Best Furnace Repair Newmarket, Award-Winning Furnace Installation & Heating Services!

There are four main reasons why you may have to replace your current furnace with a brand new one.

1. The first reason is when your furnace has broken down, and you have had it for more than 10 years. If repairs are not justifiable, then replacing it will be the best move forward.

2. Your home furnace has been ‘red-tagged’ by licensed gas fitter technicians.

If you have a ‘Type A’ Red Tag, it means the heating system is unsafe and disapproved of for use. In this case, gas will be shut off at the meter by the gas technician. If you are in this situation, you should get a second opinion because there have been reports of scare tactics meant to make you believe your HVAC is unsafe, whereas, in reality, the HVAC has several good years left.

At times you will get a legitimate Red Tag for a legitimate Ontario gas code non-compliant problem. However, before proceeding with repairs, you may find that replacing the system is better than repairing it.

At times the Red Tag may come during winter when you don’t have any option but to repair or replace your furnace. We recommend that you keep on top of your home heating system to avoid headaches that come with being told you can no longer continue using your furnace. You should take proactive measures to shop around and decide before the start of the cold months.

3. The furnace is too old.

The lifetime of a heating system is between 15 and 25 years. Therefore, we recommend replacing your furnace with a highly efficient one at least once every 20 years. Replacing an old furnace will help avoid expensive repairs and high running costs.

4. Your furnace repair and operating costs are skyrocketing.

You should start shopping for a suitable furnace from a reputable HVAC company when your gas bills and partially hydro bills start going up.

If you live in Newmarket and have noticed any of the four issues, now is the time to start shopping for a brand-new furnace. If your furnace is not functioning correctly, it is easy to take shortcuts, more so when it comes to your search practice. If you feel rushed, it is always a great idea to engage a professional like Air Makers to help pick the best furnace for your needs.

If you have been keen on the cost of natural gas, you may have noticed that its cost is at the lowest, and more natural gas furnaces are being used widely. You can take a look at the historical natural gas rates on this page. Natural gas rates have seen a consistent price decline from 35c in April of 2006 to 9c per cubic meter as of July 2012. To see the current natural gas prices click here.

Thanks to the low operational cost incentive, many residents in Newmarket are replacing non-natural gas fuel sources with natural gas ones. Gas distribution companies are also striving to supply all homes in Newmarket with natural gas and gas meters. At Air Makers, we get many clients who want to replace their furnaces with natural gas ones every day. If you live in Newmarket and don’t have a gas meter, now is the time to consider contacting the natural gas companies for one. There are so many incentives such as free installation and gift cards or cash incentives for homeowners to switch to natural gas.

There is no better time to take advantage of the low operating costs that come with installing a natural gas furnace. Switching to one will help you see a quick change in your utility bills.

It is good to keep in mind that the home’s central furnace uses electricity to operate the blower motor, which helps with heat distribution. Therefore, you have to consider the hydro costs that are incurred when operating the blower motor when buying a furnace. We will cover this in more detail when discussing the crucial features of a furnace.

So far, we have answered the question of why it is important to replace your old furnace with a high-efficiency gas furnace. The next thing you must do is ensure you are getting a furnace that is neither too big nor too small for your home.

When buying a new furnace, you have to think about the energy output you will require to keep your home comfortable even in the harshest winter. You can get more information on this furnace and A/C sizing guide. The page is a guide on how to choose the right size furnace for your home. In addition, it covers the factors you should consider when choosing a furnace.

Keep in mind that it is crucial to have the right size furnace as opposed to an over- or under-sized furnace. Most of the furnaces in Canadian homes are oversized. Make use of the charts on this sizing guide page to know the size of the furnace that will be ideal for the age and square footage of your building.

Knowing the amount of heat output you need is the key to finding the furnace that will sufficiently heat your home. The next thing you need to do is review various furnace models and match the ideal ones with your budget. Matching your budget when buying a furnace does not mean looking at the initial purchase and installation cost alone. You have to consider the value it will help you earn back during operation. The purchase of a new furnace has to be looked at as an investment.

If a furnace goes for $2,000 and another one costs $2,400, the $2,400 may save you up to $150 each year. This means it offers a payback period of $400/$150 = 2.7 years. Any payback that helps you return your investment within 5 years is a smart investment. If you bought the $2,400 furnace, you would recover the difference in just 2 years and 8 to 9 months. Each year of using the $2,400 furnace will save you $150 every year. However, if the $2,400 furnace only saves $50 compared to the $2,000 furnace, the payback will be 10 years. Depending on your initial budget, this may not be worth it.

With this information in mind, how do you know which furnace will be economical for you? Which furnace will be able to meet your comfort needs? At times you cannot put a price on comfort. There are, however, a few things you can look at to find the perfect furnace.

As you shop for a furnace brand and model, there are about four features and factors that determine if the option you are considering will be an economical investment.

Three key factors influence the operational cost of high-efficiency gas furnaces. You need to start by looking at the cost of a complete installed price plus HST.

