Frequently Asked Questions About Heating

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• How does a furnace work?

  A natural gas or propane high-efficiency furnace works like this:

  1. The furnace starts up when the thermostat senses that the temperature had dropped below a pre-set level.
  2. The ventor motor does a safety check to ensure the venting is clear, as determined by the pressure switch. The ignitor then ignites the burners inside the furnace combustion chamber and starts creating heat. The heat is transferred to the primary heat exchanger, which heats the air as it flows through the furnace. The combustion gases are then passed through a secondary heat exchanger to further extract heat.
  3. The blower motor pushes the warmed air through the plenum and out into the house via the registers.
  4. The combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, are safely vented to the outdoors from the furnace.
  5. Outside fresh air is pulled into the burn chamber to provide a more efficient burn
  6. Any cold air left in the home gets circulated into the furnace to be heated up.

• How often should I change my furnace filter?

  We recommend that you change or clean your furnace filter every one-to-three months.

• Is a humidifier necessary?

  If the humidity in your home is lower than 30 percent on a hygrometer it is recommended that you consider a humidifier. Health Canada recommends a home’s relative humidity should be between 30 to 55 percent in the winter. Most homes require a humidifier in Canada due to the dry air created by our cold climate.

• What are Enercare’s guarantees on new equipment?

  We have five guarantees – Home Comfort Guarantee, No Surprises Guarantee, No Lemon Guarantee, Environmental Focus Guarantee and Property Protection and Client Respect Guarantee. 

• How much does it cost to buy a new furnace?

  The average price range of a typical new natural gas or propane high-efficiency furnace in Ontario ranges from $5,000 to $7,000+. This price includes standard installation from a fully-insured, licensed company, at least a one year warranty and all required licenses for installation. The cost of a new furnace is dependent on four factors: Environmental choices, including energy efficiency, humidification, air filtration sizes (which are dependent on allergies or other sensitivities), and comfort-enhancing options. Personal choices including extended warranties, maintenance plans and guarantees. Technical requirements including the size of the home, floor plan, number of stories, existing ductwork and BTU load. Code requirements including safety, licensing and building code requirements. To get an accurate, no-surprises, no-obligation quote, contact us at 1-855-619-7701

• What is the lifespan of a furnace? When should a furnace be replaced?

  The average lifecycle of a furnace is 15 years, but age isn’t the only factor that determines when to replace a furnace. How often you experience breakdowns, the quality of the initial installation and a heating system that’s improperly sized for your home could all shorten the lifespan of your furnace.

• What size furnace do I need?

  Several factors affect the furnace size needed, including the size and age of your home, air flow, insulation, and how many windows and doors you have. To make sure you get the furnace size that best suits your needs, it’s crucial to have a professional visit your home to complete an evaluation to calculate heat loss and air flow. Incorrect sizing of a furnace may reduce the lifespan of the equipment and lead to higher utility costs because your home is not warming up correctly.