The first arctic chill of the season has already descended upon a large swath of the U.S., causing many homeowners to realize that it may be time to replace their gas-fired furnace. Buying a new furnace is likely a new experience for most homeowners, so they may not know just how important it is to have the equipment installed correctly. Or they may not care, as the cost of the furnace may be what concerns them most.
Knowing that homeowners are often price sensitive when it comes to buying expensive HVAC systems, some contractors may cut corners on the installation in order to keep their bid low. Others may make mistakes that — while not intentional — can still result in a system that does not deliver the comfort or energy savings that was promised during the sales call. And while this is also true of cooling systems, proper installation of furnaces is even more important, because if they are not vented correctly, carbon monoxide could spill into the living space, posing a danger to occupants.