Indoor air quality and energy efficiency are two major concerns for homeowners in modern times. As a result, more people are looking to invest in new furnaces to address these issues. Furnaces are one of the most important appliances in your home. They heat up the air and circulate it through ducts throughout your home. Unfortunately, this means that installing a furnace is not a task that can be taken lightly. You need to be sure you’re doing everything right when making this investment. Keep reading for a list of common mistakes that you should avoid when installing a new furnace in your home.
You’re Installing the Wrong Size Furnace
Central air conditioners and furnaces are sized based on the recommended BTU (British Thermal Unit) load of the house. The BTU load is calculated based on the square footage of the house as well as the climate zone in which the house is located. Unfortunately, many contractors fail to take accurate measurements of a home’s square footage before recommending a size. This can lead to two problems. First, the unit may not be able to circulate the air throughout the home properly. Second, the unit may not match the ductwork that was installed with the home when it was built. If your ductwork is too small for the BTU load of the furnace, the furnace will be overworking itself to heat the house. This can lead to early failure of the furnace and a significant increase in your energy bills.
Your Ductwork is Dirty
Dirty ductwork is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make when installing a new furnace. Dirty ductwork can lead to serious indoor air quality issues. When a furnace heats up the air in the ductwork, the air naturally becomes dusty. This dust can contain particles of mold, fungi, dust mites, microbes, and other contaminants. When this dust-laden air is circulated through the house, it can cause serious health problems for homeowners. Dirty ductwork can also increase energy bills by reducing the efficiency of the furnace. Dirty ductwork can cause the furnace to work harder to heat the house, increasing energy use and bills. Unfortunately, homeowners often don’t realize their ductwork is dirty until it’s too late. Contractors sometimes clean the ductwork before installing a new furnace. Furnace installers often fail to clean the ductwork before installing a new furnace. Unfortunately, there are no regulations requiring contractors to clean the ductwork before installing a new furnace. You should demand that your contractor clean your ductwork before installing a new furnace.
You Didn’t Seal the Return Air Path
Another common mistake homeowners make when installing a new furnace is failing to seal the return air path. The return air path is the path through which the air flow returns to the furnace. The return air path should be sealed with a filter. The filter will remove contaminants from the air flow before it enters the furnace and circulates through the home. Unfortunately, many homeowners forget about this filter. This filter is necessary to protect homeowners from contaminants in the air flow. Unfortunately, homeowners often don’t realize this filter is necessary until it is too late. Contractors sometimes forget to seal the return air path with a filter. Furnace installers often fail to seal the return air path with a filter. Unfortunately, there are no regulations requiring contractors to seal the return air path with a filter. You should demand that your contractor seal the return air path with a filter.
Your Condenser is Dirty
The condenser is the part of the furnace that turns the warm air back into cool air. The condenser is exposed to a lot of dust blowing in the air. You should make sure to keep your condenser clean to protect the long-term efficiency of your furnace. Make sure to vacuum the dust and debris from the surface of your condenser at least once a year. Unfortunately, some homeowners don’t check the condenser for dust. This is a big mistake. Failure to clean the condenser can damage the efficiency of your furnace. A dirty condenser can reduce the cooling efficiency of your furnace by up to 30%. This means that your furnace will be working harder to cool your house, increasing energy bills.
You Installed It Incorrectly
Installing a new furnace correctly is crucial to protecting the long-term efficiency and health of your furnace. Unfortunately, many homeowners make mistakes during installation that can cause serious issues. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when installing a new furnace is failing to balance the air pressure throughout the home. You should install new equipment with the same pressure that is already running through your home. This will ensure that the air is being properly circulated throughout the home. Unfortunately, some contractors fail to check the pressure in the home and install the new furnace with the wrong pressure. This can cause airflow issues throughout the home that reduce the efficiency of the furnace. Unfortunately, there are no regulations requiring contractors to check the current home pressure when installing a new furnace. You should make sure the contractor checking your current home pressure when installing your new furnace.
Wrapping Up
Indoor air quality and energy efficiency are two major concerns for homeowners in modern times. As a result, more people are looking to invest in new furnaces to address these issues. Unfortunately, this means that installing a furnace is not a task that can be taken lightly. You need to be sure you’re doing everything right when making this investment. If you keep the mistakes above in mind, you’re sure to make a great investment in your home and its residents.
Contact Us
For furnace installation or repair in Irvine, CA contact us today at (949( 482-2911 or click here.