Furnace Insider Buying Guide
What Size Furnace should my Home have installed?
Furnace sizes are measured in BTU's (British Thermal Units). The higher the BTU's in a furnace, the more heat your furnace is able to exhaust. Most Furnaces are around 80,000 or 100,000 BTU's, but can be as small as 40,000 or as large as 200,000 BTU's.
Efficiency with your Furnace
During the Winter, furnaces can use a significant amount of gas or electricity, causing your power bills to spike. Older furnaces often heat inefficiently and may have leakage from the heat exchanger. Furnace efficiency ratings are referred as Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) and the typical range is from 80%-99%. The AFUE rating describes a furnace's ability to convert energy in its fuel to heat over the course of a typical year. Over at Sierra Heat and Air we recommend a furnace with at least a 95% AFUE for maximum savings on your gas bill!
Brands, Brands and more Brands!
With many furnaces available on the market, homeowners often find it difficult to pick a brand. With our 30 years of experience, we stick with three major brands: Lennox, Rheem and Carrier. All three brands manufacturer quality products and have industry leading engineers developing well made furnaces. The ease of installation, longevity of the equipment, warranty and high efficiency helps us decide our favorite brands.
Yes, Warranties Are Important!
If you go with one of our favorite brands (Lennox, Rheem and Carrier) you will receive a warranty with all of their equipment. Each manufacturer on our favorite list has a Parts Warranty of 10 years and the Compressor Warranty is either 10 or 12 years, dependent on models.
Not all Furnace (HVAC) Companies are Equal...
In every industry, there are bad businesses, good businesses and great businesses. When choosing an HVAC contractor to install your heating unit, look for businesses that have been in business many years, are licensed with the state, have great customer service and aren't too pushy! If they're too pushy to make a deal, be wary.
Pricing matters, right?
Every industry has variances in pricing. In the HVAC industry, prices range based on where you live, the size of the unit you're replacing, efficiency level (AFUE) and permitting costs. We don't want to leave you hanging, so we will say, a range you can expect to pay for a furnace is from $2,000 - $6,000 depending on the previously mentioned factors. For the best estimate, contact a trusted HVAC technician.
Furnace sizes are measured in BTU's (British Thermal Units). The higher the BTU's in a furnace, the more heat your furnace is able to exhaust. Most Furnaces are around 80,000 or 100,000 BTU's, but can be as small as 40,000 or as large as 200,000 BTU's.
Efficiency with your Furnace
During the Winter, furnaces can use a significant amount of gas or electricity, causing your power bills to spike. Older furnaces often heat inefficiently and may have leakage from the heat exchanger. Furnace efficiency ratings are referred as Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) and the typical range is from 80%-99%. The AFUE rating describes a furnace's ability to convert energy in its fuel to heat over the course of a typical year. Over at Sierra Heat and Air we recommend a furnace with at least a 95% AFUE for maximum savings on your gas bill!
Brands, Brands and more Brands!
With many furnaces available on the market, homeowners often find it difficult to pick a brand. With our 30 years of experience, we stick with three major brands: Lennox, Rheem and Carrier. All three brands manufacturer quality products and have industry leading engineers developing well made furnaces. The ease of installation, longevity of the equipment, warranty and high efficiency helps us decide our favorite brands.
Yes, Warranties Are Important!
If you go with one of our favorite brands (Lennox, Rheem and Carrier) you will receive a warranty with all of their equipment. Each manufacturer on our favorite list has a Parts Warranty of 10 years and the Compressor Warranty is either 10 or 12 years, dependent on models.
Not all Furnace (HVAC) Companies are Equal...
In every industry, there are bad businesses, good businesses and great businesses. When choosing an HVAC contractor to install your heating unit, look for businesses that have been in business many years, are licensed with the state, have great customer service and aren't too pushy! If they're too pushy to make a deal, be wary.
Pricing matters, right?
Every industry has variances in pricing. In the HVAC industry, prices range based on where you live, the size of the unit you're replacing, efficiency level (AFUE) and permitting costs. We don't want to leave you hanging, so we will say, a range you can expect to pay for a furnace is from $2,000 - $6,000 depending on the previously mentioned factors. For the best estimate, contact a trusted HVAC technician.