Are frigid temperatures from an ailing furnace slowing your business down? It may be time for commercial furnace replacement.
How will I know when it's time to replace my commercial furnace?
- Age
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR program recommends replacing furnaces 15 years and older, due to efficiency improvements. - Frequent or extensive repairs
If you are constantly contacting the repairman or repair costs are adding up to more than half the value of replacement, you may not want to procrastinate further on commercial furnace replacement. Unsure? The knowledgeable technicians at Aire Serv® can help you calculate your return on investment so that you can make the right decision for your business needs. - Noise
Furnaces struggling to maintain temperature often make excessive noise. - Comfort issues
Uneven temperatures throughout your business and drafty conditions could indicate a need for commercial furnace replacement. - Energy expenditures
Comparing the costs of operating your old furnace to those of a newer furnace may point you towards commercial furnace replacement. - Unsafe operating conditions
Safety issues, such as significant cracks or holes in your furnace's heat exchanger, may indicate a need for immediate replacement.
There are many benefits to a newer, more efficient furnace:
- Lower energy bills
AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings, which are used to measure furnace efficiency, have improved dramatically over the last 30 years. Older furnaces, such as those from the 1970s, operate at approximately 65 percent efficiency, while some of today's furnace models achieve ratings of 97 percent - near total efficiency. The result? Huge monthly energy savings over the lifetime of your new furnace. - Improved comfort
A newer furnace will better be able to control the temperature of your business. - Environmental
Less energy consumption means lower utility bills for your business and a smaller carbon footprint.
Other factors that may influence your decision on commercial furnace replacement:
- Warranty
Newer furnaces come with a warranty, which helps you save should the need for service arise. - Geographic location
Those with businesses in a warmer climate may be less inclined to invest in a new furnace than those in colder climates where furnaces are frequently needed. - Your existing system
If you opt to upgrade to a different type of heating system for your business than the one you currently have, there may be additional costs involved in setup and installation. - Rebates and tax incentives
Tax rebates and incentives are available for commercial furnace replacement that could save you up to 30 percent of the cost of newer, high efficiency systems Your local utility company may offer additional rebates and incentives as well.
The ENERGY STAR Advantage
ENERGY STAR labelled furnaces meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA, allowing you to enhance comfort levels in your business while also saving energy and reducing pollution. There are different efficiency requirement for each region:
- U.S. North
ENERGY STAR certified gas furnaces in the northern U.S. are up to 16 percent more efficient than competing baseline models. - U.S. South
Southern businesses have less heating needs than those in the north. Furnaces for states of the southern U.S. bear a special ENERGY STAR logo and are 12 percent more efficient than standard furnace models.
There are different types of commercial furnace replacement options:
- Gas furnaces
- Electric furnaces
- Oil furnaces
- Boilers
- Air-source heat pumps
- Geothermal heat pumps
Should you elect to replace your business's furnace, ensure your system a great start by establishing a regular preventive maintenance schedule, including both in-house preventive maintenance tasks and annual professional maintenance.
If commercial furnace replacement is on the horizon for your business, contact the experts at Aire Serv. Our knowledgeable technicians can help you find the perfect heating solution for your business needs.