5 easy steps in choosing the perfect furnace for your home

Deciding on a furnace for your house may well be intimidating, but it really should not be so terribly complicated. Talk over these simple steps outlining elements which you may perhaps want to investigate when buying a furnace.

1. Which One is Best, Gas or Electric?

The Gas Furnace - A Gas furnace is generally more affordable to use than an electric furnace if Gas is readily on hand. On the downside, burning fuel produces fumes. In a well maintained Gas furnace, the fumes created are enclosed in the exchanger and then exit the building via an exhaust vent.

Remember, a Gas furnace must be examined by a qualified expert at the least once a year. The specialist should explore the furnace for holes, leaks or cracks. An opening or crack in the furnace lets carbon monoxide seep into your house or place of business.

The Electric Furnace - An electric furnace has a higher operating price than a Gas furnace does. The good news is, for the reason that electric furnaces do not employ flames, it will not effect any carbon monoxide. The electric furnace is cleaner in addition to safer than a Gas furnace.

2. Furnace quality

The value of a furnace determines how long and how well it will perform. Deciding on a brand of furnace that has a past of quality as well as reliability could be less costly over time. Confer with your contractor about which style will be optimal for your demands. Most Heating and air conditioning firms offer a free estimate for the procurement and installation of a new hvac layout.

3. Furnace Efficiency Ratings

The effectiveness of Gas furnaces are attested by the AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The AFUE rating of a furnace records how efficiently the fuel is being expended. The AFUE is a representation of a Gas furnace's efficiency in converting fuel to energy. In certain cases, a higher AFUE rating means it will consume less fuel to heat your house or business.

Gas furnaces which have higher AFUE ratings customarily cost more than those which have lowered AFUE ratings but they may save a home owner more capital in the long run. A minimum rating of 78% was regulated by the u.s. government in 1992. A few furnaces have an efficiency rating of about 60% before 1992.

a. Mid-Efficiency Furnaces

A mid-efficiency furnace, also known as an ‘induces draft furnace’ or a ‘non-condensing furnace’. The mid-efficiency furnace simply affords the absolute minimum of 78% efficiency to approximately 80%.

b. High-Efficiency Furnaces

A high-efficiency furnace is further recognized as a ‘condensing furnace’ or a ‘sealed combustion furnace’. The high-efficiency furnace will always have an AFUE rating of as much as 96%. Some furnaces utilize a two-stage valve and an efficient variable-speed motor to increase comfort as well as effectiveness.

4. Comfort Items of Furnaces

Numerous furnaces deliver features which increase comfort and overall efficiency.

a. The components of the two-speed furnace

The furnace can function at low speed the better part of the time. It allows for a more quieter operation for a greater period of time compared to a ‘single-speed furnace’. The longer run periods allow for fewer start-up/shut-down cycles, less drafts, as well as very little temperature deviation.

The temperature fluctuation is confined to about two degrees in contrast to the four degree deviation of the single-speed units. The two-speed unit contributes more adept circulation which prevents warmer air from drifting up as well as the cooler air from settling. The two-speed unit presents a more consistent temperature in the facility.

b. The components of variable capacity furnaces

Furnaces having variable capacity provide a blend of efficiency plus gratification. The variable capacity has a motor that regulates your demands by mechanically adjusting air volume and speed. The variable capacity furnace provides the least expensive means of heating and cooling.

A fan comes with the variable capacity furnace. The fan will relieve your cost throughout summer. If the fan is used all the way through summer, the central air cooling unit increases in efficiency.

5. Noise Level of the Furnace

Unfortunately, all furnaces do not usually come with a normal rating system for sound unlike heat pumps and a/c systems. Albeit, two-speed units and variable capacity units normally operate at a low noise levels.

The two-speed and variable capacity furnaces run for longer periods plus lowered sounds than the conventional unit. Various variable capacity units have items which impede ‘creaking’ of the ducts due to expansion as well as contraction caused by varying temperature. The temperature differential is dropped along these lines so that the creaking noise is just about eliminated.

Furnace Fraud - Beware of HVAC Installers Using Bait and Switch Tactics

While not a prevalent practice in the upper midwest, unscrupulous HVAC installers have been known to use one of two techniques in defrauding unsuspecting homeowners. One is using a bait and switch technique, the other is taking a down payment on the job and then skipping town.

In an article distributed in the 'The Register Citizen', Viktoria Sundqvist writes:

"Two types of fraud we often see involve companies who take the money and run," said Jordan Tandy, spokesman for Internet network Angie's List. "Some service providers take a deposit, but never complete or start a job."
The second fraud type that is very common is the bait-and-switch tactic, Tandy said.
"They'll sell the (customer) an item, such as a furnace, but install a different one without the (customer's) approval," Tandy said.
Contracting fraud occurs if a person obtains money by false pretense, acts as a contractor without a contractor's license and misapplies money..."