• The AFUE rating of the furnace.
• Type of blower motor the furnace uses.
• Type of inducer motor.
• Eligible rebates on your selected furnace model.

After answering the above questions, you will be able to perform a cost analysis that helps determine the economic aspect of the choices as well as ensure the decision you make is based on an economic point of view.

While you cannot put a price on comfort, you need to know which functionalities and features you need to look for in a furnace. They include the following:

• Several heating stages: Is it a single-stage, two-stage, three-stage, or fully modulating?
• ECM inducer motor?
• ECM blower motor?

Prior to installing a new high-efficiency furnace, you also have to consider the following:

• Availability of parts and labour warranty of your selected furnace.
• Available rebates.

If you live in Newmarket, you can find our pricing on Goodman Furnaces here. Lennox and Carrier furnaces limit us from providing pricing online. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation, in-home estimate.

While electricity is used in the running of a blower motor and inducer motor, our focus here regarding AFUE will be referring to the fuel source used to create heat. The fuel we will be referring to will be natural gas.

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is an efficiency term. It is rated from zero to 100% gas consumption efficiency. For example, according to Canadian government directives, a furnace with an AFUE rating of 94% is categorized as a highly efficient furnace. In the past, the high-efficiency rating was 90%, then went up to 92%, and now we are at 94%.

Do you know the AFUE of your current furnace? If the AFUE is not given on the furnace, you can calculate it using the information on the sticker on your furnace. The AFUE is the OUTPUT heating power/INPUT heating power. You will find the Input and Output values displayed in your furnace. If your furnace is 2 to 3 decades old, the AFUE will be about 70%. Keep in mind that the AFUE is affected by the furnace quality as well as how it has been cared for. The AFUE declines over time. This means if your 25-year-old furnace has an AFUE rating of 70%, its actual efficiency may be about 60% after 2.5 decades. If your furnace is 2 decades old, its AFUE is most likely at 60%.

This means that for each dollar you spend on heating your home using a furnace with an AFUE of 60%, 60 cents will go to heating while 40 cents will be wasted. If you replace the old furnace with something like the Infinity Carrier Model 59MN7A with an AFUE rating of 98.5%, you will only waste 1.5 cents for every dollar you spend to heat your home. Switching from the furnace with an AFUE of 60% to one with an AFUE of 98.5% will save you a total of 38.5 cents on every dollar spent. The higher the AFUE rating, the better.

Most people in Newmarket have a single-stage furnace. This has been the most common option in most homes. But are there any benefits that come with having a furnace that has multi-stage operation? What is a true modulating furnace?

When your furnace has a multi-stage operation, it will have a gas valve that regulates the flow of gas into the burner and the heat exchanger. This is unlike a single-stage operation where gas flows at full 100% capacity whenever the furnace is turned on even to increase the temperatures by a single degree.

With a 2-stage operation furnace that has a thermostat, it starts on the lower heating stage, which is about 60% of full natural gas flow rate capacity. If the operation doesn’t reach the thermostat set-point in about 10 to 16 minutes, the regulator opens to allow full gas flow. The same concept applies in a 3-stage furnace, only that the furnace has three settings: one at 40%, another at 60% and then 100%. As a result of this, the 3-stage furnace can be described as modulating furnaces. They are, however, not true modulating furnaces.

For a true modulating furnace, there are over 40 to 50 settings on the gas valves. These have smaller increments from 30 to 100% opening. A good example of such is the Carrier’s INFINITY 98. This is also the only furnace you will find that can modulate down.

To better understand the difference between all three furnace options, we need to look at a scenario. When using a single-stage furnace and the temperature reading is at 20C, and the furnace is turned off, and you feel cold, you go to the thermostat and set it at 21C. The furnace will light up, and because you have a single-stage furnace, the gas valve will open fully. The furnace will thus be operating at full capacity to raise the temperatures by 1C. It will start getting hot when this happens, and the thermostat may read 23C after the furnace turns off. It will get cooler as the temperatures drop to 21C. The furnace will kick in again to maintain the temperatures at above 21C. The temperature fluctuations are caused by the lack of control over the flow of gas.

If you have a single-stage furnace, you have definitely dealt with these temperature fluctuations. However, using a multi-stage furnace solves this issue by controlling temperature changes with a gradual change.

A single-stage furnace offers less control and thus produces temperature fluctuations. When turned on, the furnace will operate at full capacity even if only a single degree needs to be added. Multi-stage operation, on the other hand, allows you to increase temperatures gradually. The more heating stages a furnace has, the more control you will have in achieving desired temperatures.

With this information in mind, there are two key benefits offered by a multi-stage furnace:

• Tighter control on temperature. This results in gradual temperature changes and also eliminates temperature fluctuations.
• The furnace’s operation is much quieter. This is because the furnace doesn’t have to run at full capacity to maintain the desired temperature. Lower gas flow rate is linked to lower sound because increased pressure inflow is accompanied by vibrations and thus more noise.

