. Have your HVAC professional perform a load calculation on your home. This is a detailed evaluation process that determines exactly how much heating is needed. When you have this information, you can easily find a furnace of the correct size.

• Fuel type: Most often, you'll probably want to buy a new furnace that uses the same type of fuel as your old one. If you have a gas furnace, for example, you'll already have the utility connections in place for a new gas model. However, there are circumstances where you might want to change fuel types or switch to an electric furnace. Ask your HVAC expert for advice.

• Efficiency-boosting features: Additional components can be added to your furnace to boost performance and efficiency even higher. Variable-speed blowers, for example, provide a lower speed for use when less heating is required. This lower speed uses less energy and costs less to operate. Dual heat exchangers improve heat transfer functions.

Air Assurance offers expert heating and cooling services to customers in Tulsa and neighboring areas. Contact us today for more information on how to choose a new furnace and for expert help with selecting, installing and maintaining your heating system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Dirk Ercken/Shutterstock”

Right Furnace Sizing: It's Fundamental for Comfort, Savings

Right Furnace Sizing: It's Fundamental for Comfort, Savings

When you're choosing a new heating system, the most important step is the furnace sizing process. It involves a thorough analysis of your home to find the right Btus (British thermal units) so that you avoid installing a system that's too big or too small.Heating equipment that's too large will short cycle, which means it runs in short spurts and shuts off quickly, leaving you chilled between cycles. This drives up your energy bills, increases the wear and tear on the equipment and can cause rust in the heat exchanger, which may prompt an early furnace replacement.One that's too small will leave you cold when the weather is exceptionally cold, and it will run continually, increasing energy bills and wear of all the components.Your contractor should use software tools called Manuals J, D and S to select the best size for your home before you select the energy efficiency of the system. The inputs include your home's energy efficiency, its cubic footage, floorplan layout and your lifestyle.The result of this furnace sizing exercise will yield the Btus you need, and from there, you can move onto selecting the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency). The minimum you can purchase is 80, and the ratings go as high as 98. The AFUE indicates how much of the fuel the system actually uses for heat. In the case of an 80 AFUE system, it uses 80 percent and wastes the other 20 percent.If your home needs 80,000 Btus of capacity and you select a furnace with an 80 AFUE, it means that you'll need a furnace that has a capacity of 96,000 Btus. By selecting a system with a 90 AFUE, you'll only need a system with 88,000 Btus. Selecting a more efficient system will cut your energy bills each time it turns on.The experts at Air Assurance can help you with furnace sizing and selecting the best AFUE for the short and long term. Please contact us to learn more. We've provided outstanding HVAC services for the Broken Arrow area for nearly 30 years.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Furnace Replacement On Your List? High-Efficiency Is The Way To Go

When facing a furnace replacement, homeowners are wise to consider high-efficiency systems. They not only offer higher energy savings, but they also generate a higher return on investment in terms of lower lifetime costs, fewer repairs and a longer life span. Here’s what you need to know about high-efficiency furnaces, along with a rundown of their key benefits.

How is furnace efficiency rated?

The Department of Energy outlines minimum efficiency standards for heating and cooling systems, which begin at 78 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). AFUE shows a system’s capacity to generate heat based on the fuel it consumes. High-efficiency systems generally begin at 90 percent AFUE, so this particular rating would offer 90 percent heat production for the fuel consumed, while 10 percent is lost.

What are the benefits of choosing a high-efficiency furnace replacement?

Manufacturers generally employ high-tech features to allow furnaces to reach higher efficiencies. Some features also promote improved comfort.

• Multi-stage gas valves regulate the flow of fuel into the furnace, allowing it to consume less fuel when the home’s heating load is lower. It also promotes consistent temperatures in the home.

• Variable-speed air handlers adjust the speed at which heated air is delivered, also responding to the home’s heating load on a minute-by-minute basis. In general, this component is designed to run continuously over the course of the day to boost comfort and save energy.

• Dual heat exchangers in condensing units capture a majority of the heat in combustion gases as they condense, greatly boosting the efficiency of the furnace. In standard systems, energy in combustion gases is simply lost up the flue.

When choosing a high-efficiency system as your furnace replacement, you stand to gain in terms of:

• Higher energy savings

• Improved home comfort

• Fewer repairs and a longer life span, as the components of the furnace are subject to less wear and tear. Furnace wear increases greatly from the demand placed on the unit as it starts and stops.

• Local Utilities often offer rebates for higher efficiency furnaces. Currently, Oklahoma Natural Gas has up to $550 for a 96% AFUE furnace upgrade.

Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing has served homeowners in greater Broken Arrow for more than 30 years, and we're happy to help with your furnace replacement.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Furnace Replacement: An Easy Buyer's Guide

If you’re facing a furnace replacement this year, you can use this easy buyer’s guide to help you through the process. Homeowners can get bogged down in the details when selecting a furnace, but with these three key factors in mind, you can confidently select a system that will work with your home’s needs, and provide energy savings and comfort for many years to come.  For 2012, you can even take advantage of the money given by ONG, PSO, and Lennox to help with the investment cost.  This can be upwards of over $3000 on furnaces alone.SizeIn the past, most furnaces were over-sized to accommodate for drafty homes. That means that your current system might actually be too large for what you now need, especially if you’ve taken steps to increase the seal around your home’s exterior. In any case, under- and over-sized systems cost you, because neither will keep your home comfortable, nor ensure energy efficiency. Make sure your contractor conducts a load calculation to size the system to your home before installing a furnace replacement.EfficiencyWhen choosing a furnace, you should pay close attention to efficiency ratings, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). These ratings are designed to show homeowners how efficiently a system operates, through a percentage that reveals the converted-energy-to-heated-air rate, and how much energy is lost. A high-efficiency system, above 90 AFUE, will get better energy savings, but requires a higher initial investment.FeaturesHigher-efficiency systems include features that allow them to get better AFUE ratings, which ultimately translate into more dollars in your pocket every month. Look for systems that include:

• Variable-speed blowers, which will evenly deliver heated air, and help to manage humidity in the summer.

• Dual- or multi-stage furnaces that have a valve which meters the delivery of fuel to optimize efficiency, depending on the demands of the weather.

• Advanced ignitions that have abandoned the inefficient pilot light in favor of intermittent, hot-surface or direct spark ignitions, which don't carry standby losses.

Selecting a furnace replacement can be easy, if you keep sizing, efficiency, and features in mind. For expert help selecting your next furnace system, contact the area’s leading HVAC experts at Air Assurance Heating, Cooling & Air Quality -- serving homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area for over 30 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!