Did You Put Off Getting A New Furnace? Why Buying One Before Springtime Makes Sense

A major furnace malfunction is definitely a traumatic matter for any home owner. A mid-winter meltdown is definitely an urgent matter. Should the breakdown happen close to the end of heating season, however, you could have choices which are not usually offered when the weather conditions are still cold. By postponing purchasing a furnace, you could save a substantial amount of money while getting much better service and a better furnace than you may otherwise be able to get.

Price Savings

The most apparent advantage of purchasing a new furnace at the end of heating months are that the system is likely going to be less expensive. With winter ending soon, HVAC providers will be more motivated to move existing cold-weather products and inventory at a discount to help make room for air conditioning units along with other spring and summer equipment. Equipment and installment will be cheaper as a result of supply and demand; there is certainly less demand for furnaces by the end of winter than at the start of or while in the season, so costs are prone to drop.

Better Choices

By waiting until the end of the winter season to shop for a furnace, you will have the luxury of time to make a more sensible choice. You can spend several extra days or perhaps weeks hunting for a great bargain, reviewing different choices for example a geothermal heat pump, or finding a high-efficiency unit which will meet your needs completely.

Take into account that you may have to put more effort into keeping your home warm while in the tapering days of winter. You'll need additional space heaters, more insulation for your water pipes plus more blankets and clothing to help keep your household warm. A couple of days of inconvenience, however, will pay off in big returns when you make a more economical purchase of your brand-new home heating system.

For more than a decade, we’ve been providing HVAC installation, design, and service to south San Fransicso Bay Area clients. Contact Sandium Heating & Air today for additional information on investing in a furnace as well as for recommendations on when replacement is the best idea.

Our mission is to help educate our clients about energy and residential home comfort issues (particular to HVAC systems).  For more details about choosing a furnace along with other HVAC subject areas, visit our website.

The Benefits of Upgrading to a High Efficiency Furnace

The furnace is one of the most important appliances in a home, but maintenance on the furnace is often overlooked for years. Most homeowners don't think about it until it suddenly stops producing heat in the middle of a cold winter day. However, there are many benefits to replacing an old model before it stops functioning completely. Investing in a high efficiency furnace could provide greater levels of comfort along with lower operating costs over the lifetime of the appliance.

Improved Temperature Control

In order to use the fuel more efficiently, these types of furnaces move a lot more air through your home. This extra level of circulation helps eliminate pockets of heat that settle along the ceiling in a room. Extra airflow ensures that each room is evenly heated, making the home seem warmer without the need to raise the thermostat's settings. Powerful blowers keep air moving throughout the entire home. This may lead to slightly higher noise levels than what homeowners are used to with lower efficiency furnaces.

Lower Heating Bills

The rising costs of fuel oil, propane, and electricity have made it harder for many families to afford running their inefficient and older furnaces. If the current model in the home has only a 60 percent efficiency rating, then $0.40 of every dollar spent on heating is wasted. A 96 percent efficient model will cut this down to just $0.04 of lost fuel. Most homeowners see a noticeable drop on their bills within the first few months of operation. These furnaces do come with higher upfront costs, but buyers usually find that they can quickly recoup what they have spent with the money they save each month.

Safety

When a furnace burns gas or oil to produce heat, carbon monoxide is also produced. This gas can cause serious health problems if it escapes and enters the home's air supply. High efficiency furnaces are built with tightly sealed combustion chambers to ensure fuel is consumed as completely as possible. This also offers a higher level of safety than older models with unsealed chambers. The carbon monoxide in a high efficiency model has no avenue of escape.

Long Lifespan

Even with annual maintenance, many older furnaces were only designed for 10 to 15 years of use. Many new models come with 20-year warranties. Constant repairs for an older furnace can cost hundreds of dollars per year, which is more money a homeowner can save by investing in a replacement furnace.

Investing in a new furnace could keep the home warmer while cutting monthly heating costs. Any homeowners relying on furnaces that are more than a decade old should seriously consider upgrading to a new model.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7514520

Three Essential Spring Furnace Maintenance Tips

Spring furnace maintenance is really all about making sure your furnace is in good shape for next fall/winter. It also ensures that when it's time to turn on your air conditioning in the summer, your system is ready to go.

