Furnace Replacement in St. Ann, 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’re trying to be more environmentally friendly; or maybe your home just isn’t warming you as well as it used to.
For whatever reason, it’s a big deal to replace your furnace, and you want to be well-informed before making that choice. There’s a lot to consider, and we’ll overview the most important factors here, such as:
Whether your St. Ann, MO home needs a furnace replacement or repair to keep you warm, SmartHouse Heating and Cooling has got your back. 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 clues that your furnace needs a replacement, and few of them will surprise you. The truth is, if there is any question in your mind, you need to call a local St. Ann, MO HVAC contractor to inspect the furnace and provide guidance on what you should do next.
The most obvious sign is performance. If your furnace is not keeping your home adequately warmed, even when it is functioning properly, a replacement is probably needed.
Another common criterion is the age – will have a lifespan of 15-20 years, and while some can last longer, they often require frequent repairs. Plus, older systems are often out of warranty, leaving you to pay the full cost when something fails.
If you’re already doing other HVAC upgrades, like extensive ductwork, replacing your outdated furnace at the same time provides you with a matched, energy-efficient system that is covered by a total warranty.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:
Frequently, you can repair an older furnace, but repairs often are costly, and can add up with older systems out of warranty.
Repairs to older furnaces can take some unexpected turns. The parts may be unavailable from the manufacturer, making them pricey. Plus, after the initial part is replaced, the technician may identify additional issues, needing further unexpected repairs.
If your older furnace is never running quite right — especially during the chilling St. Ann, MO winters — it’s likely time to consider replacement.
Upgrading your furnace improves performance and efficiency, helping you lower energy bills and decrease your environmental impact, while increasing your comfort.
Upgrading also can allow for smart thermostats, zoning systems, and variable speed motors for smoother control, plus you can consider replacing your furnace with a heat pump for highly flexible heating and cooling in your home.
Your new furnace will give you a new, longer-lasting warranty, helping you save on parts and repair costs if something goes wrong in the future.
SmartHouse offers both furnace repair and furnace replacement services in St. Ann, 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 aspects to keep in mind: 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 converted to heat and how much is lost – an 80% rating means 80% of the fuel is converted to 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 next to no heat loss.
Most traditional furnaces use either electricity or gas 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.
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 present condition. 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 effectively warm your home:
Heat pumps both heat and cool your house in one device, rather than needing separate systems for each. They work by moving existing heat into or out of your home, rather than creating new heat through combustion.
Heat pumps perform in both boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters, a dichotomy that all St. Ann, MO residents are familiar with. 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 present several edges over conventional systems, including:
The Daikin FIT heat pump features variable-speed inverter technology for efficient operations, precise temperature control, superior dehumidification during St. Ann, MO’s steamy summers, and unintrusive noise levels.
Heat pumps can also operate in concert with a conventional furnace, in what’s called a “dual fuel system.” The heat pump cools your home, and handles most of the heating, with the system automatically transferring to the gas furnace in extremely cold conditions, ensuring warmth and comfort 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 combined incentives that can save you money in multiple ways:
In addition to Ameren’s rebates, there are currently tax credits available from the federal government for high-efficiency heating and cooling systems put in by December 31, 2025. You qualify for this if you pick 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 headache-free, energy-efficient comfort for years to come. That’s why partnering with the right contractor is critical for your new system.
At SmartHouse, we take care of the whole process – from picking out the right system to fit your needs to expert installation and more! We’re here to make your experience smooth and stress-free, focusing on sincere, clear communication, friendly, expert service, and results you can be sure of!
At SmartHouse, we’re here to keep your home warm, keep you comfortable, and lower your energy bills. 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 St. Ann, MO:
