An Easy Guide To Buying A Furnace

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A furnace is a big investment, and if you find yourself in the position of replacing the one you’ve had for a decade or so, you certainly want to make a good choice and get the most for your money.

Finding the right replacement might seem like a complicated undertaking. But really, it can be fairly easy with the right information and the assistance of a reputable HVAC professional.

Here’s an easy guide to buying a furnace. Pay attention to these tips, and you’ll find a furnace that will serve you well for many years.

  • Study the annual fuel utilization ratings. Simply put, this is how much heat you will get for every dollar you spend on fuel. For example, an AFUE rating of 89 percent means you will get 89 cents of heat for every dollar you spend. Mid-efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings of 80 to 83 percent. High-efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings of 90 to 97 percent. They tend to be more expensive, but their energy savings can mean a relatively quick payback.
  • Compare the EnergyGuide labels. These are the bright yellow stickers that you’ll find on the units you’re looking at. They provide a wealth of information, including efficiency information. The Federal Trade Commission, which runs the EnergyGuide program, has modified the stickers to include region-specific information. Any system you purchase should have your state listed under the yellow sticker.
  • Make sure your furnace is correctly sized. A qualified heating contractor will assess your home to determine its heating load, which is based on factors including your insulation, the number and location of windows in your home and the size and orientation of your home. With that information, he can determine the size of your furnace. This is necessary because a unit that is too big will cycle on and off too frequently, and one that is too small will have to work harder than it should. Weatherize your home to reduce its heating load before you get your new furnace, and you might be able to buy a smaller, less expensive unit.
  • Once your furnace is installed, have it maintained regularly to ensure warranty compliance. Regular maintenance will also help to ensure your new unit’s longevity and efficiency. Small problems will be found and fixed before they become big issues. Also, don’t forget to regularly check the filter and change it as soon as it looks dirty.

For help with buying a furnace, trust Apollo Home Heating, Cooling And Plumbing. We have proudly served Cincinnati-area residents since 1910.

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"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
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