Although greater Wichita area is technically inside the Humid Sub-Tropical zone, the region experiences some harsh winters.  Frigid air masses commonly sweep south from Canada, bringing with them temperatures that remain well below zero degrees for several days.  Conditions like this make it especially important for you to keep your furnace in tip-top condition.  If you’re installing a new furnace, there are some valuable add-on options you can consider.

Efficiency and Safety

Modern furnaces perform at or above 80 percent efficiency and often require chimney liners to meet manufacturers’ specifications.

  • Chimney liners increase the “draft,” or venting performance, of a flue. A furnace that can’t “breathe” properly will not work optimally.
  • Filters don’t just improve the air quality in your living spaces; they also contribute to longer appliance life and higher efficiency by removing from the airstream contaminants that otherwise would settle on components, such as the air mover. Pleated filters perform better than non-pleated models, and deep-pleated filters (sometimes as thick as nine inches) work better still. Some duct modification may be required to fit an external filter slot.

Programmable and Zoned Thermostats

  • Programmable thermostats permit you to have several different heat settings to suit your usage patterns. The house needn’t be as warm when everyone’s asleep, or out at work and school, as it is when you’re home and awake. Moderating fuel usage in an unoccupied house can make noticeable savings to your utility bills.
  • Zoning your home allows different thermostats to control different areas, again predicated on usage patterns. Substantial savings can be made by keeping less-frequently-used areas cooler than spaces that see the most traffic.

As with all decisions affecting budget and your family’s safety and comfort, it’s a good idea to seek advice from qualified professionals. In the greater Wichita area, contact Comfort Systems to arrange a free in-home consultation, and learn what safety- and efficiency-enhancing add-ons are available for your furnace installation.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Wichita, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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