setting wall furnace

A furnace is one of the priciest and most essential appliances in your home, so homeowners should avoid taking shortcuts when purchasing a replacement or handling maintenance.

Even so, there are a few tricks that you should use to evade being ripped off by a bad installation job, faulty equipment, or overcharging contractors. Here is Warner Service’s list of foolproof ways to save money when buying a new furnace:

Do some research. Admittedly, no one wants to know the ins and outs of a home furnace, but to avoid being overcharged or having the wrong type or size unit installed, it is important to know what’s what to avoid future furnace problems. Do some research about which products worked best for people in similar living environments. Also, read reviews on contractors and brands, so you have an idea of how customer service works.

Ask for referrals. Contact your friends and family to discuss which contractors they would recommend for a new furnace. Once you have a few local companies picked out, invite them to see your home. Ask them all about the current furnace’s size, set-up, energy efficiency, price, warranty, and so forth. Then, compare it to what they would replace it with. Use your research to call out any shady installation practices and pricing. 

Compare apples to apples – or furnaces to furnaces. When discussing your options with a contractor, make sure that everyone is quoting you for the same product or service. For example, one contractor could charge you $3,000 for a new unit. Another could offer less than that but fail to mention high installation fees. Double-check what exactly the quote is for before questioning and comparing prices to other companies.

Get a quote in writing. Upon their first visit, many HVAC contractors will give homeowners an estimate based on the number of registers, size of the furnace, and more. To avoid any miscommunications about pricing, get this quote in writing.

Get a firm cost. When you are strongly considering a certain contractor for the replacement, ask him or her to give you a firm cost, including any required annual maintenance visit rates, manufacturer’s warranties, rebates, labor costs, and tax credits. This will help you avoid any surprise charges or post-installation overestimations. 

Check out the savings. The price of a high-efficiency furnace might take your breath away upon first glance, but the savings could add up quickly, making it worth the initial cost. Remember: A low price does not always equate to the best value or longest lifespan.

When looking for a new furnace, check out the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. The higher the number, the less money you will spend on heating and cooling each month:

  • 13.00 is the minimum requirement for efficiency
  • 15.00 is average efficiency
  • 16.00 or higher is the best energy efficiency 

This Rule of Thumb also goes for the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating for gas- and oil-fired furnaces. 

Consider a service agreement. Warner Service offers a service agreement that gives you a peace of mind when it comes to your HVAC system. You'll get customized, regularly schedule tune-ups and priority service that puts you in the short line for even after hours calls. And, it will save you money when your HVAC system needs repairs. A service agreement with Warner Service gives you a discounted rate on all service calls.

When purchasing a new furnace, homeowners should begin by doing a little research to understand exactly what the contractor is saying. After that, ask around for buying recommendations and get to know a few local companies. When you find one, get a firm estimate, check for promotions, and schedule an installation date. It’s that simple.

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