Get the Most out of Your New Furnace Investment
Winter has taken the nation, quite literally, by storm with sub-freezing temperatures and monotonous snow showers forecast for the days ahead. As the cold settles in to stay for a while, the furnace becomes one of your closest friends; of course, if it’s not working like it should, the relationship is bound to grow somewhat strained. When the time comes to replace that outdated model with one of the new high-efficiency furnaces at your disposal, a few helpful tips could help get the most for your money while keeping the investment as small as possible.
Location Matters
This aspect can be approached from two different angles. First off, where you live factors into the equation. Suppliers in highly populated areas tend to charge lower rates to keep their prices competitive. Those in more rural areas are typically able to charge more for furnaces and services since the competition is fewer and farther between.
Secondly, the location of the furnace within your home plays a role in how much you’ll be charged for installation, preventative maintenance and repairs. If it’s in an easy-to-reach nook, you can expect to pay less for services whereas those tightly fitted into an attic or cramped crawlspace tend to spark higher labour rates. Local price ranges for furnaces are available via furnaceprices.ca, as are resources for researching service rates for your area.
Age isn’t Just a Number
Homeowners with fairly new furnaces may not need a full replacement when the furnace goes on the fritz. In some cases, a thorough tuneup is all it takes to stay comfortable during those frigid days and deeply frozen nights. That being said, not all units are worthy of repair.
Industry standards and recently implemented building codes point out heating units more than ten years old should be replaced with high-efficiency furnaces. As a furnace ages, it loses at least ten per cent of its original efficiency per year; at the same time, older models just weren’t as economical as modern versions. If your furnace has been serving you for ten years or more, chances are it’s wasting at least half the energy it’s burning.
Heating Spans beyond the Furnace
On top of age and location, plenty of other elements come into play. Older units were designed a bit differently than modern ones, so all the ductwork connecting to them may not work with a new model. If this happens to be the case, a partial or complete retrofitting might be in order. This will raise the overall price a new system install, but it’ll also keep you more comfortable and in compliance with safety codes.
New furnaces are investments, and they do come at a price. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Efficient models from trusted manufacturers and skilled services from reliable providers are simply going to cost more. In the long run, the investment pays for itself in lower energy bills alone. Visit FurnacePrices.ca for more information and a list of typical furnace prices in your area.