A majority of Canadian households run their furnaces from October to March or April. That's about 6-7 months of furnace use, on average. Those who have HVAC systems that produce both heat in winter and cool air in summer run their systems nearly year-round.

No matter what kind of system you have at home, the constant use means wear and tear on parts. Running a furnace or HVAC system is just like running a car: the more you use it, the faster it will wear out. This is why your system needs regular maintenance, just like your car does.

Your system should be "tuned up" at two critical points each year: pre-fall/winter (before you need to use your heat) and spring (when you transition from using heat to turning off your furnace and using your air conditioning). Here's what you should be focusing on in the spring:

1) Pressure wash the outdoor condensing unit or heat pump. Spring is the best time to do this. Wait until the weather has warmed up and you're certain that you won't be using your heat again until the fall. Pressure washing of this component removes winter grime and bits of gravel that frequently get caught inside of parts during the cold, wet and slushy weather. It also helps to loosen up and remove dead leaves that may have gotten caught in its parts. A clean system runs more efficiently. Plus, you're less likely to incur damage to parts from all those bits.

2) Check your filter. Your furnace filter needs to be replaced approximately every 3-4 months when you are regularly using your system. Here are some general tips on how to decide whether you need to change the filter or not:

* Is the filter visibly dirty or clogged? If you can see bits of dust and debris in it, it's a good idea to change it. If dust and debris is minimal and you don't plan on running your system for a few months, you can opt to change it before you turn it on in the fall. Just don't forget! If there's a lot of debris in it, go ahead and change it now.

* Check the color of the filter. Filters may be white, gray or cream-colored. Even if there is minimal visible debris caught in the filter, you should change it if the color of the filter has changed/darkened.

* When you replace the filter, write the date on the new one in permanent marker. This way you'll know for certain whether you've been using it longer than three or four months.

* If your filter has been in use for more than four months, change it even if it doesn't seem very dirty. Not all debris can be seen, and your furnace will perform more efficiently with a clean filter.

3) Get your system inspected. You should do this at least once per year. If you do it in the fall, it may not be necessary to do it again in the spring.

However, spring is an ideal time to attend to this task. This way you won't freeze if it turns out that there is something wrong or if a part needs replacing. Few things are worse than waiting until the first cold snap of autumn to turn on the furnace, only to discover that it's not working, and now you're stuck with no heat while you wait for a new part to be ordered and installed.

For the same reasons, spring time is a great time to replace an old furnace or HVAC with a new one. Replacing a furnace usually takes some time, anywhere from days to weeks. Doing it in spring means you won't go without heat and air conditioning during other times of the year when you really need it.

Sandium Heating and Air Conditioning is your spring furnace maintenance specialist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Kukler

Investing In A Home Heater: Why Purchasing it Over the Internet Might Cost You

If you’re planning on buying a furnace, shopping on the web might appear to be a wise idea. However, before you do, here are several main reasons why an internet purchase could end up costing you.

The majority of building contractors won't install heaters purchased via the internet.

Simply because they can't be sure the equipment’s condition, a contractor will be unable to warranty an installation. This, and the fact that they typically don’t make much profit from installs, makes many contractors not wanting to install any online purchases.

A handful of contractors decided they are willing to install HVAC equipment bought online, and may do it with an overpriced rate to make up for some of the lost profits. Consequently you may wind up paying more for the entire project than you saved from purchasing online.  Because an wrongly installed furnace could have dangerous outcomes, you must never make an attempt to install one yourself unless you have the correct training and experience to do this.

You could potentially choose the wrong size furnace.

When purchasing a furnace, it's important to determine what size is best for your house. Professional contractors conduct a load calculation to find out which size is going to be most efficient. You can try to undertake this calculation on your own, but because an improperly-sized furnace will cost you more on your power bill as well as pose health threats for your family, you ought to still consult an expert to double-check your work.

The equipment may be damaged.

The majority of HVAC equipment available online doesn't include a warranty. This means that regardless if your equipment is damaged when it arrives, you may not obtain return or refund.

The equipment could possibly be stolen. A number of the low-cost products online are now being sold by criminals who purchased the gear with stolen credit card numbers. Scammers will buy expensive brand-new equipment, and then sell it immediately online with an extremely low cost. Should you choose to decide on purchasing a furnace online, ensure it is from a respected merchant.

For additional info on the many benefits of investing in a furnace from your local, certified expert, contact Sandium Heating and Air conditioning.