FURNACE INSTALLATION
When it comes time to install a new furnace, you may not be sure where to begin. You know that your old heating system has to go, but you want to be sure that you choose the best option for your home. At G&R Heating and Air in Gilberts, we can help you pick the appropriate furnace, whether that’s a system that runs on natural gas, electricity, or another fuel source. Above all, we want you to feel confident that your new furnace will work great for many years to come. If you need furnace installation in the Chicagoland area, then give us a call at (224) 419-5324 today!
Different Types Of Heating Systems
When choosing a new furnace, you’ll want to consider what type of system you already have. Is it a forced-air heating system that distributes warm air via vents and registers, or is it a boiler system that heats water that then runs to radiators throughout the house? Depending on how old your home is, you may still have a somewhat antiquated heating system that isn’t as efficient as you’d like. By installing a new system, you can enjoy a comfortable temperature in every room, without paying too much each month.
Different Types Of Heating Systems
In most homes around the country, heat is provided by forced-air, or central-heat, furnaces. These systems heat air that is brought in from outside, and then circulate that warm air throughout the house. The system usually runs off of natural gas, electricity, or fuel oil, and then exhaust air is vented outside via a flue pipe. A forced-air furnace can be a very affordable and efficient way to heat your home.
Boiler Systems
With a boiler heating system, water is heated and distributed throughout the house, instead of air. The heat in each room is provided by radiators, often equipped with dials that allow you to set the desired temperature. As the water travels through the radiators and is cooled, it returns to the boiler to be reheated. These systems are often fueled by natural gas or oil.
Heat Pumps
Many homeowners today keep their homes comfortable through the house of a heat pump. Basically, a heat pump can keep your home cool in the summer by moving warm air from the inside to the outside, and warm in the winter by reversing this process. An air-source heat pump forces warm air throughout the house, much like a central heating system. These pumps run on electricity, much like a central air conditioner, and can be a very efficient way of heating your home.
Your Fuel Source
There are many different types of furnaces on the market, and it’s important to choose one with a fuel source that is compatible with your home. If you currently have a system that runs on natural gas, then you’ll likely want to choose a new model that also runs on natural gas. If you want to convert from a gas to an electric system, then our team can advise you on the best model and the best way to go about doing that.
Gas Furnaces
If your home was built in the last 50 to 100 years, then there’s a good chance that it has a furnace that runs on natural gas. A gas heating system can be the most efficient and affordable way to keep your home comfortable during the winter. If you live in a house that’s older than 100 years, then you may have had a coal- or oil-fueled heating system that was removed to make way for a gas-fueled, forced-air furnace. Whatever the case may be, if the time has come to replace your old gas furnace, then we can take care of everything.
Electric Furnaces
An electric furnace can look almost identical to a gas furnace, except that it heats the air through electric heating elements rather than gas burners. This eliminates the need for a natural gas line, and an electric heating system can be just as efficient as a gas-powered one. You’ll want to consider how much energy your electric furnace will use during the winter months, and how you can offset that through efficient heating practices, such as updating your thermostat with a programmable or learning model.
Oil Furnaces
Oil heating systems are not as common as they once were, but they can still be found in homes around the country. Older houses may have had a oil system installed many years ago, and the homeowner decided at one point to keep it. Oil furnaces can be quite efficient, but you must have oil delivered every month, along with upkeep and maintenance. There are modern oil heating systems that cost less than a gas or electric furnace, but the efficiency can be lower when compared to other systems, and the price of the fuel can be higher depending on where you live. If you’re interested in an oil furnace, then we’d love to talk to you about your options.
Sizing Your New Furnace
Sizing your new furnace does not pertain to the actual dimensions of the system, but rather the system’s heating capacity. You want a system that can adequately heat your home, while not costing you too much in fuel or energy costs each month. You’ll want to look at the system’s Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which tells you how much of the fuel will be translated into usable heat. If the system you’re looking at has a 90 percent AFUE rating, then that means 90 percent of the fuel will be turned into heat, with the remaining 10 percent being exhaust. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that you can only compare the AFUE of the same type of furnaces, such as one gas furnace to another.
