If you’re in the market for a furnace replacement, you would be wise to consider going with a high-efficiency furnace. These more advanced units cost more initially, but they cause the lifetime costs of your upgrade to be significantly lower. People are inclined to care more about the short term, but considering your finances in the long run is always a good idea, and rarely more so than when purchasing a new HVAC appliance.

The best measure of furnace efficiency out there right now is called the AFUE rating. It stands for “annual fuel utilization efficiency”, and it’s used to measure how well a heating appliance converts energy into heat. The higher the unit’s AFUE rating, the higher the percentage of the energy it uses is successfully converted to heat. Any energy the furnace can’t turn into heat is basically going to waste and costing you significant energy dollars.

By purchasing a sealed-combustion, high-efficiency furnace, rather than an older one that utilizes a pilot light or exhaust fan, you can cut down on wasted energy and immediately begin saving on heating bills. Those monthly bills are the biggest factor regarding the lifetime costs of your upgrade, and they’re directly affected by the efficiency of your furnace. On top of the energy savings, furnaces with higher AFUE ratings simply run more smoothly, meaning they’re at lower risk for things like breakdowns or other expensive technical problems.

These are a few of the main reasons why any potential HVAC upgrade should be viewed not just as a one-time purchase, but as a long-term investment. Going with a high-efficiency furnace will cost more money initially, but the positive impact on your lifetime costs will prove to be well worth it. For any furnace related queries, or any other household considerations, don’t hesitate to call up the friendly folks over at Bennett Sheet Metal & Heating.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace upgrades and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Bennett Sheet Metal services Courtenay, BC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!