When choosing a new furnace for their home, most consumers don’t consider the fact that size is such an important factor when making a choice. Often, cost factors outweigh everything else. However, proper sizing of your furnace is one of the most critical aspects of a furnace installation and/or replacement.
As far as size goes, consumers tend to assume that bigger is better, but this is simply not true. Most furnaces are oversized, and a furnace that is too big for a house will most likely result in higher energy bills, more costly repairs and require earlier replacement of parts and equipment. This is because oversized furnaces cycle on and off more often, causing more stress on the heat exchanger while wearing the other components out more quickly and using more fuel.
All of this adds up to higher expense over the life of the unit. And, in addition to these expensive problems, an oversized furnace will reduce home comfort due to frequent temperature fluctuations that result from short cycling.
So how does a consumer choose the right sized furnace for their home, in order to avoid these problems? The right size will depend on the age of the home, what the square footage is and how ductwork is configured. It is always best to call a professional to assess a home’s individual needs.
Consumers should make sure their contractor does a residential load calculation. If duct work is being designed or re-designed, then the calculation should be used, to ensure proper air flow and distribution.
Here at Arpi’s, we provide a free in home estimate, and can recommend the right sized furnace for each home’s square footage and climate requirements, using proper sizing calculations to ensure your home comfort and the long term durability of your home’s heating system.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.
