Buying a new furnace is a huge investment in your home’s comfort and efficiency, especially in areas where it gets very cold. With so many options available and factors to consider, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure you make the best choice for your home. Here, we’ll cover the most important questions to ask when seeking furnace sales to help you navigate your options and understand system efficiency.
Do I Need to Repair or Replace My Existing System?
Before deciding on a new furnace, consider whether repairing your current system might be a better option. Generally, furnaces last between 15-20 years. If your furnace is older or frequently needs repairs, replacing it with a more efficient model could save you money in the long run. However, if your system is relatively new and issues are minor, a repair may be all that’s needed. Consulting an HVAC professional can help determine if a replacement is needed or if a repair will extend the life of your current unit.
What Type of Furnace Is Right for My Home?
The two most common types of furnaces are packaged systems and split systems. A packaged system contains both heating and cooling components in a single unit, which is ideal for homes with limited indoor space. A split system, on the other hand, separates the air conditioner and furnace, which makes it more suitable for areas with seasonal extremes in temperature. Understanding the differences can help you choose the type that best fits your home, space, and climate.
How is Furnace Size Determined?
Choosing the correct size is important for your furnace’s efficiency and your home’s comfort. A system that’s too large will cycle on and off frequently, waste energy, and reduce the lifespan of the furnace. A system that’s too small will struggle to heat your home effectively and lead to higher energy bills and increased wear. HVAC professionals use an engineering worksheet called a Manual J load calculation, which factors in the home’s square footage, insulation, number of windows, and more, to determine the ideal size for your furnace.
What Are the Efficiency Options and Ratings?
Furnace efficiency is normally measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. A higher AFUE rating means the furnace converts more fuel into heat and results in less waste. The minimum standard for new furnaces is around 80% AFUE, while high-efficiency models can exceed 90%. Though high-efficiency models come with a higher upfront cost, they can save you money in the long term through reduced energy bills. Discussing efficiency options with your HVAC contractor can help you find the right balance between cost and savings.
What Financing, Discounts, or Rebates Are Available?
Upgrading to a new furnace can be expensive, but many HVAC companies offer financing options to make it more affordable. Additionally, there may be local rebates, federal tax credits, or energy incentives for purchasing energy-efficient systems. Ask your contractor about any financing plans, discounts, or incentives they offer, as these can help reduce the total cost of your furnace sale.
Is Regular Maintenance Needed for a New Furnace?
Proper maintenance is a requirement to keep your new furnace running efficiently and prolong its lifespan. Most HVAC experts recommend scheduling maintenance twice a year—once before the heating season and once before the cooling season for HVAC systems with air conditioning. Routine maintenance can help catch small issues before they turn into pricey repairs, improve energy efficiency, and ensure safe operation. Many HVAC companies offer maintenance plans, which can be a cost-effective way to ensure your furnace gets regular checkups.
What Additional Features or Accessories Should I Consider?
Modern furnaces can be paired with a range of accessories that enhance comfort and indoor air quality. Some options include:
Smart Thermostats: These allow you to control temperature settings remotely.
Air Purifiers: These reduce allergens and pollutants.
Humidifiers: These add moisture to the air during dry winter months.
The above accessories can improve comfort, lower energy costs, and contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
What Will the Installation Process Involve?
Installing a new furnace isn’t as simple as swapping out the old one. The installation process can involve assessing and possibly upgrading ductwork, modifying electrical connections, and ensuring proper ventilation. Be sure that you understand what the installation will entail, including any additional expenses. Make sure your contractor is licensed and certified to handle these tasks safely and correctly, as a proper installation is key to your furnace’s efficiency and performance.
What Are the Total Costs, Including Hidden Expenses?
The price tag of a new furnace isn’t the only cost you need to consider. Additional expenses can include ductwork modifications, thermostat upgrades, and any structural adjustments. Make sure your HVAC contractor provides a full estimate that includes all costs. Understanding the full cost upfront will help you avoid surprises later and ensure you’re fully prepared for the investment.
What Warranties Are Included?
Furnace warranties vary by manufacturer and model, so it’s important to understand what’s covered. Most warranties cover parts for a certain period, and some may offer extended warranties for an additional fee. A reliable warranty can save you money on unexpected repairs and give you peace of mind. Be sure to ask your contractor about any manufacturer warranties as well as any additional labor warranties they may offer.
Contact Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning for the Best Furnace Sales in Salem!
