Having a heater installed in your home can feel pretty complex, especially once you start looking at all the steps involved in its purchase and installation. In all, the process can cost you thousands of dollars, but the good news is that doing your research, buying the right kind of furnace for your home, and making sure you know exactly what you're buying can save you plenty of money as well.
Buy The Right Furnace
Not all furnaces are alike, and different types are built for different sizes of buildings. The most common way to figure out what "size" furnace you need is by using your home's square footage. This can affect which model you buy, and by making sure you aren't accidentally buying a larger model than necessary, you can save some money up front. You can also save money long term by having the right model; if a furnace is too small it will run constantly and if it's too large it will switch on and off very quickly. Both of these are bad for its lifespan and could result in costly long-term maintenance and repairs.
If you need help figuring out what size furnace you need as it relates to your home's square footage, you can use an online calculator to help you.
Read Your Installation Terms
An installation of expensive and heavy components in your home's climate control system has a lot of detail, so make sure you know exactly what you need and what you're getting before you agree to anything. The installation may come with some things by default that you don't need or want or things that might not necessarily apply. For example, along with standard installation and labor costs, you may be charged extra for duct repair or home modifications to fit the new furnace. If you don't think you need something like this, you can ask an HVAC specialist to take a look at your current setup before the installation. If the installation includes any upgrades to current ductwork but your current ductwork is fine, you can safely cut that from your installation checklist. Also, look out for warranty terms and service contracts and what they entail.
Some installations may also include cleanup and the removal of old parts and components, and while this comes in handy for the major components, you may be able to shave off some money by taking care of some of the tasks on your own.
Buy During Periods of Low Demand
If you have the luxury of being able to put off your purchase for some time, you can save money by buying and installing during periods of low demand for furnaces. The benefit is twofold: furnaces themselves will be priced lower during off seasons, and as a result, installation services themselves will be less busy, and their pricing will sometimes reflect that.
The best time to buy and install is during late winter and early spring; at this point, demand for furnaces and installation is slowing, and you'll avoid the rush of customers looking for HVAC installations and annual maintenance for summer. The fall months after summer are also a good time, but the effects may not be as noticeable as companies prepare for winter; prices are less likely to decrease just before periods of higher demand.
A bonus of the decrease in demand is that you may also get a more thorough installation and more time for you to review the process with your installers, which, if nothing else, can be great for peace of mind going forward. For more information, contact a local heating installation company like Bergmann Heating & Air Conditioning.
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