Gas Furnaces
How to Choose the Right Furnace
Are you considering upgrading your furnace? Looking at gas furnaces, but not quite sure where to begin?
We understand. Furnaces are more efficient than ever, with a plethora of features designed to keep you comfortable. They come in different sizes and shapes, some more powerful than others. They also have different price points based on their efficiency ratings.
The thermostat is the brains of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. But it’s the furnace that provides all the muscle, teaming up with your ductwork to send warm air throughout your California home.
And always remember, a happy home is a warm one! It would only take a few cold days in a row with no indoor heat for all the pipes in your home to freeze.
What matters most is to pick the right furnace that fits your budget and the size of your home. Our team at Enviro Heating & Air Conditioning has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in the Petaluma, CA, area for creating healthy homes. Give us a call today—we can schedule a free consultation to help with your next home improvement project.
Choosing the Right Furnace by Fuel Type
Your first decision is easy: choosing the fuel type.
The most common source is natural gas. Your local utility company supplies the fuel delivered to your home through an underground gas line. The price of natural gas is relatively stable, so you don’t have to worry about cost fluctuations on gas furnaces. Plus, you never need to worry about storage.
- If you have access to a natural gas line, we strongly recommend gas furnaces. These have proven their value over the years for providing steady comfort on the coldest of days.
- Oil furnaces are a popular alternative to gas furnaces in the United States, particularly in parts of the Northeast that do not have easy access to natural gas. These last longer than gas furnaces but do not operate as efficiently. Oil prices fluctuate more than natural gas prices, making it harder to gauge your monthly expenses. Plus, you will need a storage tank for the oil.
- Electric furnaces tend to last longer than gas furnaces and cost less to install. On the other hand, they are more expensive to operate and take longer to heat your home. Anyone living in a cold climate would enjoy more comfort with a gas or oil furnace.
Choosing the Right Furnace Speed
Furnaces run at different speeds. The operating speed you choose will impact your comfort, budget, and indoor air quality (IAQ).
Single-stage furnaces have just two settings, on or off. Your furnace switches on and continues to run to reach the desired temperature. Once it reaches the temperature, the furnace turns off. Single-stage furnaces are the most affordable models and easiest to install. But they are the least efficient and tend to create hot and cold spots in larger homes.
Two-stage furnaces run at full-speed and half-speed. This allows your furnace to heat your home more evenly, producing a more consistent temperature from room to room. In addition to producing better heating, the half-speed setting is much quieter.
Variable speed furnaces are the gold standard of the heating world. These models adjust their speeds to provide precise comfort. They run longer at slower speeds, improving efficiencies while lowering your energy bills. Because they do not frequently cycle on and off, these systems tend to have fewer breakdowns.
Variable speed furnaces are much more adept in maintaining your indoor air quality, catching harmful particles, and eliminating excess moisture that causes mold growth. Larger homes benefit tremendously from variable speed furnaces.
Choosing an Efficient Furnace
The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating on your furnace indicates how much energy it converts. An energy-efficient furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 can convert 95 percent of the energy it consumes into heat.
The higher the AFUE rating, the more money you save on monthly utility bills. Energy-efficient furnaces emit fewer greenhouse gases and make less noise when they operate. If you want to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, the perfect place to start is with your heating and cooling equipment!
How Much Money Can a New Furnace Save You?
Our AFUE energy savings calculator can help determine how much you could save on your utility bills. Just enter your current unit’s AFUE value and compare it to a newer, more efficient system.
AFUE Energy Savings Calculator
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Customize to Your Home
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** Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration
*** Data from 2002 EPA study
** Data for Canadian cities from nrcan.gc.ca
*** Data from weatherdatadepot.com
Furnace Installation or Replacement
Don’t invest in a quality HVAC system and then hire a substandard contractor to install it. You will never enjoy the full benefits of a system installed incorrectly.
At Enviro Heating & Air Conditioning, we specialize in installing equipment like gas furnaces the right way. We take our time to ensure everything is measured correctly. Our team will also conduct a thorough energy audit of your home to find additional ways to lower your energy use.
Be sure to ask about our convenient financing options designed to make it easy for you to create your dream home.
Furnace Repairs
Odd sounding noises, a spike in energy bills, or constant cycling—these signs indicate potential problems with any furnace, including gas furnaces. Don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a costly problem. Give us a call today if you detect a problem with your HVAC system. We promise never to replace a part unless necessary—or if we can demonstrate significant cost savings.
Furnace Maintenance
Want to get the most value from your HVAC system? Develop a preventative maintenance plan. Doing so can rejuvenate electric, oil, or gas furnaces, increase your comfort, and lower your operating costs.
Give us a call today and ask about our customized CARE Maintenance Membership Program tailored to fit your budget and needs. Enjoy peace of mind knowing a trusted professional is watching over your HVAC equipment.
Call Us Today
Our entire team at Enviro Heating & Air Conditioning values the trust you placed in our company—we promise to work extra hard to keep your business. Let us install your next furnace. Give our Petaluma, CA, area office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at 707-795-7219 or request service online today.
WHAT ARE WAITING FOR? Contact Us Today!
“Saved me nine thousand five hundred dollars. I have a furnace from the seventies and was recently told that it was not repairable. The Enviro technician specialized in old furnaces and was able to fix mine.”
– Gregg w.
“My landlord had need of a heater service – – he came, cleaned, reconfigured the unit, checked it twice, and printed out a ' clean bill' of health – – thanks to Alex and the companies serving the community!”
– David E.
“You always provide good customer service, always on time and always do good work.”
– Barbara B.
“Outstanding customer service from the office person to the technician. I would recommend this company to anyone. I will definitely call them again if I need to.”
– Brian M.
“Very easy to deal with. Reasonably priced. Will work until they get it right.”
– Jan K.
“You always provide good customer service; are always on time; and always do good work.”
“My entire experience with Enviro was amazing! From my first call to Jordan, followed by same day inspection by Garryt, new furnace estimate by Jon and installation by Joey and Christian. Everyone was helpful and professional. I am thoroughly satisfied with their excellent service! I will recommend Enviro to my friends and anyone with a heater problem.”
– Djonna A.
“Garryt fixed our a/c during the worst of our August/September 2022 heat wave. To do so, he had to replace our furnace blower motor. The furnace is located in our attic crawl space, which gets incredibly hot.
This wasn’t a quick fix. Garryt cheerfully made four service calls to resolve the problem. He never complained once about the heat. Garryt is a hero.”
– Ray B.