Are you thinking about upgrading your furnace but not quite sure where to begin?
We understand. Furnaces are more efficient than ever, with a plethora of features designed to keep you comfortable. They come in different sizes and shapes, some more powerful than others. They also have different price points based on their efficiency ratings.
The thermostat is the brains of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. But it’s the furnace that provides all the muscle, teaming up with your ductwork to send warm air throughout your Illinois home.
And always remember, a happy home is a warm one! It would only take a few cold days in a row with no indoor heat for all the pipes in your home to freeze.
What matters most is to pick the right furnace that fits your budget and the size of your home. Our team at Garber Heating & Air Conditioning has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Morton, IL, for creating healthy homes. Give us a call today—we can schedule a free consultation to help with your next home improvement project.
Choosing the Right Furnace by Fuel Type
Your first decision is easy: choosing the fuel type.
The most common source is natural gas. Your local utility company supplies fuel to your home through an underground gas line. The price of natural gas is relatively stable, so you don’t have to worry about cost fluctuations. Plus, you never need to worry about storage.
- If you have access to a natural gas line, we strongly recommend a gas furnace. These furnaces have proven their value over the years for providing steady comfort on the coldest of days.
- Oil furnaces are a popular alternative in the United States, particularly in parts of the Northeast that do not have easy access to natural gas. These types of furnaces last longer than gas furnaces but do not operate as efficiently. Oil prices fluctuate more than natural gas prices, making it harder to gauge your monthly expenses. Plus, you will need a storage tank for the oil.
- Electric furnaces tend to last longer than gas furnaces and cost less to install. On the other hand, they are more expensive to operate and take longer to heat your home. Anyone living in a cold climate would enjoy more comfort with a gas or oil furnace.
Choosing the Right Furnace Speed
Furnaces run at different speeds. The operating speed you choose will impact your comfort, budget, and indoor air quality (IAQ).
Single-stage furnaces have just two settings, on or off. Your furnace switches on and continues to run to reach the desired temperature. Once it reaches the temperature, the furnace turns off. Single-stage furnaces are the most affordable models and easiest to install. But they are the least efficient and tend to create hot and cold spots in larger homes.
Two-stage furnaces run at full speed and half speed. This allows your furnace to heat your home more evenly, producing a more consistent temperature from room to room. In addition to producing better heating, the half-speed setting is much quieter.
Variable-speed furnaces are the gold standard of the heating world. These models adjust their speeds to provide precise comfort. They run longer at slower speeds, improving efficiencies while lowering your energy bills. Because they do not frequently cycle on and off, these systems tend to have fewer breakdowns.
Variable-speed furnaces are much more adept in maintaining your indoor air quality, catching harmful particles, and eliminating excess moisture that causes mold growth. Larger homes benefit tremendously from variable-speed furnaces.
Choosing an Efficient Furnace
The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating on your furnace indicates how much energy it converts. An energy-efficient furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 can convert 95 percent of the energy it consumes into heat.
The higher the AFUE rating, the more money you save on monthly utility bills. Energy-efficient furnaces emit fewer greenhouse gases and make less noise when they operate. If you want to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, the perfect place to start is with your heating and cooling equipment!
How Much Money Can a New Furnace Save You?
Our AFUE energy savings calculator can help determine how much you could save on your utility bills. Enter your current unit’s AFUE value and compare it to a newer, more efficient system.
AFUE Energy Savings Calculator
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Customize to Your Home
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** Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration
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Furnace Installation or Replacement
Don’t invest in a quality HVAC system and then hire a substandard contractor to install it. You will never enjoy the full benefits of a system installed incorrectly.
At Garber Heating & Air Conditioning, we specialize in air conditioning installation the right way. We take our time to ensure everything is measured correctly. Our team will also conduct a thorough energy audit of your home to find additional ways to lower your energy use.
Be sure to ask about our convenient financing options (subject to approved credit) designed to make it easy for you to create your dream home.
Furnace Repairs
Odd-sounding noises, a spike in energy bills, or constant cycling—these signs indicate a problem with your heating system. Don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a costly furnace repair. Give us a call today if you detect a problem with your HVAC system. We promise never to replace a part unless necessary—or if we can demonstrate significant cost savings.
Furnace Maintenance
Want to get the most value from your HVAC system? Develop a preventative furnace maintenance plan. Doing so can rejuvenate your equipment, increase your comfort, and lower your operating costs.
Give us a call today and ask about our customized Diamond Club tailored to fit your budget and needs. Enjoy peace of mind knowing a trusted professional is watching over your residential HVAC equipment.
Call Us Today
Our entire team at Garber Heating & Air Conditioning values the trust you placed in our company—we promise to work extra hard to keep your business. Let us install your next furnace. Give our Morton, IL, office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at 309-866-3025 or request service online today.
Need Furnace Service?
Contact the experts at Garber Heating & Air Conditioning.
Call us at 309-866-3025!
- JEFF B.
Good afternoon,
Connor Salem came to my mom’s house last night on an emergency call. He was wonderful. Very friendly, explained everything as he went along. He seems to be an excellent employee, and I just wanted to pass that along.
Thank you
Deanna S.
“Aidan did a great job! On time and very professional”
- Linda S.
“Had a Modine HD gas heater installed in my garage. Very good experience from the salesperson Terry who performed an estimate for the job and provided suggestions on heater placement as well as gas line, electric, exhaust flue and thermostat locations that would best fit my garage setup. Scheduling of the install was quick and timely. Install team of Mike and Aaron arrived around noon and went right to work on it completing the job in a timely 4 hours. They were courteous and skillful in placing exhaust piping through ceiling and out the roof along with running a gas line to the heater as well as installing the thermostat and tying into existing electrical connections in the garage. The install was done in a professional and efficient manner. Very satisfied with the installation and care taken to get it right the first time. Definitely would recommend their services to anyone needing a similar installation. They did an excellent job.”
- Jerry L.
“Isaac Rassi deserves a raise!!! I called Garber and within 15 minutes he arrives and immediately starts to try to diagnose the issue with our furnace. He found the issue within 15 minutes and explained to us exactly what the issue was and what the price was going to be. After he quickly fixed the issue he then explained everything in detail of what he did and gave us recommendations on future use. He was very polite and knowledgeable. If I was captain of a ship I”d want him on it. Thanks again…”
- Jeff Y.
“Isaac was very professional, courteous and thorough. He explained what all he was checking and answered the questions that I had. Great job!”
- Denny D.
“Timely service and response time. Technician was great!”
- Don S.
“I am very satisfied with the work that was done. The crew was courteous explained what was being done and cleaned everything up when they were done. I have another job that I want done and will definitely be calling Garber Heating and Air.”
- Renee W.
“Staff was very friendly and professional. They even arrived early for the appointment. It was great.”
- Heather T.
“Furnace was not working. Connor did a great job diagnosing the problem and making the repair. He was very courteous as well. Five stars!”
- Phil H.