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What Size Furnace Does My Home Need?

What Size Furnace Does My Home Need?

One of the most important questions to ask when purchasing a new furnace is, “What size do I need?” Getting a furnace that is too big will not heat your home more or faster; it will just cost more than necessary while operating inefficiently. A furnace that is too small will not save money either because while the initial cost will be lower, the unit will not adequately heat your home, and will have to work harder. In either case, you end up with an inefficient system that won’t adequately heat your home. A professional HVAC contractor will be able to correctly size your furnace for maximum efficiency and performance.

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a furnace for new construction or replacing an outdated system in your home.

Features and characteristics of your home:

  • Size or square footage of your home.
  • Layout and floorplan. Is the home open with a few large rooms, or closed with many small rooms?
  • Quality and number of windows in your home.
  • Orientation of the home including southern exposure. A home that has living areas facing south will heat more during the winter from the sun.
  • Landscaping. If the landscaping around the home is optimized to protect from winter winds, the home will require less heat.

Climate and Construction:

  • A home in a mild climate with less severe winter temperatures will require less heating power.
  • Quality and amount of insulation. Some exteriors, such as brick, is naturally more insulating than wood siding. Sufficient added insulation can make it easier to heat the home as well.

Furnace Efficiency:

Efficiency plays a big part in choosing a furnace. As a general rule of thumb, choose the most efficient furnace you can afford, keeping energy savings (operating costs) as well as purchase price in mind. A high-efficiency furnace generating 100,000 British thermal units (BTU) with a 93 percent rating produces significantly more heat than the same-sized, less-expensive furnace with an 80 percent efficiency rating. By buying a furnace with greater efficiency, it may be possible to use a smaller unit and receive the same amount of heat.

Working with an experienced HVAC contractor will ensure your home gets the right size furnace installed. An HVAC contractor will know about the latest technology and energy efficient furnaces on the market.

Indoor Air Quality is ready to assist with all your furnace needs and questions. Contact us today to learn more about getting the right furnace for your home, in Highlands Ranch and throughout the Denver Metro Area.