Furnace FAQ – Furnace Repair St Catharines

A furnace provides much-needed warmth in the chilly winter months. However, regular maintenance and servicing is required to ensure your furnace keeps working when you need it most. It’s frustrating to deal with the cold temperatures when your furnace is not working. There are number of things you can do to make sure your furnace keeps operating at optimum efficiency.

Here is a list of some of the commonly asked questions related to maintenance and servicing of a furnace. We have tried our best to cover the most common queries we get. It will help you in preventing any unexpected furnace breakdowns. Feel free to get in touch with us in case you have a question that is not covered here so that we can assist you in understanding your furnace better.

In case of a furnace breakdown, here are a few things you need to check first before calling in a professional technician:

1. Check the thermostat and make sure it’s at correct temperature.
2. Make sure the filter is clean.
3. Make sure the thermostat is working. Check the breaker and the switch.
4. If you have a gas furnace, check the gas supply.

What Should Be the Frequency of Servicing My Furnace?

As per the manufacturers and experts in the industry, you need to call in a professional for servicing the heating system at least once a year. An annual service will make sure that furnace keeps operating efficiently. It will also help in increasing the service life of the unit.

How Do I Know the Furnace Needs to Be Replaced?

Since there are a variety of types, makes and models of furnaces, each model also varies in terms of trouble signs. However, here are some common problems we see in older furnaces:

1. Excessive corrosion in the furnace.
2. Furnace doesn’t ignite as fast as it used to.
3. Furnace gives an unpleasant odor.
4. Gas furnace has pilot light issues.
5. Heat production isn’t as much as it used to be in the past.

Why It’s Important to Replace My Furnace?

A furnace doesn’t come cheap, but the investment is worth it. You should consider replacing your old furnace when the frequency of repairs increases. The latest models available in the market are much more efficient (some by up to 60%) which means you will save a significant amount of money on operating the furnace. In fact, replacing your 15-year-old furnace can help in bringing down your utility bills by almost 50%.

What Are the Important Things to Consider for Choosing the Right Furnace?

There are a number of things you need to consider depending on local climate, room size, property age, size as well as other requirements. Some other parameters are also important such as regional incentives, utility bills and rebate programs among others. Keep in mind that you need to consider the initial cost as well as operating costs. Therefore, the best way to choose the right furnace for your requirements is to ask for advice from a heating professional in order to know more about the benefits and features of different furnace models.

Bought A New Furnace – Why I Need to Call in a Professional for Installation?

It is always recommended to have a professional install your new furnace. Some furnace models are complicated, and a lot of work is needed for proper installation. Improper installation will lead to inefficient use of energy and it could also be dangerous. So, you should never cut corners when it comes to furnace installation.

How Much Do I Need to Pay for a New Furnace?

There are several considerations that affect the overall cost of a new furnace as well as its installation. Some of the factors that impact the cost include equipment efficiency, ductwork and size of your property. Get in touch with a professional furnace installation company and ask for an accurate estimate.

How to Choose the Right Size of a Furnace for Residential Property?

It is best to call a qualified professional to recommend the right size of the furnace for a residential property. The size of the furnace will depend on many factors including the number of rooms, size of rooms, type of material in the property, ceiling height, room layout as well as size and location of windows among others. Therefore, all these factors need to be considered in order to choose the right size for a particular property. Give us a call for a completely free, no obligation estimate.

Is It Better to Buy a Bigger Furnace?

Contrary to popular perception, a bigger furnace is not always the best choice. A bigger furnace means higher operating costs which also makes it less effective in the long run. If you buy a furnace that is too big for your property, it will keep switching on and off which means it will run many short cycles which will make it less efficient and shoot up your utility bills. Also, if your furnace keeps switching off and on repeatedly, it will never be able to reach its prime efficiency.

What Is the Right Time to Install a New Furnace?

Ideally, you should get it installed during the summer months. In case the existing furnace stops working during the winter months, you can always call in a professional to install the replacement.

What’s the Right Time to Replace a Furnace?

In case your furnace is already 10 years old, it needs to be monitored carefully for any signs of damage or loss of efficiency. If you have taken good care of your furnace and it has served you well for 15 to 18 years, it’s the right time to start looking for a replacement.

How to Save Money on Utility Bills?

You can bring down your utility bills by minimizing the use of your heating and lighting equipment, and other appliances. To save money on operating cost of a furnace, it’s recommended to invest in a programmable thermostat. Set the thermostat at low temperatures when you’re not at home and during the night. It will help you in reducing your energy consumption. You can also save money by investing in a high-efficiency furnace instead of a standard heater. In fact, many modern furnaces have an efficiency rating of 97%. On the other hand, conventional furnaces usually have an efficiency rating of only 55%.

How Important Is the ENERGY STAR Logo?

Any appliance with the ENERGY STAR logo means that it has been carefully tested to make sure that it matches the minimum federal standards for energy efficiency. Therefore, it is better to choose a furnace that has the ENERGY STAR logo on it. You will not only save money on operating costs, but it will also help in bringing down your carbon footprint.

How to Make My Furnace Most Efficient?

You should begin by choosing an energy-efficient furnace. Here are some other things you can do so to run your furnace at optimum efficiency:

• Make sure there is no dirt or debris built up.
• Regularly change or clean the air filter.
• Maintain consistent temperature in the thermostat.
• Call in a professional for regular inspection of the unit.
• Get it serviced at least once a year from a professional.

What Are the Advantages of a Programmable Thermostat?

One of the biggest advantages is its higher accuracy when compared to standard thermostats which use mercury. Also, it will be easier for you to control and maintain the temperature on a programmable thermostat and you can also change the temperature daily. The modern programmable thermostats also allow you to manage it through a smartphone app.

How to Choose an Air Filter?

It is recommended to buy an air filter which is easy to clean. It should filter out the finest dust and pollen. It will ensure that your HVAC system is always clean and runs efficiently.