Need a New Furnace? Why Bigger Is Not a Good Idea

Purchasing a new furnace for your home means that you have to weigh your options when it comes to a couple of things, such as the type of furnace, and the size of the furnace. You may think that a larger furnace will work better for your house, but in most cases, a furnace that is over-sized for the home in which it is installed is a bad idea. The reasons for this include a few things such as:

• Reduced energy efficiency
• Shorter life span for the furnace
• More temperature differential in the house

Reduced Efficiency

A furnace is at its least efficient when it first comes on — it only reaches peak efficiency after it’s been running a while, when the air being heated is more uniform as it is dispersed. So when a furnace is over-sized, it will be turning on and off frequently, thus running inefficiently.

Shorter Furnace Life Span

Your home will get warm faster with an over-sized furnace, leading to the furnace constantly kicking on and off. The shorter cycles will produce wear on the internal components, leading to it breaking down more often, and reducing the life of the furnace. This leads to more money being spent on both repairs, and a new furnace when the time comes.

Temperature Differences

The areas nearest the furnace can get uncomfortably warm with one that is over-sized. This can make it hard to balance having a comfortable temperature throughout your entire house, especially if the rooms getting the warmest air are often occupied. People in those rooms are much more likely to turn the thermostat down, which contributes to the shorter life span of the furnace.

If you have any other questions about buying a new furnace, or if you are interested in any other aspect of your home’s A/C or heating system, get in touch with us at Mathews CCAC Inc. Our technicians have decades of experience in dealing with air conditioners and HVAC issues in general. We would be more than happy to help you with any of your home’s climate control needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about new furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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