A very crucial aspect to consider when purchasing a new furnace is the size or capacity of the appliance.

To help you choose the ideal size unit for your home, our furnace buying guide will walk you through all the crucial sizing considerations.

Why is furnace size crucial?

There are several reasons the size of your furnace is important. The unit won't be as energy efficient as it may be if you don't have the correct size furnace for your house. You'll consume more energy as a result, which will raise your power expenses. Your HVAC system may also require more maintenance and have a shorter lifespan if it is the wrong size.

A furnace that is too large will frequently turn on and off, lowering efficiency, shortening lifespan, and causing more maintenance. A unit that is too tiny, on the other hand, will have to run continuously to keep your house warm. Along with being unable to adequately heat your house, the added workload will raise energy usage and wear down the appliance.

Following this, you may wonder:

What size furnace do I need?

When we talk about furnace size, we are not talking about the physical dimensions of your heating system. Instead, a unit's size refers to how much heat it can generate. As a result, the term "furnace size" is also often used to refer to "heating capacity."

We measure furnace capacity and size in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Energy output is measured in BTU. In more detail, it calculates the energy needed to raise 1kg of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. A furnace with a 45,000 BTU rating, for instance, will output 45,000 BTUs of energy every hour.

A furnace can heat a larger space efficiently a higher its BTU rating since it will create more heat.

Determining furnace size

The size of a furnace is determined by many factors and the size of your home is one of the most crucial factors. The BTU rating you'll require will depend on how big your house is.

High-efficiency furnaces are more expensive to buy initially, but since they use less energy over time, you'll spend less on utilities overall. Therefore, the more efficient the system is when purchasing a new HVAC system, the better.

Provincial governments, including the Government of Alberta, also give incentives for high-efficiency furnaces. For example, under the Edmonton Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator program, residents who install an ENERGY STAR high-efficiency furnace with an AFUE of 97% or higher can get up to $250 per unit.

You might now ask how furnace efficiency is determined and what AFUE is. We're here to assist with your furnace purchase.

How is the efficiency of a furnace determined?

We measure the efficiency of a furnace using AFUE which is an acronym for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The amount of fuel coming into your furnace compared to how much of that fuel is converted to heat is described by the AFUE ratio. A unit with an AFUE of 97%, for instance, shows that 97% of the fuel entering the furnace is converted to heat, with only 3% being lost.

In Canada, a standard gas furnace must have an AFUE of at least 95% to be considered energy efficient.

Furnaces have different fuel sources. A few examples are natural gas furnaces, boiler furnaces, electric furnaces, propane furnaces, etc. It is often difficult for one to choose from the array of furnace energy sources.

Canada Energy Solution works with many heating systems. If you are interested in having something installed, we will assist you in making a selection from the wide variety of high-quality products that we provide for installation. Having a gas furnace is the option that makes the most sense for certain of our customers. Others might benefit most from having a heat pump or ductless mini-split unit installed in their home. Call us right away to get a free assessment of your home's heating needs.

If you bring your heating needs to Hiller, we will assist you in analyzing all of your available choices and selecting the heating system that will work best for you and your loved ones. Contact Canada Energy Solution with your questions and inquiries.

When looking for a new furnace, the following are some qualities that you should keep an eye out for:

Blower With Variable Speeds

When there is a requirement for less heat, variable-speed blowers will vary the rate at which they provide air. They also produce fewer draughts and temperature changes that are uncomfortable, and they make less noise overall. ECM variable-speed motors are the most efficient type because they integrate many intelligent characteristics that enable them to adjust to the exact quantity of air that is required, and there is no lost energy because of this change.

High Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating

The average annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating for a furnace is 80%. Although these furnaces have a lower initial cost, their operational expenses are higher, and they are not eligible for any tax benefits. Heating systems with a higher AFUE rating fall between 90 and 96%. They are more expensive to buy, but they can save drivers hundreds of dollars each year on their gas bills. These heaters have the most modern features available, and they often qualify for tax breaks at the federal and state levels.

Heat output variation

This innovation, with the blower that has variable speeds, contributes to an increase in both efficiency and comfort. The quantity of heat that is delivered by the furnace will adjust itself automatically, typically fluctuating between two different levels. Because of this, the furnace can produce heat more consistently than it could if its heat output was fixed.

