Gas Furnaces
How to Choose the Right Furnace
Are you thinking about upgrading your furnace but not quite sure where to begin?
We understand. Furnaces are more efficient than ever, with a plethora of features designed to keep you comfortable. They come in different sizes and shapes, some more powerful than others. They also have different price points based on their efficiency ratings.
The thermostat is the brains of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. But it’s the furnace that provides all the muscle, teaming up with your ductwork to send warm air throughout your Minnesota, home.
And always remember, a happy home is a warm one! It would only take a few cold days in a row with no indoor heat for all the pipes in your home to freeze.
What matters most is to pick the right furnace that fits your budget and the size of your home. Our team at Arctic Mechanical has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Blaine, MN, for creating healthy homes. Give us a call today—we can schedule a free consultation to help with your next home improvement project.
Choosing the Right Furnace by Fuel Type
Your first decision is easy: choosing the fuel type.
The most common source is natural gas. Your local utility company supplies the fuel delivered to your home through an underground gas line. The price of natural gas is relatively stable, so you don’t have to worry about cost fluctuations. Plus, you never need to worry about storage.
- If you have access to a natural gas line, we strongly recommend a gas furnace. These furnaces have proven their value over the years for providing steady comfort on the coldest of days.
- Oil furnaces are a popular alternative in the United States, particularly in parts of the Northeast that do not have easy access to natural gas. These types of furnaces last longer than a gas furnace but do not operate as efficiently. Oil prices fluctuate more than natural gas prices, making it harder to gauge your monthly expenses. Plus, you will need a storage tank for the oil.
- Electric furnaces tend to last longer than gas furnaces and cost less to install. On the other hand, they are more expensive to operate and take longer to heat your home. Anyone living in a cold climate would enjoy more comfort with a gas or oil furnace.
Choosing the Right Furnace Speed
Furnaces run at different speeds. The operating speed you choose will impact your comfort, budget, and indoor air quality (IAQ).
Single-stage furnaces have just two settings, on or off. Your furnace switches on and continues to run to reach the desired temperature. Once it reaches the temperature, the furnace turns off. Single-stage furnaces are the most affordable models and easiest to install. But they are the least efficient and tend to create hot and cold spots in larger homes.
Two-stage furnaces run at full-speed and half-speed. This allows your furnace to heat your home more evenly, producing a more consistent temperature from room to room. In addition to producing better heating, the half-speed setting is much quieter.
Variable speed furnaces are the gold standard of the heating world. These models adjust their speeds to provide precise comfort. They run longer at slower speeds, improving efficiencies while lowering your energy bills. Because they do not frequently cycle on and off, these systems tend to have fewer breakdowns.
Variable speed furnaces are much more adept in maintaining your indoor air quality, catching harmful particles, and eliminating excess moisture that causes mold growth. Larger homes benefit tremendously from variable speed furnaces.
Choosing an Efficient Furnace
The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating on your furnace indicates how much energy it converts. An energy-efficient furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 can convert 95 percent of the energy it consumes into heat.
The higher the AFUE rating, the more money you save on monthly utility bills. Energy-efficient furnaces emit fewer greenhouse gases and make less noise when they operate. If you want to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, the perfect place to start is with your heating and cooling equipment!
How Much Money Can a New Furnace Save You?
Our AFUE energy savings calculator can help determine how much you could save on your utility bills. Just enter your current unit’s AFUE value and compare it to a newer, more efficient system.
AFUE Energy Savings Calculator
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Customize to Your Home
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** Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration
*** Data from 2002 EPA study
** Data for Canadian cities from nrcan.gc.ca
*** Data from weatherdatadepot.com
Furnace Installation or Replacement
Don’t invest in a quality HVAC system and then hire a substandard contractor to install it. You will never enjoy the full benefits of a system installed incorrectly.
At Arctic Mechanical, we specialize in installing equipment the right way. We take our time to ensure everything is measured correctly. Our team will also conduct a thorough energy audit of your home to find additional ways to lower your energy use.
