Finding the right furnace dealer is an important process. Selecting the right furnace
dealer can make the difference between getting the most comfort and efficiency for
your money or, getting stuck with a heating system that doesn't meet your needs.
Here are some tips on evaluating a furnace or home heating system dealer:
- Ask the furnace dealers you are considering how long they've been in business.
Common sense says that older, more established companies will have a better record
of customer satisfaction.
- Check to see the furnace dealer's contractor's license. Dealers must have a license
to receive the permits needed for the job.
- Ask for references. Then, follow up by calling those people and asking them how
satisfied they were with the home heating system dealer. Try to ask specific questions,
about the dealer's timeliness, ability to follow through on start and finish times,
etc.
- Many furnace and heating manufacturers have dealer locators on their Internet sites
to help you locate the right furnace dealer.
Check the age of your current heating unit. Generally, newer products are much more
efficient that older products. Current furnaces on the market can be over 90% efficient.
Modern air conditioners also use much less electricity than their predecessors.
When selecting a home furnace or heating unit, check the efficiency rating, known
as AFUE. Heating systems with
efficiencies in the 90% range are best, but for less money, you may want to go with
an 80% efficient. If you live in a cold area where you run a furnace for a significant
portion of the year, a high efficiency furnace will pay off quickly through lower
fuel bills.
The system you choose depends upon your personal needs. There are generally 3 major
criteria to consider when purchasing a furnace:
- Brand name and reputation
- Efficiency and performance
- Value for the price
Don't short-change yourself by selecting your heating product or system purely on
price. A high efficiency furnace may cost more upfront, but will result in lower
monthly fuel bills. In the long term, especially for cold and temperate regions
of the county, high AFUE furnaces
save money. Quality and reliability of the brand should be a key consideration.
Before contacting or selecting a dealer, be sure to spend some time researching
the furnace brands on your own. Each heating system manufacturer has a different
value proposition and brand reputation. You need to decide which one you feel most
comfortable with and which best meets your needs.
Visit the various brands' Internet sites. Most brands provide a good overview of
their company and products.
The total price of air conditioning and heating products depends on a lot of variables:
- Brand selection
- Number of components purchased
- Type of components purchased
- Dealer selection / installation cost
Generally, more reputable, higher quality brands will cost slightly more. Within
brands, there are usually good, better and best products, each with different price
tags. Efficiency ratings can also affect cost — more efficient products generally
cost more. Also, durability of critical components will goes up with price: you
might save money now, but could pay more when you factor in repair and replacement
costs.