New Furnace? There Is A Lot To Think About.
by Ben Wanner of Pro Service Mechanical
For most of us replacing our furnace can be a bit overwhelming. There are many important things to be aware of so here are a few tips to make it more manageable.
What kind of furnace do I need?
There are several different brands of furnaces on the market today with many different options. It is important that your sales representative or advisor goes thru your options and asks you questions to determine what is right for you and your budget (of course the final decision is up to you). For instance a homeowner with a 100 year old home with comfort issues may benefit from a furnace with a variable speed fan motor and multi stage heating to keep the home’s temperature more even throughout. This may not be as big of an advantage in a 15 year old home. Energy efficiency may also be a factor for you. A furnaces efficiency is expressed as A.F.U.E. or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A furnace with a 90% AFUE would be less efficient than a furnace with a 96% AFUE. It is important that you be presented with different models to find equipment that fits your budget. Of course cost should not be your only consideration as this furnace will likely be in your home for 20 years or more possibly.
What kind of contractor do I need?
Many people will opt for a deal with a less than reputable contractor. This can lead to trouble down the road. Make sure your contractor has the following
- 24/7 Service
- Financing Options
- Membership with organizations such as the SCA, Better Business Bureau and the Saskenergy Network
- Customer References
- Great Online Reviews
- A Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
- Warranty
- Insurance and WCB for there employees
- Permits including electrical and gas permits for the installation
What kind of Accessories do I need?
A good home advisor or sales representative should be able to identify if important accessories should be added. For instance if your home has very high humidity in the winter, your advisor suggesting a Heat Recovery Ventilator may save you damage to your home and significantly improve your indoor air quality.
Some advisors may suggest other accessories such as super high efficiency filters, UV lights and humidifiers. While these accessories often do have some great benefits they should not be considered absolutely necessary. Steer clear of companies that suggest these are must have items in every case. These should be purchased if they fit your budget, are right for your home and the benefits are highly desirable to you and your family. In most cases they are not absolutely necessary.
How long should it take to install?
Most furnace replacements take a day or part of a day. In some cases they may take longer than a day if the furnace is being moved, significant amount of duct work is being added or changed or if Air Conditioning is being installed.
How much will it cost?
A typical furnace replacement costs approximately between $4000 and $7000. This would generally not include things like accessories or moving the furnace to a different area of the house.
What kind of experience should I expect?
You should expect a very high level of service from your contractor. The residential HVAC industry is very competitive and there are many contractors in Saskatoon and across Canada that provide a high level of service. We must keep in mind that this is not the case with all contractors as with any industry.
You should expect a sales representative or home advisor to come out and perform an onsite quote. They should be friendly and helpful. Don’t respond to high pressure sales tactics as this is often a red flag.
Your installers should be very respectful of your home, the flooring, walls, staircases, yard etc and should conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout the installation.
I hope you found this helpful. If you have any other questions feel free to contact any of us at 306-230-2442 or email me personally at bwannerproservice@gmail.com.
