Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
The same blower is used to distribute conditioned indoor air throughout your house. They also function with smart thermostats that allow for individual control.
If you are using a different brand of furnace and AC the warranty may be voided on both units. The matching of the two units can save time and money on maintenance and repairs.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, particularly when they’re paired together. You can save a great deal on your utility bills by selecting a natural gas heater with an air conditioner that has a SEER rating. To get the most efficient results get a professional to do a load calculation for your home. This will help you decide the right size and type of system that is appropriate for your home.
Furnaces produce heat by burning fuel with natural or propane gas. The steam is circulated through ductwork to warm the air in your house. 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 functions as a Goldilocks power coupler, ensuring that your home’s temperature is always just right, never being too cold or too hot.
Think about a variable-speed AC unit if you wish to further increase the efficiency of your system. This technology allows your air conditioner to operate at a lower speed, which helps to better remove moisture from the air, which results in dry air inside.
For homeowners who live in climates that are moderate A heat pump could provide the heating and cooling they need without burning fuel. The units transfer heat from your home into outside air, which reduces the cost of energy and affecting the environment.
Another option is a hybrid that combines a heatpump with gas furnace to provide back-up heating during the coldest months. A new high-efficiency heat pump will make use of the same technology to transfer heat from one part of your home to another however, it comes with a gas furnace to back up the heat during the coldest winter temperatures.
You can cut your energy costs for your home by up to 40% when you replace your old inefficient HVAC system. To get the most savings on energy costs, be sure to install proper insulation, weatherization, and thermostat settings to go with your new HVAC system.
2. Longevity
A furnace could last for 15-30 years while an AC unit can last up to 15-20 years. HVAC systems are usually replaced when a component starts to wear out or has serious issues that affect its efficiency. The homeowner will usually have to decide whether or not to replace their air conditioner or furnace when this happens. While it may seem counterintuitive to invest in a new HVAC system when your current one is working well, it is often the best option for homeowners as they will save on repair bills and lower their energy costs with a newer system.
Installing and buying two HVAC systems new can be expensive. A combination of air conditioner and furnace is more affordable, however. You’ll only need to service your system every year, instead of twice as often with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is a different option to lower the price of an air conditioner. Most modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE (annual energy efficiency ratio) of at least 80%, while most AC units have SEER (seasonal performance rating) of 16 or higher. This can save you money on your energy bills, and lower your home heating and cooling costs.
If you choose a furnace and AC combination from the same manufacturer you’ll also benefit from high energy efficiency and longevity since the systems will work well. If you choose two different brands, keep in mind that a combination that is not compatible can affect their efficiency and life span.
Unmatched units can cause serious problems and cause dangerous refrigerant leaks and CO. These issues can also damage your HVAC system and your ductwork.
A Georgia Air Repair professional can repair any kind of HVAC equipment. However, it’s important to remember that many manufacturers will not honor their warranties when you mix and match their units. Choosing the same brand for your air conditioning and furnace will ensure that your unit is correctly installed and repaired and will provide the best performance over its lifetime.
3. Convenience
If you decide to install a furnace as well as an air conditioner, both HVAC systems are designed to function seamlessly. 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. You will save time and money by selecting a unit that works well with the other HVAC component. It will also help to ensure that your new and old components will work effectively without voiding the other’s warranty or causing other issues with the HVAC system.
A furnace and air conditioning unit in your home will provide you with year round comfort. They can heat and cool the entire house, unlike window air conditioners which are only effective in the summer months and can lead to CO poisoning in winter. They are also more robust and reliable than other kinds of heating and cooling systems.
A furnace and air conditioner combo unit will save you on energy costs as well. While traditional HVAC systems come with SEER ratings of up to 10, a combination unit has a higher SEER rating, giving you greater energy savings and convenience. It is possible to save money if you use an air conditioner in conjunction with a gas or electric furnace, depending on the rates you pay for utilities.
If you are planning to purchase your air conditioner and furnace using a loan, it may be better to go with an integrated unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases for two HVAC systems can negatively impact your borrowing capacity for years. Your credit score will remain unaffected by purchasing an AC/heater unit with credit approval.
A combination of air conditioner and furnace can also permit you to make use of existing ductwork, which makes the process less complicated than just replacing an AC unit or a new furnace. The cost of replacing both the furnace and air conditioning could be substantial.
4. Versatility
For those who reside in climates with moderate temperatures, a furnace-AC combination can be a good choice. It can efficiently heat your home in the winter, and cool it in summer. This type of HVAC, also known as gas-electric systems, utilizes natural or propane to heat your house in winter and electric during summer. This makes it more flexible than an furnace and air conditioner, which can only operate in one mode at a time.
Air conditioners utilize an ingredient called freon in order to cool your home. The AC unit compresses freon that is then evaporated to circulate cool dry air through your home. It also absorbs heat from the air around your home, which helps keep it cool. If your home isn’t adequately insulated, the evaporation process could cause the air in your home to lose its cooling capacity. This occurs when the heat exchanger or refrigerant wears out.
Furnaces use combustion to heat your home, but they are less efficient than air conditioners when it comes to heating. They also have a tougher to deal with cold temperatures than air conditioners. This is why many people who live in climates with moderate temperatures opt for a heat pump oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC combines energy-efficient features from heatpump and the reliability of an oilstove.
To choose the right combination of AC and furnace, you need to ensure that it’s sized correctly for your house. An HVAC expert can help you determine which HVAC system is the best for your home. They’ll take into consideration aspects like square footage, humidity levels, as well as insulation.
A technician in heating and cooling will also help you decide what size furnace and conditioning unit you need. They’ll take into account your heating and cooling requirements and any future expansion plans for your home. They’ll also tell you what kinds of rebates and incentives are available to you.
Before you buy a new HVAC system, you should obtain three quotes from different contractors. Then, compare the prices and the AFUE ratings of each. Don’t forget that a professional HVAC installation is crucial to protect your warranty and ensure your HVAC unit works properly.