We doubt you needed a reminder, but winter is well on its way! Because our winter weather can range from pretty mild to bitterly cold, it’s best to be prepared for anything. This means making sure you’re caught up on heating system maintenance, amongst other home preparation tasks. And if you’re considering a new heater, we recommend a Glenview, IL furnace installation.
Since temperatures are already dipping pretty low, we understand that you may feel rushed to get whatever furnace you can find in your budget. But there are a number of factors to consider before you have a furnace put in, and we want to help you do your due diligence in deciding on a furnace. One factor in particular that you should take notice of is whether you want a gas furnace or an electric system.
Is Gas the Best Option?
For many homeowners, yes, natural gas is the optimal fuel source to use. It’s actually pretty difficult to make an argument against using modern gas furnaces, as they are highly effective and efficient. They work by combusting natural gas in order to heat the air, which is then distributed throughout your home via your air ducts.
The fact that natural gas is a fairly affordable fuel source that burns hot and efficiently only adds to the appeal. Additionally, unlike oil or propane, natural gas is piped directly into the home and the appliances that use it. Therefore, you’ll never have to worry about fuel deliveries or on-site propane storage.
Could I Go Electric?
Sure! And there are a few reasons why you may choose to do so. Many people choose gas over electric due to the affordability of running a gas appliance month-to-month. But some homes lack natural gas hookups or easy access to such. Therefore, an electric furnace may be the best—and sometimes the only—option.
Additionally, even though today’s furnaces are built with safety in mind, the fact of the matter is that there is still a small risk of carbon monoxide exposure and poisoning from any gas-powered appliance. You can protect yourself adequately by having a carbon monoxide detector installed, but if you’d rather eliminate the risk altogether, then you may choose an electric furnace installation.
Trust a Professional for Your Furnace Installation
No matter what type of fuel source you decide on your furnace, the heating system should be installed by a professional, versus installing it yourself or trusting the job to an amateur handyman. The reason for this is because only a trained and experienced heating technician will understand how to properly size the system, and match your home with the right heating efficiency.
Just as a furnace can be too small to adequately heat up a living space, it can also be too large. And when a heating system is too large, it goes through a process called short cycling. This is when the heater turns on and off rapidly, instead of going through gradual and steady cycles as it should. This increases the wear and tear on your furnace and makes the likelihood of premature system breakdown much more likely. Be sure that you only trust your furnace installation to the pros!
For reliable heating services throughout the Chicagoland area, contact Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning today!