As winter approaches, you may be thinking about your heater and having some concerns. Did it work well last winter, providing as much heat as you needed, and easily raising the temperature in your home when you adjusted the thermostat? Did it work efficiently, keeping your energy use steady and your utility bills affordable? Is it still new enough that you are confident in its ability to keep you and your family warm for another winter?
If the answer to any of those questions is no—your heater struggled to warm your home, your utility bills have risen, or your heater is well over a decade in age—you might be considering replacement. When it’s time to choose a new heating system for your home, there are several key considerations you should keep in mind.
Safety
We believe that your safety, and the safety of your family and your home, should always be your top priority. Many customers have questions and worries regarding the safety of various heating systems. Gas heaters in particular are cause for concern, because of the possibilities of fuel leakage or carbon monoxide poisoning. The AHRI (the Air conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) has determined that the main factor in the safety of gas heaters is installation.
Amateurs or inexperienced, untrained installation personnel can inadvertently cause problems that are small enough not to be obvious at first, but leave your home and family vulnerable to major safety hazards. When you need heating installation in Monroe, LA, it is absolutely critical to choose a company with highly qualified technicians. At Mike Smith, our team of technicians and installers are thoroughly trained and certified by the National Comfort Institute to keep your home warm and comfortable without taking any safety risks.
Efficiency
The energy efficiency of your heater has an impact on the environment, but perhaps your more pressing concern is the impact on your budget. An old heater, or a neglected heater that doesn’t receive maintenance, can use a lot more fuel than a new one. But not all new heaters are equally efficient.
The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating can tell you exactly what you’re getting. New heaters are required to have at least an 80% rating, but many models are much more efficient. Some even have a rating as high as 98%! This could save you a lot on your utility bills.
Tax Credit
Another way to save money is to make sure you qualify for a furnace tax credit. As long as your new heater is ENERGY STAR certified with an AFUE rating of 95% or above, you can get a rebate applied when you do your taxes. You can use this handy search tool on the ENERGY STAR website to determine exactly which models meet that requirement.
As long as you keep these things in mind, you’ll be able to choose a heater that keeps you warm and satisfied for years to come.
Contact Mike Smith Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC. We provide “Professional grade service.”