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Choosing the correct size furnace for your home is vital. Wouldn’t anyone want to keep their whole home warm without wasting money on a unit that can’t handle the demand? However, the ideal furnace depends on the size of your home, so do you count the basement when sizing a furnace?
JC Mechanical is the place to go for Denver’s reliable furnace installation from qualified technicians. Below, the team explores how to choose the best furnace to boost energy efficiency and keep your home comfortable as Colorado’s temperatures begin to drop.
Measuring Your Home for the Furnace
The size of the furnace you need depends on the square footage of your home.
When you calculate the square footage, you only need to include areas you intend to heat. If the ductwork doesn’t go to the attic, basement, or garage, don’t include those areas in the calculations.
Calculating the size of a room also depends on its shape. If you’re not good with numbers, why not leave this tedious task of HVAC sizing to experts like JC Mechanical? These certified technicians have ample experience determining which size furnace will fit different homes.
Factor In Your Local Climate
Size isn’t the only factor to consider before installing a new furnace; your local climate counts, too.
Areas closer to the equator may get by with a lower BTU rating. However, areas further away will need a higher BTU rating to stay warm enough during the winter months. It’s important to choose a furnace with the BTU rating to perfectly fit your home’s needs and local climate if you want it to run efficiently and keep you toasty.
The Quality of the Ductwork
Do you count the basement when sizing a furnace? Not if you don’t plan to heat it.
In addition to calculating the square footage, a few other factors can help you decide on the best furnace for your home. For example, your existing ductwork needs to match the size of the furnace you choose.
Ducts that are too cramped won’t allow enough space for warm air to travel to every area of your home. In this case, you could end up damaging your furnace and shortening its lifespan.
The Number of People Who Live in Your Home
All humans emit body heat, and that’s a great trait when it comes to choosing a furnace.
The more people who live in your home, the lower the heating load needed to keep everyone comfortable. If you live in a smaller home with several people, you may even find yourself lowering the thermostat a notch in winter to stay comfortable.
Your Preferred Temperature
It seems like no two people who live together prefer the same thermostat setting.
Consider how high you like to set your thermostat to determine what type of furnace you need. A generally high temperature setting preference will require you to have a higher BTU rating.
The Number of Windows
Heat easily escapes from the windows in your home, especially older windows.
If you have a lot of windows, you will need to factor in the heat escaping through them by choosing a slightly higher BTU-enabled furnace.
Roof Color
This may surprise you, but a home with dark shingles on the roof has an easier time keeping its inhabitants warm in winter.
Dark colors absorb light, raising the temperature. This extra heat retention helps your furnace operate more efficiently. So, if your home needs a new roof in the near future, consider a dark-colored one to boost your home’s comfort level.
Your Home’s Insulation
The existing insulation factors into the type of furnace you need.
The better the insulation, the less powerful the furnace you need. Good insulation that’s only a few years old holds in heat, allowing your furnace to work efficiently. However, if your insulation is over twenty years old, it has likely started to break down and may not maintain temperatures as well.
Look at your attic insulation and see areas where the insulation has worn away, or rodents have compromised the area. You might want to consider investing in new insulation to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature all year long.
Sun Exposure
Does your home get full sun exposure all day long? You probably have an easier time staying warm.
If your home is surrounded by trees or other buildings most of the day, less daily sunlight on your home or even on certain parts of your home will affect the type and size of furnace you need.
Your Home’s Age
Older homes have charm and character that you just don’t find in new builds. However, older homes may not have the proper insulation to keep everyone warm throughout the winter. If the original owners relied on a fireplace to stay warm, your home may not even have an existing furnace.
Newer homes benefit from the insulation upgrades and are often built around central heating. However, older homes with additions can be oddly shaped and have a lot of escape routes for the heat your furnace is trying to produce. If you have a drafty house, you’ll need to account for this when choosing your furnace type and product capacity.
Schedule Expert Furnace Installation in Denver, Colorado
Do you count the basement when sizing a furnace or other sources of heat? If you intend to heat that space and have ductwork, count it. Other factors to consider as you shop for a furnace include the number of people who live in your home, the shade your house gets, and your home’s insulation.
JC Mechanical can help you with installing a new furnace in an old house, choosing the perfect furnace, and much more in Denver, Colorado. Schedule service at 720-807-8953 today or fill out our online contact form, and we will reach out to you.
Author Bio:
Jimmie Ciccone
Owner of JC Mechanical Heating & Air Conditioning. A small family-owned company with over 30 years of experience dedicated to providing the best service possible to our customers. They guarantee 100% customer satisfaction, and if you aren’t satisfied, then you don’t pay them a dime.