Be sure to ask about our convenient financing options designed to make it easy for you to create your dream home.
Furnace Repairs
Odd sounding noises, a spike in energy bills, or constant cycling—these signs indicate a problem with your furnace. Don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a costly problem. Give us a call today if you detect a problem with your HVAC system. We promise never to replace a part unless necessary—or if we can demonstrate significant cost savings.
Furnace Maintenance
Want to get the most value from your HVAC system? Develop a preventative maintenance plan. Doing so can rejuvenate your equipment, increase your comfort, and lower your operating costs.
Give us a call today and ask about our customized Always Arctic Membership tailored to fit your budget and needs. Enjoy peace of mind knowing a trusted professional is watching over your HVAC equipment.
Call Us Today
Our entire team at Arctic Mechanical values the trust you placed in our company—we promise to work extra hard to keep your business. Let us install your next furnace. Give our Mounds View, MN, office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at 612-741-9297 or request service online today.
Need Furnace Service?
Contact the experts at Arctic Mechanical.
Call us at 612-741-9297!
“The entire staff was amazing. Starting with Shannon who answered my calls and all my questions and would get back to me in a timely manner and had a very positive attitude. To Ryan and Johnne coming out to take a look at what needed to be done with the heater and gave me options and quotes for what can be done. Everyone was fantastic. Highly recommend them. Will be using them again.”
“Ryan and Lonnie helped me with a gas line and venting for a garage furnace I installed/hung myself. When the furnace started right away but had issues functioning properly, Ryan and Lonnie went above and beyond to help make sure we got it operating properly. I was grateful and impressed by how they went the extra mile for me – I didn’t buy the furnace from them and they could have easily walked when the gas line and venting were done (as technically that’s all I hired them to do). I couldn’t be happier with my experience and they will have a customer for life in me. Highly recommend using Arctic!”
“Our furnace went out on a Sunday, Ryan was able to check it the same day. He diagnosed the problem but couldnt get parts until Monday but before he left he got the furnace working. The furnace was able to stay working until he came back Monday to replace the parts that were needed. Even though he came out on the weekend he only charged regular rates because he wasnt able to install the parts until the next day.”
“Ryan and his team are very courteous and professional. I will recommend them to everyone I know.”
“Ryan is amazing! He explained each step of his troubleshooting in a way I understood and resolved my problem quickly! I can’t recommend him enough!”
– Anne F.
“We recently had to replace our furnace and were referred to Artic Mechanical. The speed in which they responded was exceptional. Within a day from contacting and meeting Ryan who explained our options, he and his team were out and installing the new furnace. Ryan and his team arrived on time and had the job complete within a few hours. They were professional and pleasant to work with. We feel we received a great value product as well as exceptional Service and would highly recommend Artic Mechanical to anyone looking for new or replacement product.”
– Joe M.
“We had an entire furnace installation replacement in November 2019, and we couldn't be happier with the product and outstanding service and installation from Ryan Carlisle from Artic Mechanical. Ryan explained in great detail the advantage of direct vent high efficiency furnace, and after almost a year of experience in our home, our comfort level and cost of use has been remarkable. The extra attention to detail was unsurpassed in the installation, and the knowledge that Ryan gave made the whole process more understandable. Highly recommend this company for any HVAC installation, and wouldn't hesitate using their services again!! Thanks Ryan, Sarah, and Lamar!!”
– Carl S.
“We had our furnace replaced last year by Arctic Mechanical. Ryan and his team worked with us to select the right unit at the right price. A year later I was having trouble with my air conditioner leaking water and Ryan was right there answering my questions and ultimately fixing my problem over the phone, with no charge. This is a full service company. They are very responsive and professional. I would definitely recommend them.”
– Jon O.
“Thank you so much for your professional installation of our new Furnace . We are extremely happy with its performance already, and thank you for the professional courtesy of your installers who have respected our time, our home, and our options. I would be willing to highly recommend your work to anyone seeking to cool or heat their homes. Your services are of superior quality.
Sean B”
– Sean B.