A furnace is worth making the home warm in the cold weather. Not everyone wants to live at home when the temperature goes down. This is also one of the most common types of central heating system that ensures warming. In the acute cold weather, seniors, children, and other physically challenged people need such warm temperatures inside the home. The cost of furnace replacement and upgrade is high. The low-income people badly feel the need for such furnace replacement.
But there are also government programs that help people in different situations. The programs of the government may come to be energy efficient, help pay energy bills for furnaces, and many more. When they have low income, senior citizens, and family members with a disability, they may seek assistance from different programs on furnace replacement. So we are going to discuss some issues on the government programs for furnace replacement and different types of furnaces.
Content Outline
Types of Furnace
In the winter with snowfall, people are stuck at home and they need to warm the home. A warm home is one of the most important factors in living in a warm condition. Now a furnace is a system that warms the home safely and efficiently. So, a boiler and heater produce heat inside the home. This furnace can work as a central heating system to ensure people will not feel the horrible cold during a snowfall when temperatures are going down. A furnace is replaced and installed permanently at the home that works efficiently with natural gas.
A single-stage furnace comes with a simple operation and it has only one operation. This type of furnace is low cost and it is noisy. It runs at the highest speed that pumps out the hottest air at the highest velocity. Traditionally this type of furnace comes at a cheap price and installation is also simply being simple technology. But this type of single-stage furnace may cost you much in terms of energy due to the motor blower and inefficiency of mechanical technology.
Two-stage furnaces are combined with two stages full speed and half speed. This is more user-friendly and has customizable features. One can Lower the heat speed at a lower rate. Two-stage furnaces can be a good deal when users want them to be a quitter and move the air with less velocity. So, people can use it according to the demand for heat and can be used to make the home warm easily.
Modulating a furnace is the best choice as it modulates heat output and air velocity continuously. This is designed to make sure the need is fulfilled according to the user’s needs. The user can opt for adjusting heat at home depending on the demanded heat and outside temperature. These are best known as energy-saving appliances at home.
Cost Of Furnace
A furnace may come in different types based on work and how they work with fuel. Some furnaces work with natural gas and electricity and oil. So we are going to know such type of furnace and their cost in the market.
Natural gas
A furnace with natural gas can be the best option and most homeowners are using such a type of furnace with natural gas. This is one of the energy-saving options for the homeowner. When you have a natural gas line at your home, the furnace can be much more efficient and easier to use with high efficiency and lower cost. The natural gas furnace may be at the rate of 98.5% annual fuel utilization efficiency. When it comes to the natural gas furnace, it may cost you between $1700 to $9700. This range may also include installation charges based on location and supplier services. The cost is going to be higher than the electric-based furnace. So you are living in the cold weather, you just go with such a furnace to warm your home.
Gas Furnace also comes in two types, such s condensing furnaces and non-condensing furnaces. Condensing furnace is a type of gas furnace with a double heat exchanger, and a non-condensing furnace is a type of gas furnace with a single heat exchanger. The cost of such furnaces varies a little. The homeowner may need to cost only $350 more than a non-condensing furnace. Recently, Biden Administration propose to go condensing furnaces compared to the non-condensing furnace as this can save about $60 per year, according to the Department of Energy.
Electric furnace
An electric furnace works on electricity to heat the air in the exchanger. But electric furnace has been found that they are less efficient but costly compared to natural gas and oil-based furnace. But electric furnace can be an option for the homeowner because it is Eco friendly. Additionally, the electric furnace can be for long-term use and it has a lifespan of 20-30 years. When homeowners have no option to go natural gas and oil but have electricity, they can opt for an electric furnace. This type of furnace may cost the homeowners between $1600 to $6000 with the installation cost.
Oil furnace
An oil furnace is another option for the homeowner when they don’t have any source of natural gas and electricity. But the cost of oil can be less than that of electricity. This furnace has been backdated and it was used in the early 20th. Additionally, the oil furnace may not be available in the market due to the higher price and less common type of furnace at this time. More importantly, the cost of natural gas may be lower and people are going to use natural and electric-based furnaces and these oil-based furnaces are losing their place. So, the cost of such oil furnaces comes between $4300 to $9200.
Families With Furnace Need
Warming the home is important to make sure the low-income people don’t have to suffer acute coldness. Surely so many people may have such furnace to save them from the acuteness of the cold. But it is important to think equally so that all the people can have the same facilities and services at home.
It has been found that some low-income families may have an old furnace or broken furnace that does not work. Some families may also not have any furnaces due to low income. When they don’t afford to buy such a furnace, they are sure to suffer acute coldness. When the families have disabled and senior family members, they are prone to so many cold-bearing diseases such as cold and fever, pneumonia, and many more. So, the need for a furnace is important for all types of people and families to live from the acute cold. More importantly, the home needs to be a little bit warm, which can be helpful for the children as well.
