Buying a furnace is no small investment, and like any major decision, demands a certain amount of thought before making a final choice.

Here are 10 considerations you should have completely thought out before making the decision about the furnace you purchase, and some questions you should ask yourself about each one, courtesy of the team at R&D Heating and Cooling:

1. System Type

Do you need a split system furnace or a packaged HVAC unit? Split HVAC components are the more common choice, in which there is an indoor and outdoor unit in use. Packaged HVAC systems are better for residences without much extra room in crawlspaces, basements, or closets for bulky heating and cooling systems.

2. Indoor Air Quality

When it's time to replace your old furnace, there are other things to consider as well. For example, have you ever had your indoor air quality checked? When was the last time you had your ductwork cleaned? No matter the age of your furnace, air being pushed through unclean ducts and filters can present the added risk of respiratory illness on the occupants of your home or office.

3. Zoning Systems

Do you have a particularly large home or office? Does the climate tend to vary greatly in different parts of your space? When your heating and cooling needs are more complicated, you need a furnace with a zoning system. This splits different parts in your home up among different thermostats, meaning that you can stay comfortable in one part without sacrificing comfort in another.

4. Fuel Source

How old is your home? If you live in an old home, you may not have gas lines, meaning that your choices are an electric furnace or an old-fashioned propane-powered furnace. If not, gas and electric are the two most affordable, cleanest fuels to provide heat throughout your home or business in the winter. Electric heat is the cleanest but may cost more than gas heat, the most common source of energy for residential furnaces.

5. Blower Speed

Do you find yourself needing certain rooms heated nearly constantly? This can be solved by an upgrade in the blower speed of your furnace. Fixed speed blowers only distribute air at one speed, while variable speed blowers can offer an enhanced efficiency in creating comfortable living and working spaces.

6. Installation

Do you have a team that you trust to handle installation? A furnace and/or any other HVAC equipment is only as reliable as the team you use to install it. At R&D Heating and Cooling, you get access to experienced furnace installation experts.

7. Pricing

What's your budget for a new furnace? Do you know how much a high-quality furnace will cost you? Buying a cheaper option may seem economical in the short run, but over time the costs of additional maintenance and the likely need to replace it faster than higher-quality models may cost you more.

8. Size

How much space do you have for a new furnace? If the answer is "not a lot" you may want to consider a packaged HVAC unit. If you're replacing a furnace as part of a split system, you may want to stay with the more common choice, although switching to a packaged system may save some space.

9. Warranty

Make sure that when you purchase a new furnace, you get the equipment and installation with a great warranty. At R&D Heating and Cooling, we offer warranties on all our installation, as well as manufacturer's warranties on the equipment we install.

10. Rebate and Incentives

Look for specials like incentives and rebates from the company you choose for installation of your new furnace. Check out the specials that we offer right now at R&D Heating and Cooling!