Gas Furnaces
How to Choose the Right Furnace
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 Virginia 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 K&J Mechanical LLC has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in the West Point 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 the fuel delivered 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 a gas furnace 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. Just 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
*** Data from 2002 EPA study
** Data for Canadian cities from nrcan.gc.ca
*** Data from weatherdatadepot.com
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 K&J Mechanical LLC, we specialize in installing equipment 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 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 furnace. Don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a costly problem. 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 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 K&J Mechanical LLC Annual Maintenance Agreement tailored to fit your budget and needs. Enjoy peace of mind knowing a trusted professional is watching over your HVAC equipment.
Call Us Today
Our entire team at K&J Mechanical LLC 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 West Point, VA, office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at (757) 280-4335 or request service online today.
He was pleasant, efficient, and everything seems to be working well. I have used this service for many years and found them to be reliable, reasonably priced, and willing to tackle any issues as they arose. I recommend them.”
“The technicians were good and thorough with our maintenance appointment. They did not follow through with a quote on a flame sensor and looking back, I wish they would have offered to replace the humidifier filter”
“I call J&K whenever my air goes out, This time it was the heater on a 26 degree day!
They came right out and fixed it!
I will always call them, they always are knowledgeable and professional”
“Jared provided emergency repair services. Could not be happier with his help to repair our gas furnace during a cold snap. Wish I could use Jared all of my housing needs. Great worker.”
“Colin did a great job, checking every aspect of our furnaces from gas pressures to blower wheel cleanliness to safety control function. We always get great service from K&J and they also installed our equipment.”
“Your service representative did a good and thorough job checking and maintaining our heating systems. Unfortunately, a part has to be replaced, but we are thankful for his finding the problem before it failed completely.
Outstanding job!”
“Tyrone Green was 💯 perfect with everything . He helped me so much with all I need done. He is just so knowledgeable and efficient.”
“Always on time very nice and knowledgeable technician..I really appreciate the work that they do. Mr. Thomas, you and your crew are awesome..thank you .”
“Came on time. Checked the heating/cooling units, thermostats, wires and connections, and changed filters. Also determined number and type of light bulbs to replace with LED bulbs as part of an offer with Dominion Energy. Daniel Smith and his helper were polite and worked efficiently. It was a pleasant experience and I will continue to use K&J Mechanical in the future.”
“Decided on this company (due to reviews) and have chosen the VIP GOLD plan for my home. I am very impressed with the 2 gentlemen here for my Fall (and first with this house) annual checkup. Here for several hours checking everything related to my heating system, cleaned furnace completely, cleaned all internal parts, filters, in the house and attic. Completely professional and thorough!!
Absolutely the right choice for a trusted necessary home care service, Thank You!!”
Need Furnace Service?
Contact the experts at K&J Mechanical LLC.
Call us at (757) 280-4335!