With its average winter temperature of -6.6 degrees Celsius, you don’t want to be caught without a working furnace during the winter in Prince Edward Island.
So, if your furnace is starting to age, or you just fancy an upgrade to save money on your bills and enjoy the latest technology, check out this guide to buying a furnace in Prince Edward Island.
Prince Edward Island by the Numbers
Population: 152,021
Average Temp. (Summer): 17 degrees Celsius
Average Temp. (Winter): -6.6 degrees Celsius
Top Furnace Brands by Price Level in PEI (including installation)
Entry level – $3,000 + Goodman, KeepRite, Armstrong, Daikin
Mid Tier – $3,500 + Amana, Trane, Napoleon, York, American Standard, Rheem, Bryant, Heil
Premium – $4,500 + Carrier, Lennox, Luxaire
Purchasing a High-Efficiency Furnace
What does the “AFUE” rating mean?
The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating is a crucial percentage to consider when buying a brand-new furnace. If you’re looking for a high-efficiency furnace, you need to be looking at furnace models that are 90% AFUE rated and higher.
A rule of thumb is the higher the AFUE rating, the better the efficiency of the furnace, and the percentage actually corresponds with how many cents in every dollar you’ll be spending on heating your home.
Government Rebates
For information on government rebates, check out efficiencyPEI. Here you can find information on rebates for installing ENERGY STAR certified heating equipment and their respective eligibility requirements.
Popular Furnace Brands in Prince Edward Island
Residents of Prince Edward Island are purchasing furnaces manufactured by
Amana
American Standard
Bryant
Carrier
Comfortmaker
KeepRite
Lennox
Napoleon
Tempstar
Trane
Installation
Once you’ve decided on the perfect furnace for your needs, it’s important to decide who will be installing your unit. Look for an experienced company or contractor to carry out the work, as a poor installation can result in substandard performance and shorter service life.
Also, many HVAC companies and contractors offer a guarantee on the installation of a furnace, allowing you peace of mind should a problem occur.
Furnace Prices in Prince Edward Island
The price of a furnace (and installation) in Prince Edward Island is pretty similar to national averages, at roughly $3000 – $5000.
Mind you, PEI furnace prices, like anywhere else, will vary depending on what furnace brand you choose and what model you go for, and various installation factors, and which HVAC service provider you use.
As with most things though, you’ll often get what you pay for, so don’t always go for the cheapest price without considering the company’s experience, reputation, and warranty guarantee!
Financing Options in Prince Edward Island
Don’t forget to check out financing options if you would like to spread the cost of the furnace and installation over time instead of paying in one lump sum. Most reputable manufacturers offer financing options with varying repayment options, and many run special offers or incentives!
Other Considerations – Thermostats: Manual vs Programmable vs Smart
Thermostats are a fundamental part of your heating system. However, they can sometimes be overlooked when purchasing a brand-new furnace, so here’s a guide to the three main types of thermostats to help you decide which is best for you.
Manual
Manual thermostats are the most simple and easy to use of the three options, but they’re also the most basic. Basically, there’s no ability to program your thermostat with multiple temperatures and you have to manually change a switch or dial to decrease or increase the temperature of your home.
So it can also be frustrating to have to constantly remember to change your thermostat at various points of the day, and forgetting to change your thermostat means higher monthly energy bills.
Programmable
Programmable thermostats are a step up from manual thermostats. These thermostats usually have a digital display and have the ability to remember settings and temperatures that you’ve programmed into them.
The big plus to programmable thermostats is once you have programmed them to your desired temperature once, you can leave them alone, and they will control your heating exactly the way you’ve specified.
Also, the digital displays and memory functions usually allow for precise communication with your furnace when it comes to temperature, helping you save money on your bills.
Smart
Smart thermostats really are innovative and clever pieces of technology. Many first-time buyers might find it hard to see the return on investment of a smart thermostat (often at least a couple hundred dollars), so here’s the breakdown.
Although the price point is definitely higher, the main benefit is that it can learn what’s best for you by monitoring your usage and preferences, and then making its own decisions.
Another big advantage of purchasing a smart thermostat is the ability to control your furnace remotely through a compatible smart device.
This means you can set it, monitor it and even set up notifications so that you always know if you’re furnace is working needlessly hard to heat your home. Or you can raise the temperature while you’re on you’re way home if you leave work early one day, for example.
So, when you leave the house in the morning, you don’t have to worry about manually programming or physically changing the dial on your thermostat before you leave, your thermostat will know you’ve gone and adjust its output accordingly.
General City Information
Prince Edward Island is a province located on the eastern seaboard and is one of the three Maritime Provinces. PEI, as it’s affectionately known, includes an island of the same name and a number of smaller islands. Its economy is based predominantly on farming, thanks to its impressive agricultural conditions, and is home to a large fishing industry.
Although it’s the smallest province in Canada, PEI has a vibrant cultural and arts scene, featuring multiple music festivals across the province as well as art centres and events. PEI is also an incredibly popular spot for water sports and various winter and summer sporting events, having hosted the Canada Winter Games in 1991 and the Canada Summer Games in 2009.
