If you want to know a forced-air furnace cost, you must know that you have other options for heating your home. A forced-air furnace is the most generally used in the States, and that is because it has more perks than other heating systems.
A forced-air furnace is the best in areas where the temperature drops below-freezing points.
So, if your home does not have a central heating unit or needs a new furnace, you can first consider the cost of installing a new forced-air furnace.
You cannot just quote a price; hence, you need to determine the factors that can affect the price of your choice forced-air furnace. Such as how much you can expect to pay and other variables.
If you want to know what they are, you will need to read on as we unveil everything you need to know about a forced-air furnace cost.
Why the use of Forced-Air Furnaces?
The Weather is not static, nor is it constant. And in the English language, we have appropriate adjectives qualifying each temperature. There are days we can describe the weather as hot, warm, cold, or cool.
Still, these changes come with changing seasons. For some people, their favorite times are the cold season.
For some, it’s neither here nor there, just a little bit of everything. What’s more, they are excellent with their choices. They thrive well in their best seasons.
Away from that, forced-air furnaces became a child of invention and innovation. Previously, wood and inbuilt fireplaces were used to heat houses.
But there was the problem of soot and carbon emissions in the air.
Society moved from wood to coal to the Franklin stove created by Ben Franklin, America’s founding father.
This innovation helped to ease the problem of soot and carbon monoxide. Still, there was the problem of large heating spaces and the use of coal. Sooner rather than later, the first forced-air furnace will be created to run on coal.
Several years later, it would be modified to run on water, electricity, gas, propane, or oil. However, the subject here talks about the usefulness of forced-air furnaces in cold seasons and the cost of acquiring one. Besides, this cold season is typical in Canada and America.
Further, you can install a forced-air furnace and connect it to every part of the house through ducts. It sucks in cold air, converts it to warm air then releases it through another connection of ducts.
Similarly, these warm air ducts can be adjusted to permit more or less warm air into the house.
Typically, a forced-air furnace is either powered by gas or by electricity. The forced air furnace alternatively produces and spreads warm air throughout the house by setting the thermostat to the desired temperature.
As with every other machinery, it should be cleaned out, fixed when broken, and put together again.
The Merits and Demerits of Forced Air Furnace
A forced-air furnace aims to keep out the excessive cold and provide a stable home temperature conducive to persons. Thus, it is highly beneficial in the winter seasons. The benefits of forced air furnaces are treated below;
- A Fast Heating Time
A forced-air furnace quickly absorbs and heats up the cold air in the house. Again, it does this by connecting ducts and pumps while diffusing the warm air around the house.
This system of absorption and diffusion enables a steady flow of warm air around the house and keeps the temperature stable.
- Easy to install
You do not need to create space or room to contain a forced-air furnace. Neither do you need to rip walls. It is even convenient to install a forced-air furnace using air conditioning ducts.
The heating can work so well if you have one. Moreover, the forced air furnace comes in sizes that can maximize space.
- Affordable
A forced-air furnace is less expensive than these heating systems available in stores. It does not require you to break the bank or max out your credit. That is, it is pocket-friendly. Even the installation prices are low.
- Energy efficient
Due to its powering mechanism, it is reliable compared to other heating systems because it uses electricity or natural gas, which is also eco-friendly.
These are just a few benefits of a forced-air furnace. By implication, there are a few demerits to owning and running a forced-air furnace, and these include:
- Health Risk
It is air absorbed and diffused throughout a home; dust particles could form part of the air absorbed and diffused. Mold also may become part of the air, so to prevent this, it is a necessity that you clean the forced-air furnace regularly.
- Noise
It’s understandable if you install the forced-air furnace outside of the home but not inside. Its functioning effect produces noise, no matter how innovative the brand is. Perhaps we may find one that is noiseless in the future, but for now, this is what you will deal with.
- Temperature Control
The forced air furnace comes with an inbuilt thermostat that controls the temperature in all the rooms in the house. This is one major challenge in dispensing warm air because some rooms may be warmer than others.
And this happens because of the poor readings of the thermostat from these other rooms because of the location of the rooms and ductwork. Also, since individual thermostats cannot work for a forced-air furnace, the challenge lies here.
- A Leaky Duct
At first, you will enjoy your heating system until some years later. The wear and tear of the ducts will result in leakage. And by what evidence would you know that the vents are leaking?
A little spike in your electric bill is the first obvious indication! Hence, you should carefully and often observe the ducts to see if they are in good shape.
What is the Cost of a New Forced-Air Furnace Unit?
The cost of a new forced-air furnace unit ranges from $2,500 to $9,000 to install. And this depends on the type of forced air unit you seek to purchase and install. Another factor to consider is the type of forced air furnace unit you want to buy.
