Furnace Replacement in Ballwin, MO. As the winter weather starts, you might be thinking about replacing your furnace. Maybe it’s keeping your house warm, but at a high cost; maybe you’re trying to be more environmentally friendly; or maybe your home just isn’t as warm in the cold as you’d like it to be.
For whatever reason, it’s a big deal to replace your furnace, and understanding the basics will help you with it. You’ll want to consider several details, and we’ll overview the most important elements here, such as:
Whether your Ballwin, MO home needs a furnace replacement or repair to keep you warm, SmartHouse Heating and Cooling is by your side. We take a customer-first approach with every house we visit, and we always suggest what we believe will be best for your situation. We’re available to contact 24/7 – if you have a question, get in touch today by calling 314-644-1570, texting us at 314-310-2242, or reaching out online.
There are several signs that you need to replace your home furnace, and few of them will surprise you. The truth is, if you think you need to replace it for any reason, you need to call a local Ballwin, MO HVAC contractor to examine the furnace and make recommendations on whether to repair or replace.
The most obvious sign is performance. If your furnace is not warming your home sufficiently, even when it is working, a replacement is probably needed.
Another aspect to be aware of is the age – the average lifespan of a well-maintained furnace is 15-20 years, and while some can last longer, they often need to be repaired frequently. Plus, older systems are often outside their warranty coverage, leaving you to bear the full cost when something fails.
If you’re already doing other HVAC upgrades, like extensive ductwork, replacing your old furnace at the same time provides you with a matched, energy-efficient system that is covered by a comprehensive warranty.
To recap, you should consider replacing your furnace if:
Most of the time, you can repair an older furnace, but repairs often get expensive, and older systems are likely outside their warranty coverage.
Repairs to existing furnaces can be a bit of a gamble. The parts may be out of production, making them pricey. Plus, after the initial part is replaced, the technician may locate additional issues, resulting in further unexpected repairs.
If your older furnace keeps breaking down — especially during the coldest days of the year — it’s likely time to consider replacement.
Replacing your old furnace with a new one will improve performance and efficiency, helping you keep your bills down and decrease your environmental impact, while increasing your comfort.
Upgrading also can allow for smart thermostats, zoning systems, and variable speed motors for better control, plus you can consider replacing your furnace with a heat pump for vastly increased flexibility in your home’s temperature control.
Your new furnace will also have a comprehensive warranty, helping you keep costs down if you need repairs in the future.
SmartHouse offers both furnace repair and furnace replacement services in Ballwin, MO. Call us now at 314-370-1816, or reach out online to get started.
If you know it’s time to replace your furnace, but aren’t sure what to look for, here are a few characteristics to pay attention to: efficiency ratings, gas vs. electric furnaces, and motor speed(s).
For gas, oil, or propane furnaces that convert fuel into heat, energy efficiency is measured with the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) system. This is expressed as a percentage of how much fuel is turned into heat versus how much is wasted – an 80% rating means 80% of the fuel is turned into heat and 20% is lost. A higher percentage means less fuel loss and higher savings. AFUE is not used for electric furnaces because electric heating doesn’t burn fuel in the same way and has virtually no heat loss.
Most traditional furnaces rely on either gas or electricity for fuel. Gas furnaces burn natural gas to create heat and rely on a natural gas connection and venting infrastructure. Gas furnaces with AFUE ratings of 90% and up are considered high-efficiency furnaces.
Electric furnaces use electricity to generate heat through resistance coils and may require an electrical upgrade, depending on your home’s setup. Because they don’t involve combustion, electric furnaces normally operate at or near 100% efficiency.
The amount of stages, or speeds, your furnace has affects its ability to efficiently provide you comfort:
Heat pumps can handle both heating and cooling together, rather than having separate systems for each. They work by moving existing heat into or out of your home, rather than making new heat through combustion.
Heat pumps perform in both boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters, a dichotomy that all Ballwin, MO residents know only too well. During winter, heat pumps transport heat into your home from outside, regardless of freezing weather. In the summer, the process is reversed as the heat pump brings the heat from inside your home to the outdoors.
Heat pumps offer many advantages over conventional systems, including:
The Daikin FIT heat pump features variable-speed inverter technology for efficient operations, unmatched control over temperature, superb dehumidification during Ballwin, MO’s steamy summers, and quiet operation.
Heat pumps can also be combined with an existing gas furnace, in what’s called a “dual fuel system.” The heat pump handles the cooling and the majority of your heating needs, with the system automatically shifting to the gas furnace in frozen conditions, ensuring consistent warmth no matter how far down temperatures go.
Right now, we’re seeing the best deal we’ve ever seen for high-efficiency HVAC systems, due to overlapping incentives that can give you a once-in-a-lifetime savings deal:
Alongside Ameren’s rebates, the federal government is offering tax credits for high-efficiency heating and cooling systems installed by December 31, 2025. To take advantage of these tax credits, you will need to use a system such as high-efficiency central ACs, air source and ground source (geothermal) heat pumps, mini-split ACs or heat pumps, and smart thermostats (with installation).
Knowing your new system is installed correctly— fully code-compliant using industry best practices—means you’ll enjoy stress-free, energy-efficient comfort for years to come. That’s why partnering with the right contractor is crucial to your satisfaction.
At SmartHouse, we take care of the whole process – from picking out the right system to fit your situation to professional setup and more! We want your experience to be easy and worry-free, focusing on honest, clear communication, friendly, expert service, and results you can depend on for years to come!
At SmartHouse, we’re here to help you heat your home, improve your comfort, and lower your energy bills. When we get started on a project, our technicians ask, “What is the right thing to do?” before making any decisions. Let us make a difference in your home’s heating.
We also offer these services in Ballwin, MO:
