在你开始寻找一个新的供暖系统之前，你需要知道的第一件事是你目前是否使用了最好的燃料来源. For example, if you currently use propane gas, 如果你所在地区可以使用天然气，你可能会转向天然气. There are pros and cons to every fuel, 一个转换可能会增加数百美元的成本，一个新的供暖系统, but be well worth it in the long run.

通常与你的供暖承包商联系是有好处的，他们可以帮助你了解你选择的燃料源在未来5到10年里可以节省多少能源成本. 通过这样做，你的承包商可以向你展示你的长期储蓄将是什么. your short term investment. 您也可能有资格获得回扣和/或特殊融资选择，经批准的信贷.

如果一个承包商只是简单地查看你的旧系统，并就相同大小的系统向你报价, be skeptical.

One size does not fit all. No matter which type of heating system you decide upon, you must install a system that is properly sized for your house. 这通常是房主自己不能做的事情. 您的供暖承包商应该对您的房屋进行一个经批准的热量损失，以确定在一年中最冷的日子里，您的房屋需要多少热量来舒适地供暖, and no more. 安装太大的供暖系统只会浪费能源，而且更容易发生故障, shortening the life of the system.

如果你的承包商只是看看你的旧系统，并对相同大小的系统给你报价, be skeptical. This is a common practice and it is irresponsible. Your old heating system is probably between 15 and 40 years old. 现在，花点时间想想你的家在这段时间里经历的所有变化...新的门，新的窗户，在阁楼上增加了隔热层，甚至可能增加了房子. All of these factor into the proper sizing of your heating system.

即使你的家自从安装了现有的供暖系统后没有发生什么大的变化, who's to say that it was ever properly sized to begin with? 无论如何强调都不为过:供暖系统必须完全适合家庭. A system that is too big or too small will lead to future problems, higher fuel bills and the premature failure of the system.

AFUE and efficiency. Today's heating systems come in two basic efficiencies, the 80% efficient models and the 90% efficient models. 效率是通过他们的年度燃料能源利用率(AFUE)来衡量的. What does this mean? It is very similar to the way Miles Per Gallon or MPG, is used to determine how efficient a car's engine is. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heating system.

High efficiency or low efficiency? 您今天可以购买的最低有效加热系统是78%，最高大约是97%. You may be saying to yourself, “不买最高效的供暖系统似乎很傻，因为它能帮我省下最多的电费."

A system that is too big or too small will lead to future problems, higher fuel bills and the premature failure of the system.

This may be true, 但是当你在考虑一个非常高效的系统时，还有很多其他的因素. 这些包括你是否将排气系统，使用一个直接的排气口或烟囱. The 90% efficient systems require what is called direct venting. 这种方法绕过烟囱，直接穿过房子的墙壁. 对于如何进行直接通风，制造商和大多数州都制定了非常严格的规范. If these specifications are not rigidly followed, the results could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The 80% efficient systems are vented using your existing chimney, and thus are much more economical to install. In some instances, 必须用铝或钢衬垫衬住现有的烟囱，以确保烟囱内的废气不会凝结而造成道路砌筑问题.

If your existing furnace or boiler is over 17 years old, 升级到80%的效率系统可能会将你现有的燃料账单减少三分之一.

选择一种新的供暖系统的最佳建议是比较80%的节能系统和90%的节能系统的总投资, factor out any incentives, rebates, etc., and break it all down to an apples-to-apples comparison. Then have the contractor show you what your energy savings will be. At this point, your choice should be obvious.