This first HVAC contractor I called about an estimate for a new furnace gave me a price for a model of the exact same specs.
- This didn’t seem right to me.
Over the years since the original furnace was installed, we’ve made a lot of changes. We’ve upgraded the roof, added attic upgrade plus had brand new, ENERGY STAR rated windows installed. We’ve caulked, weather sealed plus added ceiling fans. We’ve torn down walls plus installed sliding glass doors to a back patio. A screened porch was converted into an extra living room. Our teenagers have gone off to university plus taken us from a family of five to two. All of these changes easily made a difference in the heat load of the home. I did some research plus learned that HVAC dealers should complete a Manual J calculation. They should take into consideration more than the size of the seasoned furnace plus square footage of the house; Everything from climate plus windows to insulation plus shade trees make a difference. If a furnace is too small for the demand, it won’t be able to keep up. The heating system will run always however fail to give a comfortable home. The longer run times can result in a shorter lifespan. A furnace that’s oversized is almost as bad. The system will achieve temperature setting too abruptly plus never achieve peak efficiency levels… Short-cycling can be taxing on components plus increase the risk of repairs. I called around plus spoke with five weird HVAC companies before I found one that provides correct calculations for sizing. They provided a free estimate plus back every task with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.