Choosing the right furnace is a major decision that impacts your home’s comfort, energy efficiency, and monthly heating costs. By asking these questions, you can make a choice that will keep your home warm and comfortable for years to come.
At Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we are committed to helping you find the perfect furnace to meet your needs. Our experienced technicians can answer all your questions and guide you through the entire process.
Contact us today to learn more about our furnace options and schedule a consultation!
What’s the Best Time of Year to Replace My Furnace?
A good furnace could potentially last up to 20 years or more, but sooner or later, it’s going to need to be replaced. New furnace sales are expensive, so you’re going to want to try to get the best deal possible on the appliance and labor.
There are several ways to reduce the cost, but one of the best ways is something many people overlook: timing. As long as your current furnace is still working well enough, you could potentially have it replaced any time during the year. So when would be the best time to call a furnace sales shop for an upgrade?
Let’s take a look.
I. Seasons and Furnace Sales
Supply and demand in the furnace industry are heavily influenced by the seasons and weather, in two big ways.
1 – Demand on repair crews
People are running their furnaces hardest during the winter, and that’s when a flaky furnace is most likely to fail. So furnace repair shops are going to be high demand in the winter – and the colder it is, the busier they’re going to be.
So it’s very common for furnace companies to have higher labor prices in the winter, due to basic market forces. Also, they may simply be swamped with work. You could end up waiting for days or weeks for a service call, if you want a new furnace in the middle of the winter.
2 – Manufacturing trends
Furnace manufacturers are also well aware that demand for furnaces tends to change over the course of the year, and set their manufacturing targets to match. So there are fewer furnaces available in the summer than in the fall, for example. However, this tendency can also create shortages. If there’s a particularly harsh winter, furnace sales outlets may find themselves running low on stock before the winter is done.
So more than anything else, the biggest takeaway here is that you should never replace your furnace during the winter if you can possibly avoid it. Prices and availability will both be unfavorable to you.
Generally speaking, it’s in the late spring or early summer.
By late spring, when everything has thawed, demand for furnace services will go way down – especially as all the backlogged service calls and installations from the winter get sorted out. Likewise, at this time of year, most homeowners aren’t thinking about their furnace. They’re thinking about whatever other repairs or improvements are needed for the summer.
So, calls for furnace repairs and installations will be at their lowest around this time. Many furnace companies even tend to run extra deals and specials, especially if they have overstock from the last season. It’s not guaranteed, but you can usually get a better deal on a new furnace in late spring than any other time of year.
However, don’t wait too long. By late summer, people may already be looking ahead to the winter. And autumn is peak time for proactive owners to do repairs and upgrades before cold weather hits, which will cause prices to start going up.
All things being equal, late spring is the best time for furnace upgrades.
III. Other Benefits to Off-Season Furnace Upgrades
Beyond prices, there are a couple other reasons you want to look into furnace sales during the off-season.
1 – More time to consider
You don’t want to get into fall, realize you need a new furnace, and have to scramble to get it installed before freezing weather hits. Furnaces are expensive long-term purchases, and you definitely want to do as much research as possible before buying.
In particular, do you want to stick to your current style of furnace, or upgrade to a new technology like heat pumps? This is a complicated question, and you want plenty of time to research it before committing to a major purchase.
2 – Better customer service
Any good furnace sales shop is going to want to give great service to every customer, year-round. However, the reality is that that they have limited staff. If the store is swamped with service calls in the autumn and winter, they’re simply not going to have as many resources available to help you.
So calling in the off-season means that they’ll be able to dedicate more time and energy to getting your business. They’ll be able to spend more time consulting with you, and looking at your current setup, so they can recommend the best option for your home. You could easily end up with a better heating solution in the spring than in the fall, thanks to the extra attention.
IV. Is it Time to Upgrade Your Furnace?
If you’re on the fence about whether this year is the right year to upgrade, here are a few other factors to consider.
1 – The age of your current furnace
As mentioned above, a properly-installed and well-maintained furnace should be expected to last at least 15 years, and electric furnaces tend to last longer than gas-burners. But once they start approaching 20 years, they’ll probably start breaking down more often. Upgrading could be more cost-effective than more furnace repairs.
2 – Repair frequency
You should go multiple years without having do to major work on your furnace. If you need repairs every year, it’s time to start thinking about upgrading. And if your furnace needs multiple repairs per year, it’s on its last legs and it’s definitely time for a new furnace.
3 – Energy efficiency
Modern furnaces are far more energy-efficient than models from even ten years ago. If your power bill is too high and you’re thinking long-term, a new furnace or heat pump could end up saving money in the long run through lower power usage.
