Bigger is not always better when it comes to choosing a furnace for your home. In fact, having an over-sized furnace can be counter-productive. Problems that can arise include reduced efficiency, uneven heating, and a shorter furnace lifespan, all of which can cost you your hard-earned money.
- Reduced efficiency – With over-sized furnaces, efficiency suffers. A furnace doesn't reach its most efficient running mode until it has been running for a while. This means that if the furnace is too big for the space, it short cycles, meaning stopping and starting frequently. This means it seldom operates in its most efficient continuous mode.
- Uneven heating – Having an over-sized furnace can also affect your level of comfort due to uneven heating of the home. One area may warm very fast, making it uncomfortably hot while other rooms may still be cool. With a properly sized furnace, the heat tends to circulate more evenly, creating a more comfortable home.
- Shorter lifespan – As stated before, an over-sized furnace heats the air quickly then shuts off, turning on again a short time later. This constant turning on and off not only wastes energy, it wears out parts, leading to more repairs and a shorter service life.
Properly sizing a furnace to the square footage of the home to be heated, as well as other unique characteristics, is crucial to efficient and effective operation. The atmosphere within the home will be more comfortable, and the temperatures more consistent.
If you would like more expert advice about choosing the right size of furnace for your home, or similar issues regarding home comfort, don't hesitate to contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. We've been helping people in Fort Wayne area since 1973.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about over-sized furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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