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 Wisconsin, 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 Gross Heating & Air Conditioning has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Brookfield, WI, 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
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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 Gross Heating & Air Conditioning, 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 Gross Heating & Air Conditioning 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 Gross Heating & Air Conditioning 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 office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at 262-783-6000 or request service online today.
Need Furnace Service?
Contact the experts at Gross Heating & Air Conditioning.
Call us at 262-783-6000!
“Daniel, Owen, and Brad from Gross Heating installed a new gas efficient furnace and a new air conditioner by Carrier, also a new thermostat. The guys did a fantastic job, they worked together as a team. When items were installed, Daniel explained the use of the thermostat and walked me through the items on the furnace and how they operated. Very informative. I am soooo thrilled to have these items, especially the air conditioning. When the guys were testing out the heat, then the air conditioning test came next….I had to go outside to warm up. It really did get cold.
I am glad that you have these young men on your staff. They really did do an awesome job and they did it very- very well. I wish them all the best.”
“Jesse and James were fantastic installing my new furnace. They took the time to show me how everything functioned and made checks around my home to make sure everything worked efficiently. Thank you!”
“The entire team worked well together to get our new heating and air conditioning installed. They were efficient, neat & friendly. They thoroughly explained the new system to us so we know how it works. Overall, excellent work & we’re very happy. Will be glad to recommend Gross Heating to our friends & neighbors.”
“Gross Heating and AC has been servicing our furnace and AC for many years and without exception, are always the most professional, knowledgeable, courteous, friendly, efficient, cost effective service company we have ever dealt with. They do customer and technician service correct, right down to a T.
Thank you for being able to trust in your company. (unlike many others)! And thank you for keeping our equipment running reliably and great.”
“Could not recommend this company more! We called for a furnace repair and had a technician at our door within hours. The technicians were prompt, professional, and very educational. We ended up needing to replace our furnace, and they kindly guided us through the process every step of the way, at a very reasonable price! Everyone we spoke with was so kind, and took care of us as though we were family. They had a new furnace installed within days from our first service call and made sure we were as warm as could be until the job was finished. You will be in good hands with these folks!!!”