Get in touch with us to ask about the technology all Carrier multi-stage furnaces have that ensure tighter temperature control. These furnaces use patented technology known as adaptive logic.

Common Misconception About the Number of Heating Stages and Energy Saving

It is good to note that having more furnace stages doesn’t affect the efficiency and rate of gas consumption. You will still need the same amount of energy to heat the house. When operating at higher stages, it uses more gas within a shorter period. When on the lower stage, the furnace will use the same amount of energy only for a longer period. At the end of the day, the fuel consumption on a single-stage and multi-stage furnace will be the same.

Furnace blowers fall into three categories:

• PSC blowers – Single speed

These motors use the AC city electricity in the AC form. The blower motors are very basic and work at the same frequency. Compared with blower motors that are 2 decades old, the PSC blowers are 30% more efficient. You should, however, not restrict your options. While they do work, these blowers are loud and don’t maximize comfort.

• ECM X13 – Multi-speed motors

Electronically-Commutated Motors (ECM) converts AC electricity into DC. DC power has a more efficient and lower power consumption than AC power. Converting to DC power also makes it possible to modify motor speeds. You thus enjoy variable speeds with ECM X13 motors. The speeds are not true-variable. You will get 4-speed settings. These motors are twice more energy-efficient than PSC single-speed blowers. The key advantage is that these motors are quieter and made to work on relatively low heating and speed stages.

• ECM – True variable speed

These motors have more speed settings and are 4 times more efficient as compared to the ECM X13 motors. In addition, the speeds increase in small increments. These motors are used in the Carrier’s INFINITY furnace models.

Comparing the Operational Cost Between the Above Blower Motors

To start with, let us assume your old blower motor functions 24/7 for a whole year. In that case, it will cost you approximately $600 in hydro bills alone. The value will decrease to about $400 if you buy a furnace with a single-speed blower. When using an ECM X13 blower motor, the rate will be reduced to $200. With a true variable speed ECM that uses DC power, you can take hydro costs to as low as $40.

Inducer motors can also be ECM. Also known as ventor motor, the inducer motor drives burnt flue gas out of the high-efficiency furnace to the outside. The ECM inducers motors are quieter and more efficient.

Read about the Carrier’s COMFORTHEAT Technology to get more details on the ECM motors in the Carrier Furnace and how it improves hot and cold spots plus delivers a quieter operation.

Warranties give you peace of mind. Some manufacturers will offer an extended warranty option. The norm, however, is the 10-year manufacturer part’s warranty. A labour warranty must also be mentioned in your contract with the HVAC company. In most cases, the equipment will not have a factory labour warranty, thus the reason a labour warranty is offered. A reasonable labour warranty is for 1 to 2 years.

Keep in mind that it is unrealistic to get a 5 to 10-year labour warranty with necessary measures to ensure proper furnace maintenance is done. Think twice if you are given a 5 to 10 years’ labour warranty without obligations in regards to maintenance. Don’t forget to read the fine prints to see if there are any conditions regarding an extended labour warranty.

Take time to know where each warranty comes from. Does it come from the manufacturer or the installing company? The most credible warranty is the one from the manufacturer. Getting a manufacturer labour warranty will cost you extra, and you have to buy it before installing your HVAC. Weigh your options carefully.

Don’t forget to ask about the warranty on the Heat Exchangers. The norm in the market is a lifetime factory parts warranty on both primary and secondary heat exchangers.

At Air Makers Inc., we often include basic warranty packages. These packages cover the following:

• 10 years’ parts warranty from the manufacturer
• Lifetime parts warranty on both primary and secondary Heat Exchangers from the manufacturer
• 10 years’ labour warranty from the Air Makers Inc. With us, any labour warranty that is more than 2 years will require a chargeable annual checkup and maintenance beginning on the 3rd year and about $80 annually.

The main rebate program is the Ontario Power Authority rebate. This is offered by HVAC contractors that are HRAI members. The rebate is $250 if you replace the HVAC using a high-efficiency furnace with an ECM motor. As of December 15, manufacturer warranties are void.

The answer is a resounding yes. Fire furnaces are safe. Most of these furnaces are designed to shut down when there is no flame burning it off. To avoid the risk of a fire, each furnace is taken through thorough testing to make sure it has no flaws. As a precaution, you are required to have a fire extinguisher as well as our contacts in case of emergency.

Air Makers is the most trusted source for affordable heating and cooling installations in Newmarket and the surrounding areas. We have an untarnished reputation in the installation and repair of furnaces in both commercial and residential settings.

We take great pride in winning numerous awards back-to-back and being the number one HVAC contractor in Newmarket when it comes to the total number of HVAC equipment we have installed since 2013.

Proper cleaning and inspection are required each year on a furnace. Turn off the furnace before you start cleaning the parts. Brush gently and use a vacuum to remove dust from logs. You can purchase special furnace glass cleaners from our stores. Next, wipe the insides of the furnace using a wet piece of cloth.