What size furnace do I need?

January 31, 2019

When you need to upgrade your outdated furnace, it’s important to understand one size does not fit all. A system that is not sized correctly for your home, will not only affect your comfort, but can result in shortened life of your furnace, and leave you spending extra money on your utility bills.

If you pick a system oversized for your home, you’ll start to notice short cycles. This means your oversized furnace heated your home too quickly, turning off before the furnace can reach correct operating temperatures. An undersized or oversized system can lead to reduced lifespan and higher costs.

How can you be confident in the correct furnace size for your home? Start with a load calculation from the team at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating. A load calculation takes particulars from your home into consideration and identifies the Btu (a number that indicates the heating capacity of a furnace) required to heat your home.

Some Things that Influence Furnace Size

  • Square Footage—How big is the area your furnace will have to heat up? 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 assists in keeping warm air from leaving your home throughout the cold winter months. It also greatly affects energy efficiency and how large of a heating system will be necessary. Let the professionals from Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating evaluate the insulation in your walls and attic. They’ll help you select the ideal furnace for your house.
  • Type of Window— Just like your walls, the particular type of windows in your home, frame type, glaze type, gas fills/spaces, etc. will have an impact on the heating and cooling needs of your home.
  • Outdoor Climate—Consider the range of weather you get in Pella. 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 selecting your new furnace. Let the qualified technicians at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating help you identify a system that will fit your home properly. When you’re ready to start the process, call us at 641-628-3621 or schedule an appointment online. Whether you have some questions about furnace size or want to chat about options for your space, our team is happy to help you out.