Installing a Furnace

Installing an oil furnace is not an easy job. In fact, it can be quiet dangerous. If everything isn't set up properly, you could very easily find yourself in a situation where oil leaks and ignites. So, unless you are one yourself, it's best to leave this to the professionals. Still, you might want to have some idea of what's going on, so here's a look at what the process should look like.

Determining Your Heating Needs

You can't just put any old furnace in your home. There are different-sized furnaces of varying levels of efficiency. The right size for you will need to be determined based on the square footage of your home. This is known as “J load” calculation. Your contractor or heating company will be able to help you calculate this and choose a furnace.

Dealing with the Old System

If you're replacing a current heating system, the old one will need to be dismantled and removed before installation of the new system can begin. Before removing the old system, it's important to make sure that all valves are shut off and all the connections to fuel lines and ductwork are undone. Your installer should also be sure that the ductwork (if your system has it) is carefully secured to the ceiling. Sometimes, ducts can come loose but still be held up by the furnace itself. If they aren't secure, they could fall when the furnace is removed.

If this is a first-time install, you obviously won't have to worry about removing an old system, but the installation won't be limited to the furnace alone. Ducts (or radiators), fuel lines, an oil tank, and all that goes along with them, will need to be installed in addition to the furnace itself.

Installing the New Furnace

The most difficult part of installing a furnace is installing everything that goes along with it (ducts, radiators, fuel lines, etc.), once all of that is in place, installing the furnace itself is relatively simple and is mostly a matter of ensuring all connections are secure. This is still a crucial step however, as an improperly connected fuel line could prove to be disastrous.

Once your installer is sure there aren't any leaks and that the ductwork (or radiator system) is properly connected, the furnace can be started up. With regular maintenance and supply of fuel, you should be able to rely on your furnace to heat up your home for many years to come.