Gas Furnaces

Furnace service.
Furnace service.

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 Colorado, 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 Carbon Valley Heating & Air has the knowledge and expertise to help you make that choice. We’re a trusted name in Longmont, CO, 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 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 gas furnaces. 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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This calculator does not guarantee actual costs or savings and is only to be used for educational purposes.

Customize to Your Home

Adjust these settings for a more accurate calculation:

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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 Carbon Valley Heating & Air, 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 Safety & Efficiency Agreement 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 Carbon Valley Heating & Air 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 Longmont, CO, office a call today for a free consultation. Call us at 303-833-4466 or request service online today.

Need Furnace Service?

Contact the experts at

Carbon Valley Heating & Air.

Call us at 303-833-4466!

“I had a new air conditioning unit installed and Jed Gooras was called in because a pressure switch in the furnace was not working. He had to order the part and a few days later came to install it. That was great. It worked. Then came time to turn the heat on. Well…the heat wasn't working quite right (not really warm. As it turned out the part that handles the condensation was clogged up. He came back yet again and unclogged the part and stayed to make sure everything was working as it's supposed to. While he was here I learned a lot about my furnace! Poor guy! It was his third trip to the house. But I am extremely grateful and more educated!”
- Carole H.

“The main fan in my Forced air gas furnace, started to make a non-normal sound and I called Carbon Valley after receiving 2 recommendations for their service. They came promptly and diagnosed the problem quickly, ordered the part and when it came in, they installed it. Gavin began the job and Jed finished it as Gavin was on another job when the part came in. I was concerned with a second technician finishing another's work, but it was handled perfectly, and the job was completed to my satisfaction. The price was exactly as quoted, and everything was left fixed and running to perfection. FYI my system is 18 years old, and no one tried to upsell me on anything.”

– Douglas G.

'- Douglas G.

“Jake arrived about 2 hours after I called. Very thorough in looking for the cause of the problem, and extremely competent. I’m delighted with Carbon Valley and highly recommend them!”

– Nancy B.

'- Nancy B.

I have used Carbon Valley Heating & Air several times in the past. Darrell has always been awesome He shows up on time and gives you straight answers to your questions. He is trustworthy and they do quick, clean work. They recently replaced both of my furnaces and did an absolutely fantastic job! This was a big job and they did just as clean and efficient as any other job!

– Urie V.

This was my first time as a customer of Carbon Valley Heating & Air. My furnace wasn’t working. I called Carbon Valley Heating & Air, and they came out on a Sunday and fixed my furnace. The technician had the part on the truck and he put it in and the furnace has been running ever since. The charge for the Sunday service was minimal and worth it. The technician was polite and friendly. He didn’t waste time. He came in, got the job done, and was gone. I liked that they were so efficient. I was very satisfied.

– Sherri R.

Bryan was my service technician. He took interest in my concerns and provided answers to my questions in a very respectful manner. He serviced my heating unit and communicated the outcome to me in a way that I understood. I highly recommend Carbon Valley Heating and Air and will definitely use their service in the future.

– Sharon B.

The Carbon Valley Heating & Air service tech came as soon as he could on the day I called in, based on his work schedule, to respond to an emergency call for a broken furnace. He provided warranty replacement parts with reasonable labor cost. The home builder’s original furnace installation company could not provide any help until the following week. CVHA saved me time and money compared to two other services I’ve employed in the past.

– Charisse G.