Furnace Replacement in Kirkwood, MO. With cold fronts starting to come through, you might be thinking about replacing your furnace. Maybe it’s working, but your energy bills are skyrocketing; maybe you want to reduce your impact on the environment; or maybe your home just isn’t as warm in the cold as you’d like it to be.
Replacing your furnace is a big decision, no matter why you’re doing it, and understanding the basics will help you with it. There’s fair amount to be mindful of, and we’ll overview the most important aspects here, such as:
Whether your Kirkwood, MO home needs a furnace replacement or repair to keep you warm, SmartHouse Heating and Cooling is here to help. We always put our customers first at every job, and we always make recommendations that 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 you probably won’t be surprised by many. The truth is, if there is any reason you’re thinking about replacing, you need to call a local Kirkwood, MO HVAC contractor to evaluate the furnace and give suggestions on how you should move forward.
The clearest indicator is performance. If your furnace is not warming your home sufficiently, even when it is working, a replacement may be necessary.
Another common criterion is the age – most furnaces, if taken care of properly, last 15-20 years, and while some can keep going, they often need to be repaired frequently. Plus, older systems are often outside their warranty coverage, leaving you to shoulder the cost when something fails.
If you’re already doing other HVAC upgrades, like an air conditioning replacement, replacing your old furnace at the same time provides you with a matched, energy-efficient system that is covered by a total warranty.
To recap, you should consider replacing your furnace if:
Most of the time, you can repair an older furnace, but repairs often become expensive fast, especially with older systems outside of warranty coverage.
Repairs to older furnaces can be a bit of a gamble. The parts may be unavailable from the manufacturer, making them pricey. Plus, after the initial part is replaced, the technician may find more issues, needing further unexpected repairs.
If your older furnace is never running quite right — especially during the freezing temperatures of winter — it’s likely time to consider replacement.
Replacing your old furnace with a new one will improve performance and efficiency, helping you lower energy bills and shrink your carbon footprint, while increasing your comfort.
Upgrading also opens the door to 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 avoid high expenses for repairs in the future.
SmartHouse offers both furnace repair and furnace replacement services in Kirkwood, MO. Call us now at 314-370-1816, or reach out online to get started.
If you’re ready to get a furnace replacement, but aren’t sure what to look for, here are a few things 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 used to make heat and 20% is wasted. A higher percentage means less fuel loss and a lower bill. 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 use either electricity or gas for fuel. Gas furnaces burn natural gas to convert it into heat and rely on a natural gas connection and venting infrastructure. Gas furnaces with AFUE ratings of 90% or above are categorized as high-efficiency furnaces.
On the other hand, electric furnaces don’t use gas, and instead generate heat with electricity and resistance coils and may require an electrical upgrade, depending on your home’s current wiring. Because they don’t involve combustion, electric furnaces typically 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 requiring separate systems for each. They work by moving existing heat into or out of your home, rather than generating new heat through combustion.
Heat pumps work in both boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters, a dichotomy that all Kirkwood, 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 absorbs the heat from inside your home and releases it outdoors.
Heat pumps offer many advantages over conventional systems, including:
The Daikin FIT heat pump features variable-speed inverter technology for efficient operations, precise temperature control, superior dehumidification during Kirkwood, MO’s steamy summers, and unintrusive noise levels.
Heat pumps can also perform in the same system as a 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 extremely cold 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 intersecting incentives that can offer you unprecedented savings:
On top of Ameren’s rebates, you can take advantage of tax credits the federal government is offering 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).
Getting your new system installed right— fully code-compliant using industry best practices—means you’ll enjoy worry-free, energy-efficient comfort for years to come. That’s why working with the right technicians is critically important.
At SmartHouse, we take care of the whole process – from finding the perfect system to fit your situation to professional setup and beyond! We’re here to make your experience smooth and stress-free, focusing on open, clear communication, friendly, expert service, and outcomes you can depend on for years to come!
At SmartHouse, we’re here to help you stay warm, keep you comfortable, and keep your temperature costs down. When we first visit a house, 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 Kirkwood, MO:
