Dayton area homeowners who have made the smart decision to upgrade to a more energy-efficient furnace may wonder how to select the most knowledgeable contractor. Asking the following furnace installation questions should help you decide.
Reputation and Record
- Are your technicians North American Technical Excellence (NATE) certified?
- How long has the company been in business?
- Is it properly licensed and adequately insured?
- Can they provide references?
- Do they have a Better Business Bureau (BBB) “A” rating?
- Will they provide a written bid itemizing the products, their individual costs and the estimated work schedule?
- Would it cost less to purchase off-season?
- After the first season, do they charge to check the system and make adjustments, if necessary?
Furnace Installation Questions
- How do they calculate a new furnace’s size? Do they use industry standard sizing protocols?
- How long has the recommended replacement been manufactured?
- How long have they been installing it?
- What are the warranties?
- Will it draw all the combustion air from outside (does it have sealed combustion)?
- Which areas of the home will they inspect?
- Is the existing ductwork adequate?
- If not, what’s involved in upgrading it?
- Will the existing chimney be involved?
- If so, does it need a liner?
- Where will the furnace be vented? What will that look like, if in a sidewall? If you’d rather have it in a different location, is that possible?
- If the replacement is a condensing unit, where shall the condensate drain hose be located?
- Will they elevate the new unit to protect it from potential water damage?
- Is a new thermostat included? Is it programmable?
Customer service
- Will the work be performed as described, or will any trade-offs or alterations necessary?
- If the replacement is a condensing unit, will it be checked for proper condensate drainage?
- Will the piping be properly supported and sloped?
- How should the filter be changed, and how often?
- What type of air filters are recommended for the furnace installation?
Carefully considering these furnace installation questions will help prevent inferior workmanship, which could damage your home or even endanger you. For more information, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. We have been proudly serving the Miami Valley for three generations.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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