When it’s time to upgrade your outdated furnace, it’s important to know that one size does not fit all. A system that is not sized correctly for your home, will not only hurt your comfort, but can lead to shortened life of your furnace, and leave you with larger energy costs.
If you pick a system oversized for your house, you’ll start to experience short cycles. This means your oversized furnace heated your home too quickly, turning off before the furnace can reach proper operating temperatures. An undersized or oversized system can lead to decreased lifespan and higher costs.
How can you be sure you know the correct furnace size for your home? Begin with a load calculation from the professionals at Patterson & Stirling Inc. A load calculation takes specifics from your home into review and identifies the Btu (a number that indicates the heating capacity of a furnace) required to heat your house.
Some Factors that Influence Furnace Size
- Square Footage—How large is the area your furnace will need to heat? A 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. Often, it is more beneficial to account only for the space that needs heating.
- Home Insulation—Insulation helps keep warm air from filtering out of your home throughout the cold winter months. It also greatly affects energy efficiency and how large of a heating system you’ll need. Let the professionals from Patterson & Stirling Inc take a look at the insulation in your walls and attic. They’ll help you choose the 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 influence your heating and cooling requirements.
- Outdoor Climate—Think about the range of weather you get in Erie. You’ll want a furnace that can handle the conditions of your climate every year, without overworking itself.
Don’t settle for ‘close enough’ when picking your new furnace. Let the qualified technicians at Patterson & Stirling Inc help you pick a unit that will fit your home properly. When you’re ready to get started, call us at 814-308-0416 or schedule an appointment online. Whether you have a few more questions about furnace size or want to discuss options for your space, our experts are happy to help you out.