Buying a New Furnace for an Older Home: What to Know

Owning an older or historic home offers a lot more character and charm than today’s cookie-cutter new homes. However, as lovely as they are, they can also come with their own set of challenges. One issue you may face with an older home has to do with the HVAC system. 

Whether you are buying an older home or already live in one and it’s just time to update the furnace, it’s important that your furnace meets all current regulations and is capable of keeping you warm. 

Here we look at what you should know when buying a new furnace for an older home. 

Choosing Your Furnace 

In Canada, new furnaces can have two labels; the ENERGYSTAR label and the EnerGuide label. ENERGYSTAR means your furnace is highly energy-efficient and EnerGuide shows you the model’s energy consumption and how it compares to similar furnace models. It’s wise to have at least two and possibly three different quotes before deciding on a particular furnace and to have the heat requirements of your home calculated to ensure the new furnace is the proper size. 

Furnace Ductwork 

Older homes and more specifically historic homes likely have old ductwork. In most newer homes, you don’t need to consider the cost of replacing the ductwork. However, for older homes, the ductwork should be inspected as your new furnace can only perform efficiently if the infrastructure is sound.  

You might not have to replace the entire system of ductwork, but any sections that are leaking should be repaired or replaced. If your home doesn’t have ductwork or is challenged in many areas to run ductwork to accommodate your new furnace, you might consider different options such as a ductless system or radiant heat.

By using a professional from Air Treatment ClimateCare to properly maintain your furnace, you can save time and money. Call us today

Heating Efficiency 

The older your furnace, the less efficient it is for heating your home. In fact, you could have a furnace only converting as little as 60% of the energy it uses into heat. Modern options we offer include: 

  •   Single Stage – ECM Motor at 95% efficiency 
  • Single Stage – Variable Speed ECM Motor at 96% efficiency 
  • Two-Stage – Variable Speed Constant Airflow ECM Motor at up to 98% efficiency 

Chimney 

Modern furnaces can be vented outside through the walls via ABS or PVC plastic pipes. When having a new furnace installed in an older home, you could have your current chimney sealed off and use the newer method. But if using the current chimney to vent gases outside is an option, make sure your furnace contractors inspect it thoroughly to ensure it’s safe and working at full capacity. Furnace chimneys rarely need to be cleaned, but there are still safety elements to consider. 

Type of Fuel 

Historic and older homes might still use oil for their furnaces. This is your opportunity to choose a more efficient fuel such as natural gas, or a shift to electricity. Today you should consider which option is best for the environment with fewer carbon emissions and/or less energy waste. 

Possible Regulations 

Older homes not considered historic are not subject to rules governing the protection of historic buildings. Be sure you understand how these rules work if you know your home is deemed a historic home. You might need to get permission from your town or municipality to make alterations, even if you are simply installing a furnace. In some cases, the installation might affect the structural integrity of the house such as the chimney which could require approval. 

Are you thinking about buying a new furnace for your older home? At Air Treatment ClimateCare, we can help. Give our team a call today!