What size furnace do I need?

January 31, 2019

When you need to upgrade your outdated furnace, it’s important to know that one size does not fit all. A system that is not sized properly for your home, will not only impact your comfort, but can lead to shortened life of your furnace, and leave you with larger energy costs.

If you pick a furnace oversized for your home, you’ll start to experience short cycles. This means your oversized furnace heated your home too fast, turning off before the furnace can reach proper operating temperatures. An undersized or oversized system can lead to reduced lifespan and higher costs.

How can you be certain about the right furnace size for your home? Start with a load calculation from the team at Farnell Mechanical, Inc.. A load calculation takes specifics from your home into review and measures the Btu (a number that indicates the heating capacity of a furnace) necessary to heat your space.

Some Things that Influence Furnace Size

  • Square Footage—How big is the area your furnace will be heating? A technician will be sure to carefully measure the square footage of your home. Not every inch of your home may be accounted for during this process. Usually, it is more useful to account only for the space that needs heating.
  • Home Insulation—Insulation assists in keeping warm air from filtering out of your home throughout the cold winter months. It also greatly affects energy efficiency and how large of a heating system is required. Let the experts from Farnell Mechanical, Inc. evaluate the insulation in your walls and attic. They’ll help you find a ideal furnace for your house.
  • Type of Window— Just like your walls, the particular type of windows in your home, frame type, glaze type, gas fills/spaces, etc. will play into what heating and cooling needs your home requires.
  • Outdoor Climate—Think about the range of weather you experience in Auburn and Opelika. You’ll want a furnace that can keep up with the conditions of your climate every year, without overworking itself.

Don’t settle for ‘close enough’ when choosing your new furnace. Let the professionals at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. help you identify a unit that will fit your home properly. When you’re ready to get started, you can reach us at 334-524-2458 or schedule an appointment online. Whether you have additional questions about furnace size or want to learn more of the options for your space, our team is happy to help you out.