This year, we seem to be looking at a wild winter. To keep ourselves warm, we need furnaces that generate heat. The furnace works by blowing hot air across the house through ducts. In the room, the ducts end at a grill or an air register through which the heated air is blown into the room.
Furnaces can be powered by oil, gas or electricity. In an oil or gas furnace, air is mixed with fuel and burnt. The flames heat a metal heat exchanger. A fan sends cold air into the exchanger to be heated up. The heated air is then pushed into the ducting system for distribution through the house. Furnaces can waste a lot of energy (as much as 30%) and follow standards set as early as 1987. New standards are being set and should be operational from the spring of 2016.
In the US, furnaces are monitored by standards set by Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). In addition to using load as a factor, AFUE takes into account start-up and cool down losses, as well as the energy used by fans, air handlers and controls. Modern furnaces must have a minimal 80 AFUE. Today, it is common to have furnaces with AFUE in the 90s, though you do get ones with 98 AFUE.
Furnace Installations
When you need a new or replacement furnace it can be quite overwhelming with all the decisions to make. Deciding on the right unit, financing the unit and other questions are all popping around in your mind. Get an experienced representative from Aliso Air to come in and help you make informed decisions. They will evaluate your home and heating needs and recommend the right product for you. Some of the installations also have rebates and you can also opt for financing.
Furnaces cannot be installed as a DIY. You need technical knowledge, experience and special tools.
Furnace Maintenance
Cleaning your furnace regularly and having inspections annually are two great ways to keep it up and running. This is easily done through service agreements. A maintenance agreement ensures a certified technician comes out to your home and inspects your furnace on a regular basis. This helps you to reduce the repair costs you may face and also helps your unit be efficient. By taking this simple step you can easily extend the life of your furnace by 10-15 years.
Furnace Repairs
Our service department services all makes and brands of equipment. We feature a fleet of service vans that are fully stocked with furnace and heater repair parts. We can also usually get hard to find parts within 24-48 hours of your service call. We are fully equipped to meet all of your repair needs in a timely and efficient manner and are available to you any time you need us.
Furnaces that are close to their estimated lifetime could cost quite a lot for repairs. If your repair estimates are 50% or more of a new furnace, it is time to seriously looking at replacing your furnace.