Melton Heating & Air Conditioning is the best source in Salem, OR, for furnace sales, repairs, and upgrades. If you’re thinking it’s time for new furnace, contact us for top-quality service and support.
When you turn on the furnace in your Salem or Keizer, OR, home, you expect to get a rush of soothing warm air quickly and nothing else. However, furnaces are highly complicated pieces of machinery, and there’s a lot that can go wrong. One of the most common issues is to smell something burning, either through the vents or off the heater.
In general, if you smell something burning in your furnace, that problem will require heater repair from qualified professionals. However, that’s not always the case. So, we wanted to investigate why you can get burning smells from a furnace and the various things that can cause this.
Why Your Furnace Smells Like Something Is Burning
1. It’s the first time firing up your furnace this year
Let’s start with the best-case scenario. If it’s your first time firing up the furnace, there’s a very good chance you’ll get musty or burning smells for a little while afterward. This is normal because the furnace has accumulated dust and grime during the months it’s been sitting unused. These get burned off as it heats up until everything combustible is gone.
As long as the smell goes away within an hour or so, there’s nothing to worry about. This could have been prevented by having a furnace check-up before firing it up, which is a good idea but not an absolute necessity.
2. It’s not your furnace; it’s your ducts
Regarding non-problems, what if you keep smelling the burning, but everything seems fine around your furnace? If that’s the case, the issue could easily be in your ducts. Ductwork also attracts dust, grime, oil, and other unpleasant substances. If these have built up during the hot months, they can then start burning or smoldering when the furnace heats the ductwork.
In this case, the solution is simple: professional duct cleaning. Having your ducts cleaned every five years (at minimum) or so is a good idea. This won’t merely prevent odd smells when you run the heater; it’ll also improve indoor air quality by clearing out the contaminants in your ducts.
In particular, dust forming around the exit vents in your ducts is a big sign they need to be cleaned. Ask about our duct cleaning service.
3. The air filter is clogged
When is the last time you cleaned the air filter in your furnace? It’s easy to forget about it, especially during the off-season. However, if the filter is clogged, that will cause many issues – potentially including odd smells. Basically, the furnace heats dust and other materials trapped in the filter, which smolders and sends the smell through your house.
So, check your air filter, which should be easy to access. Then either clean it off, if it’s not too dirty, or replace it. Replacements are cheap and readily available at any home improvement store and even most “big box” style stores.
4. Electrical problems
Now we’re getting into the more serious issues. If you know the problem isn’t in the ducts or the air filter, there’s the possibility of electrical issues. For example, mice or other critters might have gotten into the heater and started gnawing on the wires, causing sparks or shorts.
If it’s an electrical issue, you may be able to hear the sparking or smell ozone coming from the heater. Your house could also have brownouts or other more significant electrical problems in more severe cases.
If you suspect an electrical problem, do not attempt to fix it yourself. There’s a lot of current running through the furnace, and it’s genuinely dangerous for amateurs to work on. Shut down the furnace at the breaker box, if needed, and call for professional heater repairs in Salem immediately.
5. Mechanical problems
A heater has many moving parts, which should be properly lubricated and moving with minimum friction. However, if the lubrication has run out or parts have shifted, they can start rubbing against each other – producing heat and burning rubber or metal smells.
In this case, you’ll usually hear unusual sounds from inside the furnace, such as clanging, banging, or grinding. If your furnace ever gets noisy well beyond what it typically sounds like, that’s almost always a mechanical issue that needs professional care.
Don’t ignore the problem – it will almost certainly only get worse over time, and that means more expensive heater repairs when you do call for help.
6. Issues with portable heaters
If you’re using portable space heaters, most of the advice above applies. If you smell burning, the most likely causes are either contamination within the heater, electrical issues, or mechanical failure. These are often easier to detect with portable heaters since it’s smaller and the scents will be more concentrated.
However, also make sure to check the power source. Is the burning smell coming from the heater or the wall socket plugged into it? The power plug or power brick could also be the problem and will likely need to be replaced if so.
Melton’s Is Here to Keep Your Furnace Running Smoothly
Since 1966, we’ve been the go-to source for furnace repairs and heat pump repairs across the Willamette Valley. We’re proudly family-owned, with a team of experts who’ve been with the company for years. No matter how new or old your furnace is, we have the tools and skills to keep it running properly!
If you think you smell something burning around your furnace or heater, don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Contact Melton’s for great furnace repair in Salem or Keizer, OR, area.
