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The Top 9 Benefits of Upgrading Your Furnace in Palm Desert, CA

If your home has an older furnace that’s inefficient and unreliable, this is an excellent time to upgrade. Let’s discover nine essential benefits of upgrading to a new furnace.

1. Lower Operating Costs

Investing in a new furnace installation will save you money month to month. There are two main reasons for this. Older furnaces are notorious for burning excessive amounts of fuel. This happens due to component wear and the accumulation of grime. The other reason is that modern furnaces are simply more efficient. Manufacturers have made a range of innovations over the last decade and more. Environmental impact has been a primary driver for these advancements.

2. Reduced Carbon Footprint

Furnaces significantly contribute to the average home’s carbon footprint. This is one reason the federal government is incentivizing Americans to upgrade to electric heat pumps and high-efficiency fuel-burning furnaces. Even an upgrade to a standard modern furnace can make a dramatic difference. The difference can be as much as 50% if you currently have an old furnace. That’s a significant improvement to your home’s eco-friendliness, and it also translates to lower monthly energy bills during the heating season.

3. Better Indoor Air Quality

Modern furnaces don’t have as much of an impact on indoor air quality. One reason is that modern systems burn fuel more cleanly, so there are fewer particles in the air. Another reason is that modern systems support a higher minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). The industry uses MERV to gauge the effectiveness of HVAC filters. Many modern furnaces support MERV 13. Those filters trap most household allergens and a substantial number of finer particles, too.

4. Energy Incentives

A wide range of energy incentives available for modern furnaces can help lower your initial investment significantly. Most incentives require the ENERGY STAR label, which the U.S. EPA awards to highly efficient appliances. A federal tax credit worth 30% of your furnace installation costs up to $1,200. There may also be rebates through your local utility companies and other groups. You can search for available offers by zip code through the ENERGY STAR website.

5. Lower Total Cost of Ownership

A newer furnace will lower your costs over the next 15 years. We’ve already discussed some reasons, such as lower operating costs and energy incentives. New furnaces are less prone to repairs, and a new warranty protects you. Modern furnaces tend to have longer lifespans as well. With proper maintenance, your furnace can last even 20 years or more. Lastly, energy-efficient models often qualify for rebates and tax credits that incentivize homeowners to upgrade to more eco-friendly equipment. These can offset some of the upfront cost.

6. More Advanced Smart Thermostat Support

Modern furnaces often have onboard features for better thermostat support. One example is furnaces that can provide performance data to their thermostats. The thermostat can then detect when the system is operating outside normal parameters. It can then alert you to schedule a diagnostic. These systems also sometimes incorporate zoning, which increases efficiency by only heating up the rooms you need at the times of day that it’s actually necessary.

7. Safer Operation

Modern furnaces are incredibly safe due to a range of safety features. That includes sealed combustion chambers that make carbon monoxide exposure highly unlikely. The ventilation systems are more effective and less prone to backdraft scenarios. In addition, many fuel-burning furnaces now have electronic ignition systems to eliminate the need for a standing pilot light.

8. Quieter Operation

The roar of an older furnace starting up can be pretty noticeable. This typically isn’t the case any longer. Even economy models are relatively quiet when cycling on and running. For even quieter operations, there are systems with multi-stage and variable-speed blowers.

9. High-Efficiency Options

The industry measures the efficiency of fuel-burning furnaces with the annual fuel utilization efficiency rating. The Department of Energy minimum for gas furnaces is AFUE 80. That indicates that a furnace converts 80% of the fuel it burns into heat that makes it into the home. High-efficiency or condensing furnaces have AFUE ratings in the upper 90s. The other option is hybrid heating. This is where you pair an air-source heat pump with a mid-efficiency furnace. This approach costs more upfront but saves money over the long term.

Professional Furnace Installations in Palm Desert

Breeze Air Conditioning has served Palm Desert, CA, and the surrounding areas for over 40 years. Our NATE-certified technicians specialize comprehensive heating services for all furnace systems, including fuel-burning, electric, mid-efficiency, high-efficiency, and hybrid heating. We also install and service heat pumps, air conditioners, and ductless mini-splits. Our team installs wine cellar coolers. We install and service smart thermostats, air purifiers, and humidifiers. Our company also offers a maintenance program through which you can save time and money. You can call or contact us online with questions or schedule an appointment.