What’s the Best Size Furnace for My Home?
The furnace in a home should be powerful enough to provide ample warmth during the winter months. However, furnaces come in different sizes, and many other factors will influence a homeowner’s choice. After all, selecting the wrong furnace can prove costly.
Here are some tips on finding out how large your home’s furnace should be:
Furnace size is essential
If a furnace is too small to heat a home, it will drive up the cost of the energy bills.
But, if the furnace is too large, it will overheat the house and cause the heat exchanger to malfunction. It may also wear out sooner due to cycling too quickly.
Knowing the perfect size furnace for your home will prevent these problems. For that reason, you should consider the following factors:
Climate zone
The size of the furnace mainly depends on your home’s location. Areas with colder winters require furnaces with higher heat output. Should the site be warmer in the winter, such a furnace wouldn’t be necessary at all.
The house’s square footage
The British Thermal Unit, or BTU, is the standard method for calculating how much energy is required to heat houses. One BTU refers to the energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Calculating a home’s BTU involves obtaining the home’s square footage. The information will help a homeowner determine how large the furnace must be to adequately warm the house up in the winter.
With the home’s square footage calculated, a homeowner can then consult some furnace size charts. Even though some charts differ, many tend to agree on BTU ranges.
The home’s insulation
A home’s insulation condition can affect the furnace’s size. If the insulation is newer and in good condition, the furnace need not be too large or powerful. In contrast, houses with poor insulation require extra heating to be sufficiently warm.
Exposure to sunlight
Areas vary as to how much sunlight they enjoy during the winter. Some places receive lots of sunlight, while others experience very little throughout the season. Naturally, the more sunlight a home gets during the winter, the warmer it stays.
Shade is also a factor, reducing the heat your house gets from the sun.
Efficiency rating
Furnaces have different efficiency ratings. For colder areas, we recommend getting a furnace that has higher efficiency. You can get by with lower-efficiency products if you live in an area with more forgiving winters.
Choose the right furnace for your home
Getting the wrong furnace can have disastrous consequences. That’s why you should never buy one without seeking expert consultation first. Always work with a reputable HVAC company to find out what’s best for your home.
Modern Air Conditioning & Heating is a Boulder City-based HVAC company offering 15 years of experience in residential and commercial HVAC services for all makes and models. You can also call us directly at (702) 919-4365.
