Furnace Replacement in Webster Groves, MO. As the winter weather starts, 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 comfortable in cold weather as it used 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. You’ll want to consider several details, and we’ll overview the most important aspects here, such as:
Whether your Webster Groves, 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 suggest what we believe will work best for your home. 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 you think you need to replace it for any reason, you need to call a local Webster Groves, MO HVAC contractor to inspect the furnace and provide guidance on whether to repair or replace.
The clearest indicator is performance. If your furnace is not warming your home sufficiently, even when it is working, a replacement is probably needed.
Another thing to watch out for is the age – most furnaces, if taken care of properly, last 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 doing other HVAC upgrades, like an air conditioning replacement, replacing your failing furnace at the same time provides you with a newer, more efficient system that is covered by a total warranty.
To recap, you should consider replacing your furnace if:
Often, 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 take some unexpected turns. The parts may be unavailable from the manufacturer, making them more expensive. Plus, after the initial part is replaced, the technician may locate additional issues, requiring further unexpected repairs.
If your older furnace is never running quite right — especially during the coldest days of the year — it’s likely time to consider replacement.
Upgrading to a new furnace boosts performance and efficiency, helping you keep your bills down and shrink your carbon footprint, while increasing your comfort.
Upgrading also opens the door to smart thermostats, zoning systems, and variable speed motors for improved 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 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 Webster Groves, 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 burn fuel to make 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 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 involve combustion and has virtually no heat loss.
Most older heating systems have a fuel source of either gas or electricity. 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 current wiring. Because they don’t involve combustion, electric furnaces typically operate at or near 100% efficiency.
The number of motor speeds (AKA stages) your furnace has affects its ability to keep you comfortable:
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 creating new heat through combustion.
Heat pumps operate in both steaming hot summers and freezing cold winters, a dichotomy that all Webster Groves, 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 transports the heat from inside your home to out.
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, terrific dehumidification during Webster Groves, MO’s steamy summers, and quiet operation.
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 cold it gets outside.
Right now, we’re seeing the best deal we’ve ever seen for high-efficiency HVAC systems, due to combined incentives that can give you a once-in-a-lifetime savings deal:
On top of Ameren’s rebates, the federal government is offering tax credits for high-efficiency heating and cooling systems set up by December 31, 2025. Qualifying systems include 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 worry-free, energy-efficient comfort for years to come. That’s why hiring the right company is critically important.
At SmartHouse, we take care of it all – from picking out the right system to fit your needs to professional setup and more! We want your experience to be easy and worry-free, focusing on open, clear communication, friendly, expert service, and results you can count on!
At SmartHouse, we’re here to protect your warmth, level up your comfort, 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 bring that attitude to your home.
We also offer these services in Webster Groves, MO:
