The colder temperatures are here to stay, and many homeowners will be thinking about a furnace replacement or new installation for their New Jersey home. But before you call your local heating contractor, there are several things to consider. Fortunately, you have a plethora of options. Before settling on the brand or model, though, you must think about the fuel source, efficiency level, and cost. Whether you’re just researching or ready to make a purchase, the experts at Raynor Services can help you decide what’s best for your home with our handy furnace buying guide.
Types of Furnaces
There are four different furnace types available on the market today, and each one heats the air in your home a little differently. Your heating contractor should be knowledgeable on every kind to help you decide which is best for your home:
Electric Furnace
Electric furnaces use electricity to create heat. They are often the cheapest of the four and are easier to install and maintain. However, they can cost more over time because electricity tends to be more expensive than natural gas. Electric furnaces don’t produce carbon monoxide, making them safer for your family’s health and the environment. An electric furnace is the best option for a home that doesn’t have access to a natural gas line.
Gas Furnace
Gas is the most popular and economical option. If your home already has a natural gas line running to your property, a gas furnace can be more affordable than an electric furnace. A natural gas furnace uses a flame to heat an exchanger and a fan to move warm air throughout your home via ductwork. They require a flue for the exhaust to leave your home. The upfront cost of a gas furnace is more than an electric furnace, but the long-term expenses are lower than other options.
Propane Furnace
Propane furnaces operate similarly to gas furnaces, except they don’t need a flue. Propane furnaces turn liquid propane into gas, which then moves across a heat exchanger to heat the air. Propane is much more efficient than natural gas because you won’t have to burn as much propane to get the same amount of heat you’d get with a gas furnace.
Oil Furnace
Oil furnaces work much the same as a natural gas furnace. A pump pulls oil from the tank into a burner chamber inside the oil furnace. Next, instead of being directly lit, the oil is turned into a mist and then sprayed onto a burner, where it mixes with air and ignites, causing the chamber to become very hot. While they efficiently heat a home, their drawback is the cost of oil is quite expensive.
Types of Furnace Stages
In addition to selecting a fuel source, you must also consider how many stages you want your furnace to have. You have three options to choose from:
- Single-Stage Heat – Older furnaces are typically single-stage heat. There is only one size flame, and it’s either on or off. Once the desired heat is reached, the appliance switches off. This cycle continues throughout the day. A single-stage furnace is cheaper but isn’t as efficient as other options.
- Multistage Heat – Multistage heat has two sizes of flames; a smaller one for mild weather and a larger one for colder weather. As a result, these units save energy and deliver more consistent heat to your home. This option is more expensive than a single-stage but more efficient and quieter.
- Modulating Heat – Modulating heat is the most efficient option because it rarely ever uses full power. It works by controlling the size of the flame to meet the temperature set on the thermostat. The initial cost is higher than the others, but it will significantly reduce your overall energy usage.
How Much Does a Furnace Cost?
The price for a new furnace installation can vary, but most upgrades cost between $5,500 to $7,500. If you choose a higher-end model, the price can jump to around $10,000.
Furnace Replacement, Repairs, and Installation With Raynor Services
For every fuel source and furnace model, Raynor Services has a solution. Call us anytime for anything, and we’ll be ready to solve your problem fast. When you choose our team, you’ll have everything you need for the long, frigid New Jersey winter, and we’ll be here for you and your home in case anything goes wrong! Contact us at 609-454-6655 for all of your furnace service needs.
