Buying a Heater
Gas versus Electric
Gas Furnace
Where natural gas is available, a gas furnace is generally cheaper to run than an electric one. Bear in mind, however, that gas furnaces utilize a flame to burn fuel and generate toxic fumes. In a well-maintained, properly installed furnace, the fumes are contained inside the heat exchanger and exit your home through a vent. If you own or purchase a gas furnace, it is extremely important to have the unit examined once a year by a heating and air conditioning technician.
Electric Heater
Electric heaters are generally more expensive to run than gas furnaces. However, because they do not employ a flame and do not produce carbon monixide, they are a cleaner and safer source of heat.
Heat Pumps
A third option for heating your home or place of business is the purchase of a heat pump. Heat pumps provide a more uniform temperature throughout a building than traditional heaters, which produce a sudden blast of hot air each time they kick on. Another advantage of heat pumps is that they do not excessively dry out the air the way gas furnaces and standard electric heaters do. Heat pumps are more efficient and cost less to run than electric furnaces; however natural gas furnaces are generally less expensive to operate than heat pumps. One drawback to heat pumps is that very few technicians are properly trained to work on them.
Efficiency
Gas furnaces are classified by AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings. The AFUE number represents the percentage of the fuel the equipment uses which is converted to actual heat. For example, an 80 AFUE furnace converts eighty-percent of the fuel it uses to heat; the other twenty-percent of the fuel utilized is lost. The higher the AFUE rating, the less fuel a furnace will require to heat your home. Units with higher efficiency ratings are usually more expensive to purchase than those with lower ratings, but cost less to run and can save you money in the long run.
Comfort Features
Some furnaces offer additional features that provide greater comfort as well as improved efficiency.
Two-Speed Furnaces
Two-speed furnaces can run on low speed up to 90% of the time, so they are quieter, more efficient, and provide more consistant heating than single-speed furnaces. Longer operating periods translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts, and reduced temperature swings (one or two degrees as opposed to the four-degree swings common with single-speed furnaces). They also provide better air circulation which reduces air stratification (warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor).
Variable-Capacity Furnaces
Variable-capacity furnaces provide the ultimate combination of comfort and efficiency. In addition to the benefits of two-speed furnaces, they offer "smart" motors that monitor your home's comfort needs and automatically adjust the volume and speed of air to provide the most efficient heating.
Sound Levels
Furnaces don't have a standard sound rating system like the bel rating system used for air conditioners and heat pumps.
However, two-speed and variable-speed furnaces are typically quieter than standard single-speed models. Because they run for longer periods at lower speeds, they do not produce the frequent kick-on noise of single-speed furnaces. Some variable-capacity models provide a "ramp on" feature which gradually introduces warm air into your ducts. This reduces the creaking noises produced by ducts expanding and contracting with stronger blasts of heat.
Selecting a Contractor
Improperly installed equipment may not work correctly, may create environmental or safety hazards, and may waste your time as you wait for repair calls. Make sure that the company you use is fully licensed and insured and that it warranties its work. Below is a checklist for selecting the right contractor.
- The contractor possesses a valid HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) license issued by the State of Texas. Manufacturers may not warranty equipment that is purchased and/or installed by someone other than a licensed contractor (or an employee working under a licensed contractor). The contractor's license number should be displayed on all company vehicles, advertisements, business cards, and invoices.
- The contractor carries liability insurance. An improperly installed heater can create a fire hazard or may leak carbon monoxide. Make sure your home is protected. (Note: even a correctly intalled heater can become a fire hazard or release carbon monoxide if it is not properly maintained over the years. Have your heater inspected annually).
- The contractor runs a criminal background check on all field service technicians and installers. ACU Air runs background checks on all new hires.
- The contractor pulls all required permits. If you live inside an incorporated area, such as Shenandoah, Oak Ridge, Conroe, or Houston, a permit may be required for new installations.
- The contractor includes a one year labor warranty on newly installed equipment. Some contractors limit warranty work to weekdays only; others will perform emergency warranty work in the evenings and on weekends, if the equipment fails after hours. Ask before you buy!
- The contractor provides a written estimate before performing the work. Ask whether the quote includes disposing of the old equipment. Some unscrupulous contractors will tell you, on the day of installation, that there is an extra fee to dispose of your old equipment. If you refuse to pay it, they may leave your old heater in your attic. The state requires the contractor to charge sales tax on the new equipment. Ask whether this is already included in the final price.
- The contractor's office staff registers the equipment with the manufacturer. As a general rule, you do not have to register your new heating equipment to receive the standard warranty (provided that the equipment was purchased and installed under a licensed contractor). However, manufacturers often provided extended warranty if you or the installer registers the equipment. ACU Air registers all the new equipment it installs. If the registration results in an extended warranty, above and beyond the standard warranty that came with the unit, ACU sends a copy of the registration to the homeowner with a description of the extended warranty.
- The contractor and/or his employees personally install the new equipment. Beware of contractors who only service equipment but farm out installations to sub-contractors. The sub-contractors they use may have never repaired or serviced a heating system and may install the equpiment in such a way that some of the components are not accessible when repairs or service are needed.
