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1. How long should my furnace last?

   As long as parts are still made we can continue to repair your furnace forever.

   With proper maintenance and upkeep, you almost never have to replace your furnace. However, repairs can be very expensive as the furnace gets to be approximately 15 years old.

   The older the furnace, the more likely the better financial decision is to replace it.

   As new technology becomes available engineers are capable of makeing improvements to increase efficiency, comfort, reliability and lower sound levels.

2. Should I get my furnace checked every year?

   Furnace manufacturers recommend annual furnace check-ups.

   Annual check-ups make sure your furnace is running optimally and unexpected problems won’t arise. You should have these done at the end of summer or early fall to make sure you don’t find out about problems when it’s too late.

   One of the biggest problems that we have found with high efficiency furnaces is water leaking. The water is a little acidic and that can rust your furnace fast.

3. Do I really need a programmable thermostat?

   Not necessarily. You can set your thermostat back manually, but there’s the chance you’ll forget.

   The best thing about a programmable thermostat is you can set it around your schedule. For instance, you can set it to kick-in a half hour before you get home from work, so when you do get home it’s warm already.

   The benefit is added flexibility.

4. What is a Modulating Furnace?

   A modulating furnace is a designed to make the fire get larger or smaller based on how warm or cold the temperature is outside.

   This provides your home with added comfort, more efficiency, and is quieter than a regular furnace.

5. Preparing Your Furnace For Winter

   Cold weather is quickly approaching Southeast Wisconsin. Make sure you are ready when it’s time to heat your home.

   Last March, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Brian Manthey, spokesman for WE Energies, that last year’s heating season would cost the typical customer $739 to heat their home. This was a 20% jump over last year. Average families are going to be hit hard by this increase.

   These rising costs, along with unpredictable winters, make maintaining your current equipment, as well as considering energy-efficient models, something to take seriously when heating your home.

   According to energy.gov, some things you can personally do to get your furnace ready for winter are:

   Remove dirt, soot, and corrosion
   Adjust the controls to provide optimum water and air temp settings for efficiency and comfort
   Test for carbon monoxide
   Clean and replace filters monthly
   Check the condition of the vent connection pipe and chimney
   Schedule annual cleaning
   If your furnace doesn’t have a Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating above 90%, which measures a furnace’s overall energy performance, you may be in the market for a new, energy-efficient model.

   An AFUE above 90% means that more than 90% of the furnace’s energy goes to the heating process and is not lost elsewhere. The less energy you lose, the more money you save.

   To keep up-to-date with the best in energy-efficient furnaces, refer to energystar.gov for a great list of the most-efficient furnaces at the moment.

   Along with winterizing your furnace and learning more about energy efficient furnaces, consider adding a programmable thermostat if you do not already have one. They are easy to use and let you control the temperature around your daily routine, as well as customize it when you are away for long periods. Why pay for heat that you aren’t using? Plus, they also save money when you’re cooling your home in the summer months.

   Finally, if you have any questions, concerns, or problems, contact Arrow HVAC. We are community-owned and operated, professionally-trained, and offer the best possible heating solutions for harsh Wisconsin winters.

6. What Brand Of Furnace Do You Recommend?

   Typically we recommend RUUD furnaces. They are highly rated by consumer reports, are reliable, are energy efficient, and solid overall machines

7. How much does a new furnace cost?

   First of all, there are many different furnace brands, models, and sizes. Cost is decided by a number of those factors.

   When deciding on how much you want to spend, I typically advise you spread the cost out over 15 years, or how long your furnace should last you.

   An average price possibly $3500.00 would come down to maybe $30.00 per month or less.

   I like to tell customers, your cell phone costs more than that.

   It really puts the cost of comfort into perspective.