Buying Your Next Furnace Direct – Some Tips
Why should I choose one furnace over another?
When shopping for a new furnace, you may find yourself in a position where you are faced with the question “Is there a reason to pay $100 more for a furnace of the same size.” Sure there is.
Just because two Gas Furnaces are both 90%+, 75,000 BTU and each has a 3 ton blower, the idea of comparing them on cost alone is a fools game. Besides, if you are In the process of shopping for and purchasing your own replacement furnace, and you are concentrating on a few dollars price difference between furnaces, you are missing the big picture, or as I like to say, “Swallowing Elephants and Choking on Ants”.
Let me explain. Before going into the physical differences that should be considered when purchasing, that may lead to paying a little more to get the best value, let’s first talk about the bigger picture of purchasing direct. The fact that you have taken a very personal role in controlling your project cost by buying direct, means that you have been doing your homework and know that you can save up to and in some cases over 50% by taking this approach. This savings will come from employing the contractor of your choice and you will not be paying the sometimes huge profits that are charged for theses installations.
Don’t get so caught up in saving money that you overlook the fact that you not only have the opportunity to save big money during your installation process, but you also have the opportunity to own a higher quality product with the savings that you are realizing.
So let’s get to some of the quality differences that should be considered.
High Quality Brands: The first point to cover and I think very important is to remember that there are about 37 different brands of HVAC equipment on the market and yet there are only about 7 manufactures. That means that you may be able to get one of the higher quality brands by purchasing one of its identical products under a different brand name that is not as high profile and commands a lower price.
Frame & Structure: One of the most important and rarely discussed features that should be key is the product frame and structure. Is there a difference? You bet. When shopping, make sure and check the steel gauges and frame sets. Here is the reason why. Let’s take a furnace. This is a frame and box setup that houses an extreme heat source and a high velocity blower system and a power venting system. So what that means in relation to the structure, is that you not only have constant heating and cooling, but you also have constant fluctuations in torque with the cycling of the blower system. The stronger the structure the longer the life.
Insulation: With gas furnaces it is very important to have a fully insulated cabinet and blower compartment for quiet operation. This simple extra process in furnace manufacturing is left out of some brands as a cost saving procedure. Sound levels are very important when it comes to appliances in your home, so the little extra insulation that some of the higher quality brands offer can make the difference between a furnace that is loud and annoying and one that runs without notice. And, as a side note, the extra insulation is just more efficient.
Sealed Combustion and Isolated Burner Assemblies: This one may go over the head of the average consumer at first, but is very important. Several of the leading brands of gas furnaces claim to be “Sealed Combustion”. But, what they are not telling you is that they are utilizing the front door of the furnace with some seals as their combustion chamber, and are not true “Sealed Combustion”. A true “Sealed Combustion” Furnace with an isolated and sealed burner compartment may add a few dollars to the furnace but in the end, a true sealed burner will not only make sure that your exhausts are in complete control and your efficiencies are at their highest potential for design, but the darned thing will just plain be “Quieter”. Have you ever been in a house and heard the “Whuumppp” sound when a furnace ignites? With a true sealed combustion, this sound is greatly reduced.
Non proprietary controls: What this means, is that some furnace manufacturers utilize their own electronics and fuel controls. This may sound like a good thing, but the reality is, if and when the time comes that you require service on your system, the contractor will be forced to only purchase parts from the original manufacturer and the cost and availability are usually well above the norm, as they have a captured audience. When shopping for a new furnace, make sure that the controls and gas valve are supplied by non-oem manufactures such as Honeywell and Norton.
Good luck with your project and remember that rarely is true value measured by the lowest price. Don’t “Swallow The Elephant, To Later Choke On The Ant” .
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