A furnace that’s too large for your home can result in it cycling on and off too much, since it’s generating more heat than your home needs. This can result in a lack of heating efficiency, not to mention mechanical problems that can severely shorten the system’s lifespan. With a system that’s too small, meaning it can’t produce enough heat to keep the house warm, it can run too long and too often, resulting in higher energy costs and home that’s not comfortable during the colder days of the year.
Heating Capacity
Your new furnace’s heating capacity will be shown in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. You’ll want to be sure that your new system can produce enough BTUs to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. The number shown on the certificate on the new model will tell you how many BTUs per hour the furnace will produce. You’ll need to know your home’s square footage in order to determine what your new system’s heating capacity should be. If you need 80,000 BTUs per hour to heat your home, then you won’t want to install a furnace that only produces 60,000 BTUs per hour. You also need to take efficiency into account, because if the system shows 100,000 BTUs per hour, but is only 90 percent efficient, it will only produce 90,000 BTUs per hour.
Manual J Load
While BTUs are very important, it’s also essential to take your home’s manual J load into consideration before installing a new furnace. The manual J load refers to how your home is built, what type of insulation and windows you have, and how much sunlight the house receives on a daily basis. All of these factors play a part in heat loss and heat retention, and our HVAC technicians know how to calculate your property’s manual J load. When sizing your new furnace, we’ll take everything into account so that you end up with the best system possible. Our installations come with a full 10 year parts & labor warranty.*
The Installation Process
Once you’ve gone through the process of finding the right size of furnace, determining its BTU output and efficiency, and everything else associated with it, you’re likely ready to install it as soon as possible. At G&R, we take great pride in our furnace installation services, and once you’re ready to go, we’ll be ready to start. We’ll begin by dismantling your old furnace and removing it quickly and safely, making sure to handle any large or dangerous components with great care. Once that is done, we’ll begin assembling your new system, connecting it to the gas line or electrical system, as well as the ductwork, in your home. Keep in mind that the gas or electricity in the house will need to be shut off while the old furnace is being removed and the new one is installed, so you’ll have to plan accordingly when it comes to your day. After the installation is complete, we’ll do a thorough check of everything, making sure that nothing is loose or disconnected. We’ll run the system through a full cycle, listening for any irregular sounds and watching for anything that shouldn’t be happening. Once that is done, we’ll make sure that you’re satisfied with our service, because at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing to us!
When Should You Replace Your Furnace?
We’ve covered the different types of heating systems and what to look for when sizing your new furnace, but you may still be wondering when you should replace your old system. Most furnaces have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, so if yours is nearing the end, then it’s a good idea to start looking sooner rather than later. If you wait until the system goes out completely, then you could be rushed to make a decision, which can leave you with a less-than-ideal choice. As far as the time of year when you should replace your furnace, the choice is really up to you. If you noticed that during the previous winter, your heating system struggled to keep up, then you can have a new furnace installed during the spring or summer months. This way, you’ll have a new system that’s primed and ready to go for the next winter. If you wait until winter to have a new model installed, then you may have to live with your old system for a few weeks, especially if cold weather comes early to the Chicagoland area.
Emergency Installation Services
You may have noticed that your furnace is struggling to keep up, or that your monthly utility bills are rising, but you still haven’t been able to make a decision regarding a new heating system. Waiting too long can lead to problems, especially if the system breaks down completely. Fortunately, we offer 24/7 emergency service, so if your furnace stops working in the middle of the night, we’ll be there as soon as we can to provide a complete inspection, and make whatever repairs we can. If it makes more financial sense to install a new system rather than repairing your old one, then we’ll get to work on finding a suitable model for your home. Again, a last-minute decision may not be the best, but with our assistance, you’ll be able to choose a furnace that’s right for your house.
Your Furnace Repair Experts
At G&R, we understand that you want an efficient furnace that keeps your house warm and comfortable during the winter months. When it comes to furnace installation, it’s important to have a team that you can trust to provide exceptional service, and that will be honest and upfront about what the best course of action is for your HVAC system. If you’ve been constantly repairing your furnace over the past five to 10 years, then it might be time to install a new one.
If you think it’s time to start looking at furnaces, then please contact us today. Our team is committed to helping you make the best decisions regarding your HVAC needs, and we’ll gladly explain the steps you need to take to find the best option. We can answer any questions you have about fuel types, sizing, and the installation process. At the end of the day, if you’re satisfied with your new furnace and the service that we provided, then we’re satisfied.
