Black Hills Blog

FURNACES MUST BE SIZED CORRECTLY TO WORK RIGHT

Thursday, 03 December 2015

Black Hills, Inc.

Latest Blog Posts

1291 Hits

Residential furnaces come in various sizes, furnaces needs to be correctly sized to provide efficient heating and cooling. A furnace sized too small will not deliver, or it can strain to deliver enough heating to your home, while an oversized furnace will waster energy and money. Both can lead to excessive breakdowns and premature failure.

Our field is filled with people who should know better, but who persist in using “rules of thumb” when it comes to selecting a furnace size. Sometimes they will base it only the square footage of a home, or when replacing a unit will simply select the same size as the old one.

Common sense tells us that bigger homes probably will require larger furnaces, but a lot more goes into selecting the proper size for any given amount of space. Proper size should be based on energy-loss calculations that take into account window area, the amount of insulation and other factors. This evaluation needs to be done room by room.

Energy-loss calculations need to be done when replacing a furnace. One simple reason is that the old equipment might have been improperly sized, which might well be the reason it broke down. Even if the old furnace was right for the job, replacing older unites with high-efficiency models often enables you to downsize to a unit that can do more with less and save you energy and money in the process.

Also, with any furnace installation or replacement, it’s important for the technician to check the ductwork to make sure it is appropriately sized and not plagued by leakage. Your furnace is the heart of your home’s HVAC system, while the ductwork is its arteries. You know what happen to your heart if your arteries get clogged or get diseased.

No doubt you’ve heard the old adage “you get what you pay for.” People who shop for the cheapest price when selecting an HVAC company will most likely end up with someone who cuts corners. One way to cut corners is to sue a “rule of thumb” instead of energy-loss calculation when selecting or replacing a furnace.

"If I need work on my heat pump, etc. I would certainly continue to deal with Black Hills, right down to how they answer their phone!"

– Vicki T.

"The technician who serviced our furnace was very friendly and professional. He made a point of showing me before and after cleaning our furnace and gave specific test results when recommending that our capacitor be replaced. I highly recommend this company!"

– David B.

"Service tech arrived on time, explained the process thoroughly, and answered all questions respectfully. Highly rate the experience."

– Mark G.

"My husband, Terry, and I would like to personally thank you for the excellent service we received from our first phone call to Black Hills, reminder calls, services, and follow-up! Your staff was very professional and informative. Following with a hand-written thank you for joining the Black Hills family was brilliant and so appreciated. Sadly, so many companies have lost this personal touch. From a marketing background, treating customers as if they are your first customers is time consuming, and often tiring, but it is what develops loyalty. Thank you and your team"

– Trish and Terry Lavery

"My wife and I can't overstate how good it feels to have a contractor guarantee and deliver above and beyond what they guarantee! The folks are the most professional and caring contractors I've ever worked with! from the apprentice to the Master electricians, plumbers, and HVAC personnel! Thank you and yes I would do it all over again. Thanks Again!!!!"

– Russell C.