A San Diego gas furnace is probably accustomed to a pretty easy life. Though some homes might prefer the temperature indoors to be in the 80s all year round, most people in southern California are quite happy with the indoor air staying much closer to the temperature outside for a good portion of the year. This makes a furnace's job relatively stress-free and, because of its rather light schedule, a gas furnace in San Diego is most likely going to last a lot longer than one in another area of the country. Just because it isn't needed all the time, however, doesn't mean that it shouldn't work efficiently when there's a chill in the air; if you had a work schedule similar to that of a San Diego gas furnace, surely your boss would demand the very best performance out of you when you were called upon.
Regular Maintenance for San Diego Gas Furnaces
Like any other piece of machinery, a furnace works best when it is well taken care of. In the same way that you take your vehicle in for its regular scheduled maintenance, a furnace should be inspected, and repaired when necessary, after you've put a few miles on it. Generally, it's a good idea to have a professional look at your furnace once a year, and after heavy use, you may want to inspect and/or change its filter. Calling an inspector after the winter is over usually ensures a more flexible schedule.
Gas Furnace Efficiency
Gas furnaces convert burning fuel into warm air that is distributed throughout your home. By comparing the amount of heat produced when this fuel is burned to the amount of warm air that's created, you get a percentage that represents how efficient a furnace is. Many furnaces, especially ones that are more than 20 years old, can have efficiency percentages of 70 or lower. A new gas furnace might have an efficiency percent of 95.
Replacing an old furnace with a new one can certainly lower heating costs, but it can make an environmental impact, as well. We are all becoming increasingly aware that there is a finite amount of fossil fuels on the planet, and that the burning of these fuels in large quantity has an effect on the environment as a whole. These are two of the main reasons why more and more Americans are choosing to replace an old, inefficient furnace with a newer model.
San Diego Gas Furnaces vs. Oil Furnaces
Gas Furnace Costs
In modern times, there's really no comparison. Gas burns cleaner, costs less, and produces heat more efficiently than oil. Oil furnaces are becoming less and less common throughout the country, and though they can burn hotter than gas furnaces, San Diego residents will probably be okay using gas, barring some sort of unforeseen ice age.
Installing a new gas furnace in San Diego can cost anywhere from $1,500 to more than $5,000. The highest price for furnace installation we've seen here at ServiceMagic in the San Diego area is $8,000. The cost will, of course, depend on the model you choose and the company that installs it. Remember, though, that a more efficient furnace might cost more initially, but could easily save you enough money in the long run to make up the difference (or even more). As far as repairs go, our data shows that they can cost as much as $1,000 for extensive work, or as little as a couple hundred. To have your furnace inspected annually, expect the bill to be somewhere between $50 and $150.