Places To Get Funding For Furnace
Furnace replacement may be a great work and costly step indeed. The low-income families have low incomes and they may not think of such steps to go. If there is any assistance, surely, they can live better from the acuteness of the cold. So, some places may assist low-income families and it may depend on program and funding availability. So low-income families may search for such programs in different ways.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides assistance and grants to local, state, county, and community offices. It is important to check from this department if any program and assistance is available according to your location.
There are also other programs from the Department of Social service where you and explain your need for the replacement of the furnace. In this case, you may get started with a community action agency to apply for support and assistance in replacing a furnace.
More importantly, government grants for furnace replacement may be available from the weatherization program and LIHEAP. Surly LIHEAP is a low-income home energy assistance program that assists low-income people with energy bills.
Even so, many non-profit organizations are working to eliminate the hardships of low-income people. You may search for non-profit organizations like the Salvation Army, local churches, charitable organizations, and utility companies to seek help for furnace replacement.
Common Eligibility For Furnace Replacement
Indeed you may find some program that assists with the furnace replacement. But these programs may have eligibility criteria, and this may vary according to different factors. Indeed, most people are not going to qualify for such a program. For example, people living in warm weather may not be eligible for furnace replacement. More importantly, the eligibility highly depends on the need of the families who are not going to afford to buy a furnace or replace the furnace. So here are some common eligibility criteria.
- Having a low income that is not enough to go for such a task
- Living in cold-weather regions
- You are over 60 years of age
- You have a disabled family member
- Families with children
- Upgrading from older energy-inefficient equipment
- Switching from expensive electric to a cheaper gas
- Replacing antiquated oil heating systems
So it is important to check out the program eligibility before applying for assistance. Some people are getting government assistance such as receiving SSI, disabled veterans, TANF, and low- and moderate-income elderly.
Government Programs For Furnace Replacement
There are programs for furnace replacement from the government and other sources. The low-income families can get such assistance to make sure they can go Warming in their homes.
Home energy assistance program
When you are searching for assistance, the home energy assistance program may be a place to start. This program assists low-income people in paying the cost of heating their homes. There may be eligibility criteria, and you should check out such eligibility criteria under this program. It is important to explain your need and how heating your home with a furnace can be a good deal to make everyone safe from the clutch of the cold.
The low-income home energy assistance program
Low-income home energy assistance program is known as LIHEAP. The programs provide funds to the department of health and human services to make sure the low-income families can go with the cost of furnaces in their homes. So you should search for such a program available to your location to make sure you can make your home with hearing.
Heating assistance program
A heating assistance program is available in the state of Alaska. This program assists low-income families to go heating their homes. The program also aims to the well-being and health of the resident living in Alaska. There may be eligibility criteria and you need to find this program to know more details for getting started for getting furnace assistance.
Weatherization assistance program
The weatherization assistance program is a program of the department of energy, and it is a federally funded program. When it comes to heating your home for living healthy, you can find your local weatherization organization service provider. Though this program reduces the cost of energy, you may also get assistance for cooling and heating as part of replacing the furnace. An assistance amount may be limited to $4500 per unit. People with low income and the elderly are eligible for this program.
Energy Star Rebates
This is another program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The products that earn the energy star label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S EPA and can help you save energy and money while protecting the environment. There are rebates and special offers according to the homeowner’s location. The homeowner can also get assistance for heating and cooling elements that can be used for furnace replacement.
Housing Improvement program
The low-income families can get home repair assistance, especially America Indian and Alaska Native Families. A housing improvement program can be another option because an incentive can be offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. The interested homeowner may visit the local housing office to get more details for knowing the process of getting assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
So there are some frequently asked questions, which are common among people. We are going to answer such questions to make sure you can know more.
How much is a new furnace?
A new furnace replacement may be important for you to make your home warm. This may depend on the size of your home, your new furnace’s efficiency, and the equipment’s sophistication. But the cost factors are a considerable issue and come between $3000 to $7600.
Is there a rebate for a new furnace in Alberta?
Surely there is a rebate for a new furnace. When upgrading your home with an ECM furnace, you may see a rebate of $75 per furnace. Additionally, this figure can be double when you are going to upgrade both furnaces, which comes by $150.
Does the furnace qualify for a tax credit?
Some furnaces are workable with natural gas, oil, and propane and should be eligible. When your annualized fuel utilization efficiency rating is at least 95 percent, your new heater may qualify, and you can get up to $150 as a tax credit on your federal income tax form. You may check out the tax credit on the furnace from the IRS if this is available now.
Final Verdict
Indeed there may be a lot of resources for free furnace and furnace replacement. But this works differently in different states and locations. But the low-income people get much priority and preference in terms of any assistance when the federal government provides funds to the state government. So it is important to check out every government program, eligibility, and what type of assistance explains to you. You may visit the department’s local office that deals with such projects and works, where you may get information on such programs. Then you may get started on the furnace replacement program.