When you need to upgrade your outdated furnace, it’s important to understand one size does not fit all. A system that is not sized appropriately for your home, will not only hurt your comfort but can result in shortened life of your furnace, and leave you with larger energy costs.
If you pick a furnace oversized for your house, you’ll start to run into short cycles. This means your oversized furnace heated your home too fast, turning off before the furnace can reach proper operating temperatures. An undersized or oversized system can lead to a decreased life span and cost you more in energy bills.
How can you be certain about the right furnace size for your home? Start with a load calculation from the professionals at Fire & Ice HVAC. A load calculation takes specifics from your home into account and measures the Btu (a number that indicates the heating capacity of a furnace) required to heat your home.
Some Things that Influence Furnace Size
- Square Footage—What size is the area your furnace will need to heat? Your technician will be sure to carefully measure the square footage of your home. Not every inch of your home will be accounted for during this process. Many times, it is more valuable to account only for the space that needs heating.
- Home Insulation—Insulation helps keep warm air from escaping your home through the cold winter months. It also heavily affects energy efficiency and how large of a heating system will be necessary. Let the experts from Fire & Ice HVAC take a look at the insulation in your walls and attic. They’ll help you find a perfect furnace for your house.
- Type of Window—Just like your walls, the specific type of windows in your home, frame type, glaze type, gas fills/spaces, etc. will have an impact on the heating and cooling needs of your home.
- Outdoor Climate—Consider the range of weather you experience in Manassas. You’ll want a furnace that can sustain the conditions of your environment every year, without overworking itself.
Don’t settle for ‘close enough’ when picking your new furnace. Let the experts at Fire & Ice HVAC help you identify a system that will fit your home properly. When you’re ready to begin, call us at 703-595-4157 or schedule an appointment online. Whether you have additional questions about furnace size or want to chat about options for your space, our team is happy to help you out.