Gas Furnaces
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 Delaware 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 Joseph Frederick & Sons has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Newark, DE, for creating healthy homes. Give us a call today—we can schedule a 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 fuel 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 gas furnaces 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. 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
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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 Joseph Frederick & Sons, 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 Comfort Care 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 Joseph Frederick & Sons 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 Newark, DE, office a call today for a consultation. Call us at 302-994-5786 or request service online today.
He was very knowledgeable regarding the heating unit.
From this point on he is my go to guy.
Great job !”
“This was part of my annual scheduled maintenance contract that I have had for the past 5 years. Thank you for valuing my time. Our Tech Lucas was efficient and on time!”
“Eric arrived early Sunday morning to repair our furnace which was not working. He found the problem, made the repair, and we were able to get to church at 9:45, only a few minutes late. Thanks so much!”
“We have been using Joseph Frederick & Sons for our plumbing, electrical and AC service for years and have always been pleased with their work. The speed with which they took care of our furnace replacement was an unexpected surprise. We called on Monday to set up a check on our furnace as it was not functioning properly and were surprised that they had a technician available that afternoon.
Since our unit was 26 years old they suggested that we set up for a salesman to visit us and they had one available on Tuesday.
Sure enough the technician found out that there was a malfunctioning board in our unit and he was not sure if a replacement was available, but he would check on it.
Tuesday the salesman showed up, looked over our old unit and the size of our house and worked up a couple of possible replacement proposals. We chose to replace our old unit with a similar new furnace and he informed us that they had one in stock. When he checked with the onstallation department they had a crew that would be available the next day, so ee got our new furnace installed on Wednesday.
We are more that pleased with the work and the new furnace, but the speed in which it happened was totally unexpected!”
“Eric and Omar installed a new furnace and air conditioner at our house this past week. They were efficient, left a clean site, and when they were finished, explained both the thermostat and the humidifier. They were a pleasure to have in our house. The job took the amount of time that Dave, our sales representative, promised that it would take. And the furnace is working just as the temperatures have started to drop! We got a fair price and a good product!”
“The Jos Frederick’s Team has taken care of all our HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical needs for 31 years!! They are excellent, including their front office.
Aaron has been doing our HVAC maintenance & when needed unit replacement for 15 years. His knowledge and work ethic are second to none. We welcome him into our home every Fall and Spring for a HVAC check-up. He has been proactive in addressing needs before they become issues. Sadly, we are moving out of the area to be closer to family. We will be trying to take Aaron with us!😉
Thanks Brian Fredericks for building such a strong team! And best wishes to the next generation of Fredericks as they carry on this tradition of excellence.”
“Always great service . I have had no issues with anything pertaining to my gas furnace, even though it is the original. My only comment pertains to the invoice. Lucas indicated everything was in good shape and running normally. But, he did not recommend replacement due to the age of the furnace. It may be possible that is a standard comment for a unit this old.”
“Friendly, expert service from Eusebio as usual. His 4th visit for maintenance, I always request him. A pro.”
“Outstanding service from Mirac and his apprentice! I couldn't be more pleased with the experience from start to finish.
Mirac did an excellent job replacing the inducer motor on our heater. He was professional, knowledgeable, courteous, and extremely thorough. He took the time to explain what was wrong, what needed to be done, and made sure everything was working properly before leaving. It was clear that he takes great pride in his work and is committed to doing the job right.
I also want to give special recognition to his apprentice. She was extremely polite, informative, and engaged throughout the entire visit. It was obvious that she genuinely valued the opportunity to learn her trade and was eager to understand the work being performed. Her attitude and professionalism were wonderful to see, and I have no doubt she is on a great path in her career.
It was refreshing to have two people who were not only highly professional but also clearly cared about providing excellent service and doing quality work. They answered my questions, kept me informed, and treated my home with respect.
Five stars without hesitation! Mirac and his apprentice are an excellent team, and I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of heating or HVAC service. Thank you both for a job exceptionally well done!”
“Last week, Bruce and Jake replaced my very old gas furnace and air conditioning units. I have never had a furnace replaced and didn't know what to expect. They did excellent work and all systems are running smoothly. For all the adjustments they had to overcome as the space was limited around my old furnace, I had no clean up to do . . . they handled everything to my extreme satisfaction. I always have and will be a Frederick & Sons' customer . . . thank you for all the service your company has provided over the years.”