Can I Upgrade My Furnace To Make It More Efficient?
While a furnace offers warmth and comfort throughout the cold winter months, it can decide to shut off and show signs of irregularities. This is especially the case if you have been cutting corners on your furnace maintenance and repairs. However, there is no need to panic. There may still be some hope left where you can upgrade your furnace instead of having it replaced entirely. If you are curious to know if this is even possible, along with which parts can be upgraded, then read ahead for more.
Can a Furnace be Upgraded to Improve Efficiency?
The answer is yes. You can upgrade your furnace to improve its efficiency and save up on utility and replacement costs. This may be needed when your furnace is showing signs of wear and tear. The most common one being rattling or knocking sounds coming from your furnace. However, not all parts in your furnace can be upgraded. Only some of them can be replaced and upgraded.
Furnace Parts that can be Upgraded
Here are some of the furnace parts that can be upgraded or replaced to improve overall efficiency:
Air Filters
You can have high quality air filters added into your furnace. These are 1 to 2 inches thick and have a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of 5 – 8. This is ideal in helping your furnace run efficiently and providing you with improved air quality. There are several high quality air filters in the market that you can opt for.
Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is the main component of the furnace. It helps transmit heat from the furnace to all parts of your home. The constant heating and cooling can however lead to damage. You can have this upgraded to one that is of an improved quality if your furnace is really old. This is sure to help you save on costs for replacement and improve the efficiency of your furnace.
Ball Bearings and Belt
The blower fan relies on ball bearings and a belt to work efficiently and allow warm air to be transported where needed. This belt can overtime become loose. You can have it along with the ball bearings changed and upgraded to new ones. This is sure to help your home warm up a lot faster than before and lessen the burden on your furnace.
The Types of Furnaces
Furnaces can come in various sizes and types. Each type suits the needs of consumers differently. They can be gas based, electric, or even heating oil or propane-based. However, the former two are the most common furnace types that are found in homes and commercial properties. Here are some of the benefits of each type of furnace.
1. The Gas Furnace
✔ Gas furnaces have a lifespan of over 20 years – given proper care and maintenance
✔ Provide even heating throughout the home
✔ Can lower utility bills
✔ Known to be cost efficient
✔ Better fit for areas that have cooler climates and temperatures
2. The Electric Furnace
✔ Easier to install than a gas furnace
✔ Require minimal maintenance
✔ Cheaper on the wallet
✔ Has a drawback of higher utility bills
✔ Can last for up to 30 years
✔ Better fit for areas that have warmer climates
✔ Produce less noise while operating
Tips to Improve Furnace Efficiency
A furnace on average can last for 8 to 10 years. However, there are ways to add on a few more years to your furnace and make it last for up to 15 years. Let’s look at some of the tips that you can follow to improve furnace efficiency and longevity.
● Have your furnace inspected twice a year. This can be done by hiring a professional service provider who can easily spot any discrepancies that you may overlook.
● Keep out for signs of wear and tear or damage. These include the presence of a foul smell in your home, knocking or rumbling sounds coming from your furnace, uneven heating in your home, or corrosion forming along the exterior of the furnace. Having a repair or replacement done as soon as you spot signs of damage can help you save up on unwanted costs.
● Have the blower and air filter cleaned every 6 months or so. This also goes for vacuuming of the vents. The accumulation of dust and debris can damage the blowers and lead to poor air quality in your home.
● Stay up to date on your furnace maintenance and repair.
Get in Touch with Allbritten for Furnace Maintenance!
Furnaces can be complicated to deal with. Especially if you are clueless about its maintenance and care. Failure to stay on track can damage components inside, leading to repair and replacement costs. However, there are some parts of the furnace that can be upgraded to improve efficiency. To spot which areas in your furnace can be upgraded, getting in touch with a professional service provider is the way to go.
There is one such service provider in Fresno who can repair and upgrade your furnace as needed. Allbritten has been in the industry for years now. We have the latest tools and equipment needed for the repair and replacement of furnaces. And, our experts have the skills and know-how of how to get your furnace up and running within minutes. All this is possible with affordable prices, professional services, and a friendly attitude. All you have to do is give us a call and schedule an appointment right away.
For further queries and information, visit our website. You can even get into uh by dropping us a message. Our team will get back to your queries as soon as possible and help bring your furnace back to life.