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Furnace Replacement in the Mat-Su Valley: Here’s What You Should Know

The crazy weather we’ve been having in the Mat-Su Valley this winter is making all our furnaces work extra hard to accommodate the temperature fluctuations.

You may be experiencing an increase in the number of repairs needed to keep your old furnace up and running during the dips below freezing. Or maybe your furnace simply isn’t heating your home or office like it used to.

Whatever the case may be, if you clicked on this title, it’s probably because you’re considering a furnace replacement.

At HeatSource Mechanical, we hope to help you make an informed decision!

Today, we’re talking about everything you should know when you are making the decision to replace your furnace in the Mat-Su Valley. We’ll cover how to vet your contractor, which system upgrades to consider at your furnace replacement, and how to stay on top of maintenance once your furnace has been replaced.

We hope you enjoy learning about the options available to you!

Need a furnace replacement but don’t have the funds? Ask us about our financing options when you schedule an appointment!

Like your current furnace but need maintenance? Try our Comfort Club Membership for 10% off all repairs and more great benefits!

Use the Best Furnace Replacement Contractor in the Mat-Su Valley

Okay, so we may be a bit biased about who the “best” furnace replacement contractor in the Mat-Su Valley is (*cough* HeatSource Mechanical *cough*).

That said, in the off-chance that you decide to go with somebody other than us, we seriously want to make sure you don’t get a bad deal.

Below are some ways to make sure you are working with a quality furnace replacement contractor:

1. Make Sure They Have a License

This should go without saying, but it is an easy detail to miss–make sure the individual or company you are working with is licensed to do the work they say they are going to do.

To say that there are some interesting characters here in the Mat-Su Valley is a bit of an understatement.

Protect yourself and your property and check your contractor’s license!

Pro Tip: HeatSource Mechanical is licensed, bonded, and insured! (*wink*)

2. Check Their Reviews

You can learn more about your furnace replacement contractor from what others say about them than from what they say about themselves.

Visit your contractor’s Google location for the Mat-Su Valley and have a good look around their Google reviews.

Weigh the positive reviews against the negative ones and look for trends in the services they perform well vs. not so well. If they seem to have a hard time with furnace replacements, move on to somebody else.

3. Expect a Thorough Inspection

A good contractor who is looking to install a new furnace in your home or office is going to first do a thorough inspection to make sure the furnace they install will heat the space required.

If your Mat-Su Valley contractor does not do so, ask them why not and consider looking for someone else to do business with.

4. Read the Estimate Carefully

A thorough estimate is just as important as a thorough inspection.

Read the estimate your Mat-Su Valley contractor gives you very carefully and make sure you understand all the costs as well as where they are coming from. If you do not understand why they are charging you for something, ask for clarification.

Do not sign a contract until you feel comfortable with the estimate.

If you cannot get to a point at which you and your contractor can agree on the estimate, try getting an estimate from somebody else!

Take the Opportunity to Update Your Entire System at the Furnace Replacement

Once you’re in the mindset of getting your furnace replaced, you might as well consider all your options!

As a Lennox Premier Dealer at HeatSource Mechanical, we offer three models of high-efficiency furnaces:

  1. The Lennox Merit Series, an affordable choice among high-efficiency furnaces
  2. The Lennox Elite Series, our next-level model that uses less electricity and saves even more money over the long-term
  3. The Lennox Signature Series, one of the quietest and most efficient furnaces on the market!

You can learn more about these options on our Lennox furnaces page.

In addition to a new furnace installation, your contractor can update your entire heating system by cleaning your ducts, updating your filter system, installing a smart thermostat, or all of the above!

These services often bring some of the best value to our clients.

Read about your options below to get informed before you talk to your contractor.

Go Ahead and Get Duct Cleaning Services

It’s something we heating companies in the Mat-Su Valley are always saying: “You need to get your ducts cleaned!” This is not a sales gimmick. We’re 100% serious.

Especially in the winter, our houses are closed up and the natural dirt, dust, dander, and bacteria we create has no place else to go except the air ducts.

Considering that our air ducts are responsible for blowing hot air throughout our homes and offices, the dirty, dusty air that gets trapped inside becomes the air that we breathe.

This air can aggravate allergies and asthma and cause respiratory issues in otherwise healthy individuals.

Talk to your contractor about getting an air duct cleaning along with your furnace replacement if you are interested.

Consider Upgrading Your Air Filtration System

If your furnace is old enough to need replacement, it’s likely that you don’t have the latest air filtration system. Take a look at your options below and talk to your Mat-Su Valley contractor about anything that interests you!

Add a Heat Recovery Ventilator

If you’ve heard of a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) before, it’s probably because you were born and raised in the Mat-Su Valley.

Heat recovery ventilation is rare outside of Alaska and other cold-weather climates.

An HRV has two purposes:

  1. To ventilate your home or office by bringing fresh air in and pushing stale air out.
  2. To heat the fresh air using the residual heat from the stale air, thereby making your heating system as efficient as possible.

The HRV works by allowing the fresh air to pass the stale air in separate compartments within the system.

Talk to your furnace replacement contractor if you are interested in the efficiency offered by an HRV.

Use MERV 16 Filters

The air filters in your heating system are rated using something called the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV).

These values run from 1-16 with 16 being the most effective for filtering things like dust, dirt, dander, bacteria, and more out of your home or office.

We recommend using an air filter with a value no lower than 11, but a top-of-the-line filter like a MERV 16 is capable of filtering smaller particulate like bacteria and smoke.

Ask your Mat-Su Valley contractor about MERV 16 filters if they are going to replace your furnace and if this is something that you’re interested in.

Add UV Light Filters

UV light filters are powerful for killing the bacteria, mold, and mildew that can get into the air you breathe at your home or office.

These can be installed if you elect to purchase a Lennox PureAir S Air Purification System or they can be added to your duct system.

If you would like to see what UV light filters can do for the health of your home or office occupants, talk to your furnace replacement contractor.

Treat Yourself to a Smart Thermostat

Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats are great for remote control of your heating system when you are away from your office or home.

At HeatSource Mechanical, we currently offer two main options when it comes to smart thermostats:

  1. The Honeywell touch screen programmable thermostat
  2. The Lennox iComfort S30 touch screen programmable thermostat

These two smart thermostats are very similar with one key difference. The Honeywell thermostat can tell your furnace what to do but it cannot receive information from your furnace about how it is functioning. The Lennox thermostat, on the other hand, can receive error codes from your furnace if it is not operating correctly. This allows for not only remote control but remote monitoring of your heating system.

Talk to your Mat-Su valley contractor if you would like to upgrade to a smart thermostat at furnace replacement.

Stay on Top of Maintenance After the Furnace Replacement

One of the most important things to know about getting your furnace replaced is that it will need regular maintenance after installation.

Regular maintenance makes sure your furnace is running as efficiently as it possibly can, allows your Mat-Su Valley contractor to catch problems with your furnace’s operation before they become bigger issues, and keeps your furnace’s warranty valid.

At HeatSource Mechanical, we offer a Comfort Club Membership that covers annual maintenance and takes 10% off repairs. You can learn more on our Special Offers page.

Are you ready to get a furnace replacement? You have a lot of decisions to make!

We would love to talk more with you about what to expect from a furnace replacement and what your options are if you choose to work with HeatSource Mechanical in the Mat-Su Valley, including options for financing!

Schedule an appointment with us today!

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