How do I know when it’s time to replace my furnace?
If your current system is 10 years or older, you’ll find the newer units operate up to 50 percent more efficiently, saving you money. If you have an older system, you may be wasting 30 to 40 cents out of every dollar you spend on energy.

What factors do I consider when determining which heating system to purchase?
The size of the area that you’re trying to heat determines the BTUs (British thermal units) of the furnace that will work best for you. Experienced HVAC contractors perform a load calculation before making a recommendation, taking into consideration the size of your home, the insulation of windows and the amount of insulation in your walls and roof, among other factors. Just because a furnace has more BTUs doesn’t mean you need it—it could be too much for your home! In addition, you’ll want to decide how efficient you want the furnace to be (AFUE).

What does AFUE mean?
AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The AFUE number is an efficiency rating that measures the amount of heat delivered to your home compared to the amount of energy you must supply to the furnace. The federal government requires new furnaces to be at least 78 AFUE. When you have an 80 (high end), 90, 92 and 95 AFUE furnace, you can be sure you’re saving money and cost-effectively heating your home.