When you are in the market for a new heating system in Arlington, VA, there are many factors to consider. Fuel costs in the area, efficiency ratings, and the size of your home are just to name a few. Whether you are considering a new furnace or heat pump, we’ve put together a few guidelines to get you started in this process.
Feel free to call the Arlington, VA heating experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. if you have further questions or would like to go over the different types of heating systems that we offer.
Understanding Efficiency Ratings
As you compare all the different models, you’ll notice that each one has what’s called the AFUE rating. This stands for “Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency,” and it’s a percentage based on what amount of fuel is converted into usable heat. Furnaces and heat pumps with higher ratings are more efficient. You should look for ones with efficiency ratings above 90% if you want more savings.
Fuel Type
If you own an electric furnace and are thinking of switching to a gas model, it may be a more cost-effective choice depending on the local fuel costs. Call the electric company and ask to see your bill history from the past year if you don’t already have it.
You’ll want to consider the benefit of installing other gas appliances if you are looking at the cost of installing a gas hookup. But you’ll also want to compare natural gas costs to the cost of electricity in your area. Should you decide to go with gas rather than electric, call us. We can install a variety of high-efficiency gas furnaces to provide better energy savings.
Advanced Features and Thermostats
When you are comparing the different models, don’t forget to look for advanced features, such as multi-stage settings and automatic defrost on heat pumps. Also look at the difference in a regular heat pump and dual fuel systems that will automatically switch to the backup heat when the heat pump is not running as efficiently in colder temperatures. You can also find programmable thermostats to work with gas and electric furnaces, heat pumps, and ductless mini split systems.
Call the Arlington, VA heating professionals at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. if you would like to know more about what to look for in a new heating system.