Replacing Your Home's Furnace

Simple cost-effective options for helping your furnace operate at peak efficiency include caulking, sealing or adding insulation to your home to reduce air loss. Older furnaces in Alberta operate at seasonal efficiencies of 70 per cent AFUE on average. Newer high-efficient models can operate at efficiencies of up to 97 per cent, offering a reduction of up to 30 per cent in annual space-heating consumption. This equals big dollar savings on your heating bill!

We recommend choosing a contractor that will perform a heat-loss analysis on your home to ensure that your heating system will be sized properly.  A heat-loss takes into account the following: age of the home; area of heated space; overall area, size and energy efficiency of windows, and depth of insulation in attic, walls and basement.

It is also wise to obtain a minimum of three free estimates from qualified contractors. During the estimate stage, ask the contractor:

• What models and manufacturers of furnaces do they offer?
  
  
• How familiar are they with local heating codes relating to high-efficient model furnaces?
  
  
• Will they provide a written estimate?
  
  
• Do they offer a guarantee on the price and dates for the start and completion of work?
  
  
• Does the price include all product and installation costs?
  
  
• What type of payment plans do they offer?
  
  
• What warranties are offered on parts, labour and products?
  
  
• Who honours the warranty?
  
  
• Can they service and maintain the furnace after the warranties expire?
  
  
• Do they carry public liability and property damage insurance?

To help you find a qualified and licensed heating contractor ask family, friends or neighbors for referrals. Other good sources are local builders, building supply stores, the yellow pages and the Internet. Also, consider contacting your local Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints recorded against the contractor. It is good practice to complete background checks and ask for references before signing a contract and beginning the work.

Finally, be wary of estimates that are well below the others. A contractor may be cutting corners in ways that compromise the safety of the system and its overall effectiveness.

For more information on hiring a contractor, contact Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) at 1-800-668-2642 or visit their website at http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/.