How do I size my furnace?

When you need to update your outdated furnace, it’s important to know that one size does not fit all. A system that is not sized correctly for your home, will not only impact your comfort but can lead to shortened life of your furnace, and leave you stuck with higher energy bills.

If you choose a furnace oversized for your home, you’ll start to experience short cycles. The reason is that your oversized furnace heated your home too rapidly, turning off before the furnace can reach proper operating temperatures. An undersized or oversized system can lead to a shortened life span and cost you more in energy bills.

How can you be confident in the proper furnace size for your home? Begin with a load calculation from the team at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning. A load calculation takes aspects from your home into review and identifies the Btu (a number that indicates the heating capacity of a furnace) necessary to heat your home.

Some Items that Influence Furnace Size

• Square Footage—How large is the area your furnace will be heating? The technician will be sure to carefully measure the square footage of your home. Not every inch of your home needs to be accounted for during this process. Many times, it is more beneficial to account only for the space that needs heating.
• Home Insulation—Insulation works to keep warm air from filtering out of your home through the cold winter months. It also greatly affects energy efficiency and how large of a heating system is required. Let the professionals from Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning review the insulation in your walls and attic. They’ll help you find a best furnace for your house.
• Type of Window—Just like your walls, the certain type of windows in your home, frame type, glaze type, gas fills/spaces, etc. will play into what heating and cooling needs your home requires.
• Outdoor Climate—Think about the range of weather you experience in Omaha. You’ll want a furnace that can handle the conditions of your climate every year, without overworking itself.

Don’t settle for ‘close enough’ when choosing your new furnace. Let the experts at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning help you find a solution that will fit your home properly. When you’re ready to start the process, contact us at 402-509-5940 or arrange an appointment online. Whether you have some questions about furnace size or want to learn more of the options for your space, our experts are happy to help you out.