Furnace Buying Mistakes to Avoid

buying a furnace

A furnace is one of the best ways to keep your home nicely heated during winter's chill. This is because a properly sized and installed furnace—whether it is oil, natural gas or electric—distributes heat evenly through your home, providing comforting warmth to your family in all areas of the home. However, common mistakes made by homeowners shopping for furnace systems can negatively skew their expected results. To get the best value for your investment and a nicely heated home, you should avoid the following mistakes.

1) Comparing only by price

To get the best value, look for quality and reasonable rates rather than focusing on the lowest price. For example, when comparing quality of service, consider the warranty and service contract offered. Does it cover parts and labor or only parts? Are there extra service charges for after-hours repairs? Will the repair company come out within a few hours if your furnace breaks down on a chilly winter weekend or late at night? Don't forget to compare the little things like noise level which can make a difference in your quality of living.
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2) Buying your existing furnace size

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, many older heating systems are oversized. An oversized furnace may seem to heat better, but the furnace only runs for a very short time, and this doesn't allow the furnace to reach peak efficiency. A correctly sized furnace will run efficiently throughout the heating season and save you money. Note: condensing gas furnaces are designed to run efficiently even when oversized.

3) Purchasing from a shady contractor

Not all contractors are reputable. Do your research—get references from each contractor whom you personally call. If you don't know where to begin or are short on time use a reputable contractor screening service. As part of QualitySmith's pre-screening process we contact references, conduct credit and Better Business Bureau (BBB) checks, and make sure the contractor is state licensed and carries proper insurance. This is all done free of charge.

4) Getting only one estimate

You wouldn't buy a car without shopping around, so don't limit yourself to one estimate on the purchase of a furnace. Otherwise you may let the sales person or contractor talk you into a furnace you don't want.
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5) Sizing a new furnace prematurely

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends first improving the energy efficiency of your home before the heating contractor sizes the new furnace. For example, eliminating drafts, improving insulation and upgrading to energy efficient windows can make a tremendous impact on your heating needs. These improvements will mean a smaller and less costly furnace that operates more efficiently.
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6) Not asking questions

Smart furnace shoppers ask questions. Never let surprises creep up during a project because of questions unasked. For example, ask the contractor if the estimate includes removal of the old furnace, if ducting cost extra, or if there are any additional unplanned charges not in the estimate?

7) Assuming all efficient furnaces save money

In a cold climate, the highest-efficiency system can bring a good return on investment; however, in a milder climate where less heat is needed to warm your home, the return on investment might not be high enough to overcome the initial investment.

8) Only considering electric furnaces

While many issues factor into shopping for the best furnace for your home, the climate trumps them all. Live in a cold climate? An oil furnace is the most efficient and economical choice when you want to heat up your home quickly and thoroughly. Live in a milder climate? Natural gas usually makes more sense. On the other hand, electric forced air systems are generally the most expensive systems to run due to the high cost of electricity. While this isn't always true, and while electric is the cleanest form of heating, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests looking at a heat pump system before purchasing an electric furnace.
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Furnace Buying Mistakes: the bottom line

For the best value on your new furnace avoid these mistakes, be savvy and ask lots of questions. Take a look at furnaces with the Energy Star label for a possible tax credit. Buying a new furnace before the end of the year, could mean a nice tax credit for you in this upcoming tax season.

Disclaimer: This article offers general guidelines and is not intended as professional advice.