FAQ - Furnaces

Why do people replace their furnaces?
You may want to consider replacing your furnace if:

Your furnace is more than 15 years old. Furnaces built today are more efficient and breakdown less often
You want to change fuel types (e.g., from electric to natural gas)
You have expanded your house and the existing furnace cannot handle the new heating load
You have an older furnace that is not compatible with the new air conditioner you would like to buy

To keep your new furnace working at its best, consider investing in a maintenance plan. Early warning signs can be detected and addressed before serious problems occur (saving you money!). Also, a well maintained system will minimize energy consumption, prolong the life of your equipment and reduce the likelihood of emergency calls.

How do I decide which fuel to use?
Factors affecting the choice of fuel used for your new furnace include:

The type of fuels available in your area now. For instance, if you have to replace your furnace now in an area that does not yet have natural gas but will within the next year or two (and natural gas is your preferred fuel), then you might consider installing a propane furnace now, which can be converted to natural gas later on.

Whether you are willing to have a storage tank on your property. Oil furnaces require a tank in the basement, which can take up quite a bit of space. Propane furnaces need a large storage tank outside the house.

The cost of various fuels in your area, as well as the projected cost of each fuel in the future. In many areas, natural gas is the least expensive choice when compared with the cost of electricity, oil, or propane, but this is not always the case. Also, some suppliers will offer either short- or long-term incentive plans if you go with their particular fuel, so check all your options.

Your gas utility, electrical utility, oil supply company, and your propane supplier will all try to make convincing cases for their respective fuels. You should look for an independent source for pricing information. What you need to do is compare the local costs for electricity, gas, oil, and propane. Some unbiased sources of information include:

Your municipal government
The Ontario Ministry of Energy
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

What’s the most environmentally friendly fuel to use?
All fossil fuel-burning furnaces (natural gas, propane, oil) produce by-products that include nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. However, the more efficient the furnace, the cleaner it burns, and the less pollution it produces. In general, natural gas and propane do burn more cleanly than oil, but some high-efficiency oil-fired furnaces manufactured today burn just about as cleanly.

You should also note that electric furnaces can be as polluting as the fossil fuel ones. Although they don't produce any combustion by-products, the electricity used to fuel them comes from generators that burn coal or oil, or that produce nuclear waste.

Should I replace my furnace to switch fuels?
If you don't have to replace your current furnace right now, then you should calculate how long it would take to recover the cost of the new furnace from the savings with the new fuel. If you are planning to move in a year or two, then it's probably not worth doing. However, if you've got an electric furnace and natural gas has just come to your area, a new gas furnace could be a good selling feature for your house.

What’s the right size of furnace for my home?
To determine the correct furnace size for a given house, a heat-load calculation must be performed. This calculation takes into account a number of factors including the size and orientation of the house, the local landscaping, the number of windows, and the number of occupants. Too large a furnace means you will use (and pay for) more fuel than necessary; too little means you won't be comfortable. Your ClimateCare contractor can advise you which size is best for your situation.

Should I get a high- or mid-efficiency furnace?
The measure of a furnace's efficiency is its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. Furnaces manufactured today are either high-efficiency (90% efficient or higher) or mid-efficiency (about 70–89% efficient). Whether or not you opt for the high-efficiency furnace depends on where you live, how long you plan to live there, and what fuel you're using.

In areas with long, cold winters, a high-efficiency furnace could really save you money over time. However, if you're going to move next year, then it’s probably not worth the extra cost. If you're considering an oil furnace, then high-efficiency is definitely the way to go. Oil is generally a more expensive fuel and can produce a lot of pollution if not burned efficiently. Once again, you'll have to sit down and do the math.

Do I need to get anything else for my new furnace?
To ensure compatibility, it's a good idea to think about adding furnace accessories at the time you buy your new furnace. Some accessories include filters and programmable thermostats.

Filters
Furnace filters have two purposes:

To protect the inner workings of the furnace and the condenser coil of the central air conditioning system (located in the furnace) from dust and debris.
To improve indoor air quality by trapping harmful particles. The standard fiberglass filter that comes with a new furnace provides the minimum basic protection. We recommend one of the following types of filters:

HEPA filter – This filter is made of fine borosilicate fibres that are pressed together to form a net-like structure with openings large enough for air to pass through but too small for most particulates. The filters are made in sheets which are pleated to achieve maximum surface area. The filters contain the highest amount of carbon possible to ensure efficiency and maximum use.

Electrostatic filter - This filter attracts particles using a static charge created by air moving over the filter. It protects the furnace and air conditioning coil, and traps a wide range of bioparticles such as pet dander, bacteria, molds, and pollen. This filter must be washed and dried monthly and lasts about five years.

Pleated fabric filter - The pleats in this filter provide a large surface area for capturing particles. It traps all that an electrostatic filter can, and is somewhat more effective. This filter should be replaced approximately every three months (check it every month to see if it is dirty).

Media air filter - This filter has a high-efficiency pleated medium that can trap all that the pleated fabric and electrostatic filters can. However, this filter requires minimal maintenance – you simply change the media cartridge once or twice a year.

Programmable thermostats
Programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature in your home according to time of day or even day of the week. Models with “setback” options can reduce your monthly heating bill by up to 15%! In addition, according to Energy Star, programmable thermostats are more convenient and accurate than manual thermostats and improve your home’s comfort. They contain no mercury and are better for the environment, since using less energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production.

See Education & Tips for more information.