Furnace replacement can be a daunting task, especially if you are on a tight budget. But if you arm yourself with some furnace replacement tips regarding some of the more important aspects, you will be able to make an educated choice for a furnace that will not only be affordable to purchase, it will help keep your Cincinnati home energy efficient for years to come.

Sizing

Your Greater Cincinnati area home needs a furnace that is properly sized for its heating needs, which involves more than matching a unit's tonnage to a home's square footage. An improperly sized system will affect your home comfort and energy savings. If you get a unit that is oversized, it won’t be able to provide consistent, efficient heating. A furnace that isn’t large enough won’t be able to pump enough heat out.

The right size furnace will help you get an efficient system that fits within your budget. It will also reduce long-term energy costs.

Ratings

Furnace efficiency is measured by a rating called AFUE, annual fuel utilization efficiency. Higher ratings mean that a furnace can convert more fuel to heat—heat that's actually used in your home and will help to reduce heating expenses. High-efficiency furnaces, rated above 90 AFUE, require a more significant investment, but the increased savings they create over the years will help to offset the difference in price. However, investing in a mid-efficiency system, over 80 AFUE, while increasing the energy efficiency of your home by improving insulation and air sealing, will allow you to invest less money and ensure moderate energy savings.

Energy Star

The Energy Star program, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, provides incentives for purchasing energy-efficient heating equipment. Products that meet minimum efficiency standards will be clearly labeled, and selecting such a system will help you to lower your heating costs and ensure home comfort. Selecting Energy Star-qualified equipment is one of the best ways to get the most value from your budget.

For more furnace replacement tips that can help you work within a budget, contact Tri-County Heating & Cooling today. We have proudly served Butler County and the Greater Cincinnati area since 1969. 

Furnace image via Shutterstock.