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Autumn is here and winter will be along with before you know it. If your heating system struggled through the previous winter or you feel the time is right to invest in a new system, the fall makes the ideal time to plan and schedule such an operation. Doing so means that you can enjoy the benefits throughout the winter, saving money on more efficient performance and reducing the risk of a breakdown to a minimum.
Planning a heating replacement in the fall also means that you have the time to consider the various factors involved in selecting the right system for your home. Every household is unique and since heaters represent a serious investment in your home, it behooves you to consider all of the factors that go into a new heater. Here are three of the most pertinent ones you should consider when making your choice.
1. Power Levels
Heaters are designed to produce a certain amount of heat, balanced against the needs of the home. If the heater is underpowered, it will run and run all day without ever making the home feel comfortable. If it’s too large a similar problem occurs: the heater will turn on, warm the house too quickly, and turn off again, only to activate once again a few minutes later as the cool air lowers the temperature. The process is known as short cycling, and since most heating systems use far more energy turning on and turning off than they do simply running, the cost in wasted fuel and wear and tear can be high indeed.
An ideal heater is sized to the unique contours of your home: neither too large nor too small, but just right.
2. Efficiency
Once you have settled on the size of the heating system, the next question to answer is how efficient it is. Heaters measure efficiency according to AFUE, which stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. It’s a simple percentage, gauging how much of the system’s consumed energy actually goes into heating your home and how much is lost to waste. The higher the rating, the more effectively the system will run, and the less you will have to spend on heating costs compared to heating systems with lower AFUE. You should seek out a system with the highest AFUE rating within your stated budget.
3. Alternative Systems
Most homes in the area use forced-air furnaces, which make use of the same ducts as your air conditioner and provide cheap and efficient heat. But they’re not the only systems out there and depending upon your home, an alternative option may be the best for you. For example, heat pumps combine the effects of a heater and an air conditioner into one, while ductless heating systems deliver comprehensive coverage for homes that can’t support the ducts required for a forced-air system. Talk to your service technician to determine if one of these options is right for you.
Call the pros at Intelligent Air Services for quality heater replacement services in Manor, TX.