4 of 5

Write now Article Tools

Buying a new furnace is one of a homeowner's biggest expenses. A furnace costs more than a washer and dryer set, a stove, or even a new bathtub installed. However, a furance pays for itself over time.

The best part of owning a new furnace is watching the utility bill drop. Divide the price of the new furnace by the new savings in utility costs, including the electricity to kick it off.

The best part of buying a new furnace is that you can control what fuel will be used. Furnace prices do not vary considerably, but fuel prices do. Buying new can allow you to select the cheapest fuel in your region.

To review furnace prices, including gas furnace prices, electric furnace prices (think about this option if you're installing solar power or a windmill), oil furnace prices, or even brand names, like Trane furnace prices and Carrier furnace prices, go to the Google products page on furnaces: http://www.google.com/products ?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_E NUS286&q=furnace+prices&um=1&i e=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=product_result _group&resnum=1&ct=title

Now find the cost of fuel in your region. Is oil or coal cheaper by the ton? Is corn or wood pellets or wood cheaper? To find how to anaylze the BTU ratio for each fuel type, go here to use a fuel cost comparison chart: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ag eng/structu/ae1015a.pdf , or here: http://www.pelletheat.org/3/re sidential/compareFuel.cfm to input your local costs and compare fuels. Consider as well your access to making your own fuel. If your land has good hardwood trees and you want to cut them for fuel, consider a wood burning furnace. If you can farm your soil and grow enough corn, consider a corn furnace.

The downside of buying a new furnace is the cost. It is best to buy a furnace without a loan in order to reduce the payback period, but one often has to buy a furnace when the old one is breaking down. Be careful to check all financing options, including your local bank and credit union.

If you are building a new home, enjoy the choices afforded to you. Radiant heat in the floor makes a big difference to the heat cost. Also, you can buy the most efficient heating system around, and not have to replace it for several years. Furnace choices get larger, as a preexisting home requires that the new furnace adapt to the current heat transfer system. For instance, a house with pipes for forced hot water requires a furnace that operates with forced hot water. However, a new home affords all of the choices available: fuel type, furnace efficiency level, heat transfer medium.

Most important: remember that your purchase will stay with you longer than your car or your washer and dryer. I've owned homes that had 50-year-old furnaces. Keep that in mind when worrying over cost get something good with a compatible fuel type, and then enjoy your home without worrying about the heat.

Learn more about this author, Marianne Pelletier.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Furnace prices: The highs and lows of buying a furnace?
We want to hear your view. Write now!