I might be stating the obvious, but our heating costs in Alaska are high. Considering the average low in Wasilla is around 48 on the warmest months, it gets pretty chilly. The lows go as far down as -45 degrees around here, which is cold! Needless to say, the more money you can save, the better.
However, that’s not the only reason why you should have a high-efficiency furnace in your home. The benefits, in general, outweigh the costs. Not only is it beneficial to your home, but it’s beneficial to you as well. Here are a few of the reasons why you should get a high-efficiency solution versus your standard furnace:
Lower Costs
Now, this is the obvious one. Traditional furnaces consume more fuel, both gas, and electric, which means that the cost to heat your home increases because of the additional fuel cost. However, there are other issues to deal with concerning costs. Is your heater sized properly for your home? If you’re using an underpowered furnace for your home, you’ll notice:
- Ineffective Heating: The heat in your home won’t be sufficient for your needs, meaning that the furnace is working overtime to keep you comfortable and costing you extra cash when the right heater size would work better (and at less cost to you).
- Constant Fuel Burn: If your heater is working overtime to keep your house warm, then you’re constantly burning fuel. Furnaces are “digital” appliances—they’re either on or they’re off.
There’s no in-between or turning the temperature down. Flames only come in one temperature range. - A More Comfortable House. When you have a high-efficiency furnace you can set the fan to auto or on. What does this mean for you? It means that when a ‘modulating’ fan is operating
constantly, and while costing only as much a 40-watt light bulb, it is circulating the air in your home. This reduces or eliminates cold spots, filters your air and keeps your home noticeably
more comfortable!
However, there are problems with overpowered furnaces too. High repair costs are the problem here. It’s not that the power of the furnace is doing anything to your home, it’s that the furnace will be constantly switching on and off thanks to the thermostat. You might have a home that’s warm quickly, but the problem is that your furnace switching so much will lead to early repair and
maintenance. Being oversized will also cause your furnace to die much faster, the lifespan will be noticeably shorter. In our area, most of the furnaces that we come across have been oversized for the home. Taking all these issues into consideration means you’ll quickly see why efficiency involves more than just the amount of fuel burned.
Increases Home Value
Everyone knows that improvements made to your home can affect your home’s price, either by directly increasing the value of the home or eliminating problems that are lowering the price of your home. Efficient heating is one of those factors. Having a furnace is a good thing but having a furnace that is exactly what your home needs means that the value is passed onto the home. When you sell, you have the selling point of a home that is always perfectly heated and energy-efficient, as well—a huge concern for homebuyers anywhere, but especially here in Alaska.
Finding the Best Model
Now comes the best part: choosing the best model for your home. You know that you need a furnace that will be the right size for your home with the lowest fuel consumption possible. You’ll be looking at all of the requisite stats, such as the BTUs and the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating (known as AFUE). A professional heating company can evaluate your home to find all of the features of your home that will dictate which furnace you need. Not all homes are alike. Any other form of energy-efficient treatment to your home affects the furnace. Weather-stripping, double pane windows, additional insulation or any other such improvement means the heater can be smaller.
Call us today to find out whether or not you need a new furnace or to find out more about our heating solutions and whether they’re right for you. We’re here 24 hours a day to assist with whatever you need. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help with any of your heating issues!
