Space heating is the largest component of home use in most places, and the heating system you choose can have a significant impact on your overall energy bills and on your comfort level. If your system is outdated, you might be spending more money on its maintenance to keep it in a running condition compared to a new one that is supposed to be more efficient and costs far less when it comes to maintenance. Many home owners have found a gas heating system to be beneficial concerning operating cost, comfort, and efficiency. When looking for any of these heating systems for your home, either as a new installation or as a replacement, consider a few important factors that will help you choose the best one:
Efficiency
When choosing a gas heating system, its effectiveness is one of the most important factors that must be taken into consideration. Lower costs are always associated with higher efficiency, and even a small difference in costs will accumulate over the life of the system. Check the standard efficiency ratings for the heating system that you have in mind by using its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings. These ratings are used to test how efficiently the system converts gas into heating efficiency and for seasonal efficiency by taking into consideration the variations in outdoor temperature, apart from regular operating losses.
Costs
When choosing a gas heating system, just do not stick to the initial price of the product. You need to be shrewd enough to find out the hidden operational and maintenance costs associated with the purchase of the system in the long run. Most heating systems come with an Energy Guide label that will help you determine the estimated annual energy cost so that you compare systems before you make the final deal. The price of your heating system is also related to its energy efficiency. A system with a 90% AFUE will cost you more than its counterpart with 80% or less.
Size
Bigger is not always better when choosing a gas heating system, and proper sizing is important if you want to ensure comfort and efficient operation. Some contractors may suggest suing a larger system than needed to avoid callbacks or to compensate for poor insulation. However, an oversized system won’t reach its peak operating efficiency since these systems are most efficient when stay on running condition for a longer stretch, and an oversized system merely heats up quickly. Before you get a new system installed, ask your contractor to get a heating load calculation done for you. This calculation involves factors such as insulation levels, square footage, window orientation and air tightness so that the right amount of heat can be determined.
Your gas heating system’s specifications should fit your needs. A furnace that is too small is as much a problem as an over-large one. So, get an expert survey done to ensure that the specific needs of your home are taken into consideration when choosing a system.
Installing Your Heating System
A gas heating system involves a lot of work and should be handled only by a certified, licensed, and experienced professional. Get referrals from local authorities or friends and family, and get a survey of your property done before setting a contract for the job down in writing. While negotiating on costs, keep the bigger picture in mind so that you will enjoy reliable heating for a long time, even if you may have to pay a higher price for the same.
In summary, installing a good gas heating system in your home must be based on the parameters that require you to choose one that works well in terms of energy efficiency and costs. While you may end up paying a bit more for an energy efficient system, your investment, in the long run is well worth the cost incurred after it. Get the right size of the heating system installed by professionals and enjoy it’s benefits to the optimum.