Filtration of Air

It is possible to lessen the amount of dust that is carried through the heating system by installing a high-efficiency particulate-arresting (HEPA) filter or an electronic filter in your furnace. Electronic filters make use of an electrical charge to assist in the capture of particles. People with asthma or other long-term lung diseases may benefit a lot from this in particular.

Ignition System

The ignition system produces a spark that ignites the gas to start the engine. A pilot light, also known as a standing flame, has been the standard method for lighting burners in furnaces before now. Most modern furnaces do not come equipped with a pilot light since intermittent, direct spark, or hot-surface ignition has taken its function over. Silicon carbide igniters and nitride hot surface ignitors are the two most common types of igniters used in modern furnaces. Most modern furnaces have standard silicon carbide igniters (these last longer and may have lifetime warranties). The more modern ignition systems have higher efficiency, which is reflected in the higher AFUE rating of a furnace.

Warranty inclusion

You should expect a solid guarantee from any of the major brands of furnaces. Only go for furnaces with warranties, especially on the furnace heat exchanger, and on components supplied by the manufacturer.

An overall important factor to consider before buying your furnace is your budget. No one wants to put themselves in a fix by spending above their budget. Discuss your financial strengths with us and how much money you will spend. Whatever your budget is, we will help you pick a suitable heating system from a wide variety of choices available within each price range.

Prices vary depending on the size of the furnace, as well as the comfort issues that it solves. The optimum solution for you can be determined by doing a load calculation and thinking about the factors that affect your level of comfort. Next is to figure out which of the available options gives you the most potential benefits.

The initial price of the devices will be higher if they have the capability of addressing a greater number of comfort problems. If your budget is tight, you might have to put some of your comfort concerns lower on your list of priorities. Most of today's furnaces have a lifespan of at least 15 years and often much longer. (Be wary of contractors who claim the cost will be lower.) If you plan to stay in the same place for a long time, it is important to set up a furnace that works with your way of life. If you put your worries about comfort first, you can find a furnace that works for your home, meets your needs, and is within your budget.

Canada Energy Solution sells notable and trusted furnace brands. We make recommendations after considering comfort and cost. Here is some appropriate solution to address your home heating needs.

The American Standard system

Some American Standard central furnaces can achieve an AFUE rating of over 90%, and they are available in single-stage or multi-stage configurations. American Standard sells products that are certified as meeting the criteria for the Energy Star program, and the company also manufactures products that it claims offer quiet operation. An American Standard central gas furnace will run you roughly $3,000 on average, and the company's dealer network is the only place you can get one.

Carrier Furnaces

Carrier is yet another prominent name in the industry of producing and marketing gas central furnaces. There is a choice between single and multistage configurations for the company's central furnaces. Some models have an AFUE rating of greater than 90%. It markets products that comply with the Energy Star program and manufactures others it says offer quiet operation. A new line of hybrid heating systems that combine a gas furnace with an electric heat pump was just recently released by Carrier. You can buy a central gas furnace made by Carrier through the company's network of dealers for about $3,300 on average.

Goodman Furnaces

One of the most well-known brands in the fields of home heating and energy-efficient home comfort is Goodman. This is because Goodman lives up to its name significantly by utilizing time-tested technology that is efficient with energy, highly durable materials, and spot-on manufacturing techniques. Therefore, it is likely that Goodman has a gas furnace that can assist you in maintaining a warm and cozy environment in your residence, regardless of where you live or the size of your home.

Keeprite Furnaces

Canadians who want an economical, long-lasting, high-efficiency furnace but have smaller dwellings or smaller budgets might choose KeepRite's Performance furnaces.

All the types in this tier are single-stage, so small to medium-sized residences like bungalows, semi-detached homes, condos, apartments, cottages, and townhouses ‌ would work well with them.

KeepRite has AFUE that varies from 92.1 to 96 percent. The most efficient models have variable-speed ECM blowers instead of some of the less efficient models' multi-speed blowers, which use less energy, are quieter, need less maintenance, and offer a more even temperature throughout the house.

Lennox Furnaces

One of the major players in the furnace manufacturing and distribution industry is Lennox. Some Lennox furnaces can achieve AFUE ratings of over 90%, and these furnaces are available in single-stage and multistage configurations. Lennox sells air conditioning systems that are certified as meeting the criteria for the Energy Star program, and the company also produces systems that it claims offer silent operation. The dealer network of the Lennox Corporation is where customers may purchase many of their furnaces, which have an average price of roughly $3,000