This is why we strongly recommend a 3 step approach:
1.) contact the Better Business Bureau to learn of any complaints and how they were resolved.
2.) Check with your states Secretary of State office to determine if they have a legal business.
3.) Ask for references and contact at least three of them.

If you live in Minnesota you can take the easy way out when looking for a heating and cooling contractor. Simply call 651-653-4704 and you will be connected with a reputable company that has been a leader in the HVAC industry since 1991.

Twin Cities Air Duct Cleaning Company Provides Wide Range of HVAC Services

CleanMyFurnace.com has added a new Zip Code page to assist you in determining if they provide services in your area. While they have the cities they service listed on the their home page, now CleanMyFurnace.com has made it even easier for potential customers to find out if heating and cooling related services are provided in their area.

If you would like to see if the air duct cleaning zip codes covered by CleanMyFurnace.com include your hometown, all you need to do is locate your city on the list and look for your zip code. If your city or zip code is not listed, call 651-653-4704 and ask Renee to add you to the list. They have many people on the outskirts of their service area who are willing to wait until a full day can be routed. At $99, many of them are willing to wait a month or two just to get in on the deal!

Global Warming - Leading Scientist Says'Tune-Up Your furnace & A/C'

An inefficient heating and cooling system will consume more electricity and fossil fuels. According to the EPA, something as simple as a dirty A-coil can reduce efficiency by 21%. Combine that with a dirty filter, and dirty air ducts and you have a heating and cooling system that is wasting energy unnecessarily.

Here is the article printed in Gazette Extra:


Do what you can to help reduce global warming

(Published Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:24:53 AM CST)

...Have your furnace and air conditioner tuned. Change or clean your air filters regularly so units run at maximum efficiencies.

"If each of us becomes a more efficient user of energy, there is less need to build new coal-fired power plants," UW-Madison climate researcher John J. Magnuson told Lux.

In fighting global warming, "there is no single silver bullet," Magnuson said. "Instead, there is a lot of silver buckshot."...

A New Air Duct Cleaning Blog

Here is another air duct cleaning website. Yep, it's operated by the folks at Duct-911.com so you can trust what they say. The first article talks about their "Whole-House" air duct cleaning special for $99. I am sure they will have many HVAC related articles soon.

Better Business Bureau Tips: Beware of Phony Air Duct Cleaners

Here is an excellent article written by the president and CEO of the Dayton, Ohio Better Business Bureau. She addresses many of the very things we have always suggested; CALL THE BBB!

Like many home services providers, air duct cleaning has its share of scoundrels. Whether you are planning on hiring a carpet cleaner or an air duct cleaner or a vinyl siding installer, check them out!

We recommend visiting Duct-911.com to contact an air duct cleaner in your area. Click on the map and then select your state. Although it is a relatively new website, already there are several pre-screened air duct cleaners, with more contractors signing up every day.

Donna Childs: Don't get cleaned out by phony air duct cleaners

By Donna Childs

Better Business Bureau

Sunday, May 06, 2007

With the growing concern of home air quality, more companies are offering air duct cleaning. Many place ads or coupons in newspapers or send them by mail offering rock-bottom prices to clean air ducts.

If you see air duct cleaning ads for $69.95 to $99.95, know that you cannot get your air ducts cleaned for that price. The ad is to hook you into letting the company come out. Then, they run up your bill, sometimes saying the $69.95 is for a limited number of air ducts or other tricks.

The Better Business Bureau gets calls and complaints about a few companies misleading customers with false advertising. The consumers say their bills total up to $1,000 once the employee has completed the service.

It's outrageous to expect to pay MAYBE $100 and end up with a bill in the hundreds or thousands with air ducts that haven't been cleaned.

If you need your air ducts cleaned, be sure to know who you're doing business with. There are a few trustworthy air duct cleaning services in our area. The Better Business Bureau offers this advice to help you find one:...

Donna Childs is the president and CEO

of the Dayton Better Business Bureau.

10 Ways to Save Money and Energy - 4 Are HVAC Related

The following post was found on the businesswire.com website and refers to Florida Power and Light's 'Top 10 Tips to save you money':

Money-Saving Makeovers Help Families Conserve Energy and Dollars
JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
April 18, 2007

• Cool your home at 78° or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82° or warmer when you're away from home.
• Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. It also helps to maintain a comfortable temperature when everyone wakes up or returns home.
• Clean or replace the a/c filter every month to trim cooling costs and help the unit run more efficiently.
• Adjust the water level on the washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer before every load. Use the auto sensor function (if there is one) to conserve energy by not over-drying the clothes...