For instance, a unit of electric-powered forced-air furnace costs between $1,000 and $5,500. While the gas-powered forced furnace costs between $2,200 to $9,000.
And the oil-powered forced-air furnace costs between $4,500 and $7,000. Other factors may include; home square footage, the size of the forced-air furnace unit needed, and energy efficiency levels.
What are the factors that affect a forced-air Furnace Cost?
Although forced-air furnaces are pretty affordable, their cost and installation can vary wildly because of several factors. One of these factors includes the existence of ductwork in your home.
Older homes have a system of ducts in place that your HVAC installer can easily connect your new furnace to. On the other hand, newer homes may not have any ductwork installed.
However, if your home does not have an installed system of ducts, you can choose to have a professional HVAC company install the right one for you. But you must understand that it may not be cheap installing one for you.
Better still, you can contact a professional HVAC to give you the correct quote for its installation.
Another factor affecting a forced-air furnace cost is your chosen fuel source. If you are to use natural gas, you should try to purchase it when it is cheaper. If not, you may have to pay more to have your heating system installed in your home.
You may also choose to utilize another fuel source. Moreover, natural gas is always the cheapest but may not be your best choice. So, your fuel choice and its source will significantly affect your forced-air furnace cost.
How can you maintain a Forced-air Furnace?
The forced air furnace requires maintenance, so it won’t be an actual or potential health risk. It also requires maintenance to improve its efficiency and to last longer.
But as a safety tip, disconnect or shut off the electric supply before you take off the access panel. Below are some maintenance tips:
- Air filters
Replace the air filters regularly to prevent clogged filters. A clogged air filter is a health risk, as the impure air will get dispensed around the house. If you have disposable air filters, then replace them with new ones once a month.
For permanent air filters, wash and vacuum them. But make sure you check the manual before cleaning.
- Duct Leakage
As the forced air furnace ages, you will need to check for leakages in the ductwork. The first indication of duct leakage in an electric-powered forced-air furnace unit is a spike in the electric bill.
You can also use a smoke pencil to check areas of leakage. You can use duct mastic or foil-based duct tape to fix duct leakages.
- Fan
If the fan comes with a fan belt, get a technician to check it for wear and tear. And if the forced-air furnace unit comes with a direct fan, you can always take it out to clean it.
- Obstructions
Check for little obstructions like hairs and pieces of paper. Also, check for diapers and pieces of furniture. These things block the cold and heat registers.
What Are The Types Of Forced Air Furnaces?
The type of forced-air furnace largely depends on the energy that powers it. It also depends on the space needed, although it does not require much space. These are the three types of forced air furnace units classified according to the structure:
- Upflow
These are for units that will be placed in the basement
- Downflow
For forced air furnaces placed in attics
- Horizontal
For ranches and single-level housing units
Generally, a forced-air furnace should contain the following: a thermostat, a fan, a dehumidifier, a power source, central air conditioning, two air registers for cold air, and air outflows.
Regardless of all types of forced air furnaces, a good unit is expected to function for, on average, 15 years before going bad. And this depends on the care and maintenance. A well-maintained forced-air unit should last well.
Are There Challenges Surrounding A Forced-Air Furnace?
We already know that a forced-air furnace has a lot of benefits, especially in maintaining a comfortable room temperature in cold seasons. But challenges exist in having a forced-air furnace, one of which is poor air quality.
Since the air indoors is generally recycled, it simply means that the quality of air depreciation each time a cycle is complete. Again, it is used like dust particles and mold are added together with the diffuse air. There is no appropriate filter system to filter the warm air completely.
Another challenge is the noise. Even a whisper of a running forced-air furnace unit is enough to disrupt one’s attention. For persons who have ADD, it is a source of distraction. Again, size or system can also be a problem.
This is especially if you get an attic unit for a house with a basement or a ranch-style unit for a house with an attic. Every unit should match the house it is meant for. Efficiency may also be a problem. In times of gas pump or scarcity, it might be difficult to operate a furnace.
Also, you cannot run an electric furnace without an electric supply. These things mean that buying a forced air furnace does not involve cost. It involves proper planning and maintenance.
Conclusion
There are many factors to consider before arriving at the final cost of your forced-air furnace. However, while considering the forced-air furnace cost, you must consider your financial source equally. This will help you to determine what to go for.
References
- https://www.squareone.ca/resource-centres/getting-to-know-your-home/forced-air-furnace
- https://mastersheatcool.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-forced-air-heating/
- https://modernize.com/hvac/heating-repair-installation/furnace
- https://www.aircomechanical.com/forced-air-furnace-you-have-one-but-what-does-that-mean/#:~:text=They%20come%20in%20three%20types,have%20two%20sets%20of%20ductwork.
- https://www.artdouglasplumbing.com/4-common-problems-with-forced-air-heating-and-cooling
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