Furnace Services in Philadelphia, PA

As a leading company in furnace services in Philadelphia, PA, we can tell you that gas furnaces are the most common type of heating system, and as local furnace installers, we offer reliable service and maintenance. If your furnace is making odd sounds or struggling to keep you warm this winter, contact us to set up an appointment with one of our service technicians. Our service in furnace installation in Philadelphia works on all makes and models of gas furnaces. Despite advances in safety features in today’s furnaces, manufacturers and industry experts alike recommend annual maintenance for gas furnaces to ensure the system is operating properly and at maximum efficiency.

Contact the W.F. Smith service department today if you haven’t had a checkup for a few years or if you’d like to get more information about our annual maintenance program.

Features and Options for Furnaces in Philly

Gas Furnace Classes

There are two classes of gas furnaces available, chimney-vented or direct-vented. Chimney-vented furnaces are 80% AFUE, meaning that 80% of the heat generated goes into your ductwork system and 20% of the heat goes up the chimney. Direct-vented furnaces are between 93-98% AFUE. Since the exhaust gases for these furnaces have very little heat in them, they cannot be vented up the chimney and instead use an exhaust fan with PVC piping directly to the outside through a wall or the roof.

If you are looking for a heating contractor in Philadelphia to replace your furnace, contact W.F. Smith to arrange an appointment with one of our gas furnace experts so that we can help you evaluate which option is best for you.  Unlike some contractors who try to sell one type of system to every homeowner, we are happy to provide you with several options and help you calculate the expected annual savings to determine if the higher-efficiency systems are worth the added investment based on your usage. 

Gas Furnace Features

Within each class of gas furnaces, there are additional features to consider. Multi-stage or variable heating systems are becoming more and more common today. A two-stage system basically works at about 60% capacity when the system first turns on and only goes up to full capacity when needed. This feature does not really reduce gas usage, but it can certainly make you feel more comfortable, since you aren’t being blasted with full-speed heat every single time the system kicks on. The variable heating systems can essentially offer up to 65 stages, at 1-2% increments, so the system can deliver exactly the right amount of heat to maintain even temperatures throughout the house.

Overall a very pleasant experience, from sales to the actual installation. All the people we came into contact with were pleasant and seemed to really be interested in doing a good job.

Variable-speed or high-efficiency furnace fans use less electricity for both heating and air conditioning. The benefits of a variable speed fan are numerous, but the top two reasons to consider them are actually air conditioning –related – better dehumidification and higher SEER (air conditioning efficiency). Systems with these fan upgrades typically qualify for rebates, including the PECO, EAP, and/or manufacturer programs. If you’re installing a zoned system, some manufacturer’s systems allow us to dial in exact air flow rates with a variable-speed furnace to ensure optimal efficiency and quiet operation.

Our furnace services in Philadelphia, PA, are professional and accurate, blending skill with dedication for installations and repairs. We will ensure your comfort and satisfaction with every warm, efficient home.

FAQs

How do I switch my heating system to natural gas?

If you have natural gas in your home already, switching is relatively easy – just call us today to set an appointment with one of our gas heating experts. If you do not have gas yet, we can help you inquire with either PECO (suburbs) or PGW (city) to determine if natural gas is available to your home and the costs of bringing the gas service into your home. In many cases, the ROI of switching from oil or propane to natural gas can be just a few heating seasons.

I thought they made high-efficiency furnaces the standard in Pennsylvania?

The Department of Energy had tried to enact regional standards that would have taken effect in 2013, but industry groups sued them and the enforcement has been delayed. The DOE had developed these standards without consulting industry groups so they did not understand the complications that make high-efficiency furnaces extremely costly, or next to impossible, to install in some homes (notably condos, row homes, and homes with finished basements).