Furnace Replacement in St. Charles County, 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 want to help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint; or maybe your home just isn’t as comfortable in cold weather as it used to be.
No matter the reason, replacing your furnace is a big decision, and being well-informed will help you make the right choice. There’s fair amount to be mindful of, and we’ll overview the most important factors here, such as:
Whether your St. Charles County, MO home needs a furnace replacement or repair to keep you warm, SmartHouse Heating and Cooling is by your side. 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 not many of them will come as a surprise. The truth is, if there is any reason you’re thinking about replacing, you need to call a local St. Charles County, MO HVAC contractor to examine the furnace and provide guidance on whether to repair or replace.
The first thing to consider is performance. If your furnace is not warming your home sufficiently, even when it is functioning properly, a replacement may be necessary.
Another common criterion is the age – will have a lifespan of 15-20 years, and while some can outlast that, they often require frequent repairs. Plus, older systems are often past their warranty, leaving you to shoulder the cost when something fails.
If you’re already replacing another part of your HVAC system, like extensive ductwork, replacing your old furnace at the same time provides you with a newer, more efficient system that is covered by a comprehensive warranty.
To recap, you should consider replacing your furnace if:
Frequently, you can fix an older furnace, but repairs often become expensive fast, especially with older systems outside of warranty coverage.
Repairs to existing furnaces can take some unexpected turns. The parts may be out of production, making them pricey. Plus, after the initial part is replaced, the technician may find more issues, resulting in further unexpected repairs.
If your older furnace keeps breaking down — especially during the freezing temperatures of winter — it’s likely time to consider replacement.
Upgrading to a new furnace boosts performance and efficiency, helping you lower energy bills and decrease your environmental impact, while improving 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 unprecedented flexibility in your home’s heating and cooling.
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 St. Charles County, 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 characteristics to be aware of: 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 involve combustion and has virtually no heat loss.
Most traditional heating systems 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.
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 typically 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 combine heating and cooling into a single system, rather than having separate systems for each. They work by moving existing heat into or out of your home, rather than creating new heat by burning fuel.
Heat pumps operate in both boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters, a dichotomy that all St. Charles County, MO residents are familiar with. During winter, heat pumps bring heat from outside your home to within, even in freezing temperatures. In the summer, the process is reversed as the heat pump brings the heat from inside your home to the outdoors.
Heat pumps feature several benefits over conventional systems, including:
The Daikin FIT heat pump features variable-speed inverter technology for efficient operations, precise temperature control, superior dehumidification during St. Charles County, 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 takes care of all of your home’s cooling along with most of its heating, with the system automatically switching to the gas furnace in icy conditions, ensuring a warm house 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 save you money in multiple ways:
In addition to 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. These credits apply to 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 headache-free, energy-efficient comfort for years to come. That’s why hiring the right company is critical for your new system.
At SmartHouse, we take care of it all – from picking out the right system to fit your situation to professional setup and beyond! We’re here to make your experience smooth and stress-free, focusing on honest, clear communication, friendly, expert service, and results you can count on!
At SmartHouse, we’re here to help you stay warm, improve your comfort, and lower your energy bills. When we start a job, our technicians ask, “What is the right thing to do?” before making any decisions. Let us bring that attitude to your home.
We also offer these services in St. Charles County, MO:
