Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
The same blower is used to distribute conditioned indoor air throughout your home. They can also be controlled by smart thermostats.
Using a different brand for your furnace and AC could invalidate your warranty on both units. The matching of the two units can save you time and cost on repairs and maintenance.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, especially when they’re used in conjunction. If you choose gas furnaces with an air conditioner that has an excellent SEER rating, you can save money on your utility bills throughout the year. A professional can estimate the load for your home in order to achieve the best results. This will allow you to determine the appropriate size and type of system for your space.
Furnaces produce heat by burning fuel using natural or propane gas. The steam is circulated through ductwork to warm air in your home. Then, during the summer, an air conditioner uses a refrigerant–generally a cool gas called freon–to evaporate into a liquid and cool the air that circulates through your home’s ducts. The combination of these two systems work like an Goldilocks power couple, ensuring that your home’s temperature will always be just right, never too cold or too hot.
If you’re looking to improve your system’s energy efficiency even more, think about a new, variable speed AC unit. This technology allows the air conditioner to run at a lower speed and helps to better remove moisture from the air, resulting in drier indoor air.
Heat pumps are a great option for homeowners in mild climates. They can provide cooling and heating without burning any fuel. They transfer heat from the air in your home to the outdoor air, which cuts down on energy costs and also reduces environmental impact.
A hybrid system–which includes a heat pump and traditional gas furnaces to provide back-up warmth during the coldest months — is an alternative. A new high-efficiency heat pump will utilize the same technology to transfer heat from one part of your home to the next, but with an added gas furnace to back up the heat during the coldest temperatures.
You can cut your energy costs for your home by up to 40% if you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system. For the greatest savings on energy, make sure to install proper insulation, weatherization, and thermostat settings to go with your new HVAC system.
2. Longevity
The lifespan of a furnace is between 15 and 30 years and an AC unit can last for 15 to 20 years. Typically, an HVAC system is replaced when a component starts to show signs getting old or suffers from serious malfunctions which affect its performance. If this occurs, a homeowner is often faced with the decision of whether to replace the air conditioner or furnace. It may seem counterintuitive, but investing in an HVAC unit that is new when the old one is still functioning well is often the best option for homeowners. They will save money on repairs and reduce their energy consumption.
Purchasing and installing two HVAC systems new can be costly. However, a furnace and air conditioner combo is less expensive. Plus, you will only need to service the unit once per year instead of twice per year for separate units.
A high-efficiency system is a different option to lower the price of the combination furnace and air conditioner. Modern gas furnaces typically have an AFUE (annual energy efficiency ratio) of at minimum 80%, whereas most AC units come with SEER (seasonal performance rating) of 16 or more. This can help you reduce your energy bills and drastically reduce your home’s cooling and heating costs.
If you choose a furnace and AC combination from the same manufacturer, you’ll also enjoy excellent energy efficiency and longevity since the systems will work well. If you choose two different brands, keep in mind that a mismatched combo can affect their efficiency and longevity.
Mismatched units can cause serious problems that can result in CO and refrigerant leaks which pose a risk to humans. These issues could also cause damage to your ductwork and reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.
A Georgia Air Repair professional can repair any type of HVAC equipment. However, it’s important to know that the majority of manufacturers won’t honor their warranties if you mix and match their units. By choosing the same furnace and air conditioner will ensure that the unit is correctly installed, repaired and performs optimally over its lifetime.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems seamlessly integrate when you install a furnace and air conditioner combination. The units have shared components, such as the blower fan that distributes temperature-controlled air through your home’s duct system and into rooms of your choice. Choosing a unit specifically designed to function with your other HVAC component will save you time and money in the long run. This will ensure that the new and current HVAC components will work together without voiding warranties or causing any other problems to the system.
A furnace and air conditioning unit inside your home will provide you with year round comfort. In contrast to window air conditioners, which only work in summer and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter the units are set up to cool and heat your entire house. These units are more durable and reliable than other cooling and heating systems.
Additionally, you can reduce your energy bills by using a furnace and air conditioning unit. While traditional HVAC systems have SEER ratings as high as 10, a combo unit is more SEER-rated which means you will enjoy more energy savings and greater convenience. Depending on your energy costs and the climate, you might even be in a position to save money by using a heating pump along with an electric or gas furnace.
If you are planning to purchase your furnace and air conditioner with a loan, it may be better to choose a combination unit rather than two separate units. Credit card purchases for two HVAC systems can adversely affect your borrowing capacity for years. By purchasing a single AC heater and combo unit using an approved credit card your credit score won’t be affected in any way.
The process of replacing the furnace and AC unit is much less difficult when you make use of your existing ductwork. The cost of replacing both the air conditioning and furnace could be substantial.
4. Versatility
A furnace AC combination is a great option for those who live in mild climates. It can efficiently heat your home in winter months and cool it down during summer. Also known as gas-electric systems this kind of HVAC system makes use propane gas or natural gas to heat your home during the winter, and electricity to cool it down in the summer. This makes it more adaptable than an furnace and air conditioner that can only work in one mode at a given time.
Air conditioners make use of a chemical called freon to cool your home. The AC unit compresses freon, which is then evaporated to circulate cool dry air through your home. It also absorbs heat from the air surrounding your home, which helps to keep it cool. However, if your house isn’t well-insulated, the evaporation cycle could cause the air to lose its cooling power. This happens when the refrigerant or heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces provide heat to your home through combustion, but they are not as efficient in terms of heating than air conditioners. They also have a harder to deal with cold temperatures than air conditioners. That’s why many people who live in moderate climates choose an oil furnace and heat pump combination. This type of HVAC incorporates energy-efficient features of an oil furnace with the reliability of an oil stove.
To select the ideal combination of furnace and AC, you must make sure that it is sized correctly for your house. A HVAC expert can help you determine which HVAC system is best for your home. They’ll consider factors like area, insulation, and the humidity levels.
A specialist in heating and cooling will also help you determine the right size furnace and air conditioner that you need. They’ll consider your heating and cooling needs and any plans for expansion you might have for your home. They will also tell you what incentives and rebates you could receive.
Get three estimates from different contractors before you purchase a new HVAC unit. Then, compare the prices and the AFUE ratings of each. Make sure you get an expert HVAC installation is necessary to protect your warranty and ensure your HVAC unit is working properly.
