Choosing the Right Furnace for Your Salem, Oregon Home: A Detailed Guide
When your furnace starts showing signs of inefficiency or failure, it’s time to consider a replacement and begin looking at furnace sales in your area. In Salem, Oregon, where winters can be both cold and damp, selecting the right furnace is crucial for maintaining comfort and optimizing energy use.
This guide from Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., explores the five main types of furnaces—natural gas, electric, propane, oil, and wood—highlighting their benefits and best use cases to help you make an informed decision for your home.
1. Propane Furnaces
Propane furnaces serve as an alternative to natural gas furnaces, especially in areas where natural gas is not available. They convert liquid propane into gas to heat the air, which is then circulated through the home. Propane furnaces generally have lower operating costs than electric systems, heat up quickly, and can be a good option in rural or remote areas where natural gas is inaccessible.
2. Oil Furnaces
Oil furnaces are known for their strong heat output and long lifespan. They are particularly useful in colder climates where a high heat output is necessary. These furnaces provide robust heating, have a long operational life, and are suitable for homes in remote areas without access to natural gas.
3. Natural Gas Furnaces
Natural gas furnaces are a prevalent choice due to their efficiency and reliability. These systems are suitable for larger homes and those needing consistent heat. They operate by using a gas flame to heat an air exchanger, which then warms the air distributed through the ducts. Natural gas furnaces offer lower long-term operating costs, quick heating capabilities, and reduced environmental impact compared to oil. They are ideal for large homes where heating needs are substantial.
4. Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces are popular for their affordability and efficiency. They use electricity to heat air and are particularly suitable for homes with lower heating demands or smaller spaces. These furnaces have lower installation costs, offer precise temperature control, and provide high energy efficiency. They are also less affected by fuel availability issues.
Climate: In Salem’s cold winters, prioritize a furnace that provides reliable and effective heating.
Size: Ensure the furnace is appropriately sized for your home’s square footage and insulation.
Efficiency: Consider models with two-stage or multi-stage heating for better efficiency.
Warranties: Look into installation and extended warranties to supplement the manufacturer’s coverage.
Features: Additional features like smart thermostats and advanced temperature controls can add to the cost but improve comfort and efficiency.
Fuel Source: Depending on availability and cost, choose between gas, electric, propane, or oil.
Contact us today for furnace sales, installation, & more!
For homeowners with older furnaces, a timely replacement is crucial to avoid inefficiencies and safety hazards. Consult with our team of experts today by contacting us online or calling (503) 378-7482.
A furnace is a major investment, probably one of the most expensive appliances in your home. It’s natural that you’d want to get the most from that investment, and keep the furnace running as long as possible. That means calling a furnace repair service whenever it breaks down.
But what happens as the years go on, and breakdowns become more frequent? When is it time to start seriously think about buying a new furnace? These are some of the key considerations.
Repairing vs Replacing: Is it Time for a New Furnace?
1 – Repair Frequency
Perhaps the best metric for deciding if it’s time to replace your furnace is how often you’re calling for repair jobs. Furnaces are designed to run for long periods of time, with only occasional maintenance like changing the filters. You should go years between furnace repair service calls. If you’re having to call for help multiple times a year, the furnace is probably too broken-down to keep going for long.
2 – Age
How old is your furnace?
A properly-installed, well-maintained furnace can be expected to last at least a decade, and probably more like 15-20 years. Electric furnaces tend to last longer than gas-burners, but either way, consider 15 years the baseline for a good furnace lifespan.
If your furnace is older than that, then your repairs are going to be doing less and less good, adding maybe a year or two to its overall life.
3 – Comparing Costs
If you’re on the fence about whether to repair or replace, start comparing costs. Call a few shops and get an idea of what it would cost to replace your furnace. Then look at your repair calls as a percentage of the replacement cost. If its a cheap repair, that’s not a big issue. But once repairs start costing 25-50% as much as a replacement, that means you’re spending a lot of money keeping the old furnace running. At that point, a new furnace would probably be a better investment.
4 – Energy Efficiency
Another factor to consider is the operating costs of your furnace. Modern furnaces – especially those based on heat pump technology – run much cleaner and more efficiently than furnaces from 10-20 years ago.
So compare the energy efficiency of your current furnace against new models on the market. If there’s a substantial difference, you could end up saving money in the long run with an upgrade.
Think Before Repairing an Older Furnace
At Melton’s Heating and Air Conditioning, we’re always happy to provide furnace repair services whenever you need – but we don’t want you wasting money on a furnace which is past its prime. We carry a wide range of modern furnaces with excellent energy efficiency, compared to older models, which can provide better heating at lower operating costs.
If you aren’t sure if it’s time to upgrade, we’re here to help. Just contact us for a service call, and our repair crew would be happy to discuss your options while they’re there.
The furnace in your Salem or Keizer, OR, home will last for many years – but nothing lasts forever, and home furnaces take a lot of punishment. The combination of high heat, pressure, and numerous mechanical systems means that it will start failing over time, and eventually, the costs of furnace repair services will become too high.
So, is it time to look at replacing your furnace? Or can you keep ordering repairs for another year or two? Here are some factors to consider.
Three Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Furnace
1. The furnace is too old
Generally speaking, a furnace will run best for the first decade of service and then go downhill. It won’t fail immediately, of course, but most furnaces will only last around 15-20 years, even if they’re well-maintained.
So if your furnace is 15+ years old, you can assume it doesn’t have many more years left. That’s the point that replacement starts making more sense than repairs.
2. Repair costs are rising
How often are you calling for furnace repair services in the Salem-Keizer area? Even if your furnace is pretty old, there’s probably no reason to replace it if it’s not giving you trouble. On the other hand, if you find yourself calling for repairs every year – or more often – those repair costs are going into a money pit. It’s probably not worth continual repairs if you can afford a replacement.
3. You want better energy efficiency
Beyond maintenance factors with the furnace, there’s another issue here: energy efficiency. 2020s furnaces are far more energy-efficient than models from twenty years ago. Installing a new furnace is virtually guaranteed to reduce your energy bills at least somewhat, and the amount you save will largely depend on what kind of replacement you choose.
You might even want to consider a home heat pump, which replaces both your A/C and furnace with a single all-in-one unit. A heat pump has a smaller footprint, freeing up floor space and offeringthe best energy efficiency in the HVAC market.
Since 1966, Melton’s has been a leader in furnace repair services and sales in Salem, Keizer, OR, and across the Willamette Valley. If your current furnace is old and giving you problems, or you just want to upgrade to the latest and greatest in-home HVAC appliances, contact us to discuss your options!
