While it may not be the most glamorous feature of your home, and often remains tucked away behind your walls, an HVAC system is vital to your daily comfort.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems can significantly impact both your home’s livability and your financial bottom line. From furnaces and radiators to heat pumps, you are likely familiar with a variety of climate control options. Determining which is <a href="https://shoppixy.com/best-crib-mattress-buying-guide/” title=”Best Crib Mattress Buying Guide”>best for your residence is the next step.
The ideal choice often depends on your geographic location, but modern technology is making HVAC systems more efficient and potentially more affordable than ever. Here is how to navigate the major industry shifts and decide which system suits your needs.
Most HVAC systems operate on a simple principle that balances the distribution and return of air throughout your home, according to the chair of the HVAC program at the Fortis Institute in Scranton.
A standard gas furnace, for example, is calibrated to the size of your home and the climate you live in. It’s designed to suck in ambient air from your home, boost it by 50 degrees Fahrenheit by burning natural gas (which is largely made of the fossil fuel methane) and then blow it through your house.
A central AC system works in a similar way, by condensing a refrigerant outside your house and cooling it off by blowing outside air over it. Then the refrigerant moves indoors, where it expands and gets colder. Indoor air is blown over the cold part of the air conditioner and distributed through your house’s system of metal ducts. “You’re going to have a tunnel effect of ductwork going through your house,” Berry said.
Heat pumps work a lot like air conditioners. However, heat pumps can reverse the process and heat your house too, even in cold temperatures.
Air-hey can warm or cool your entire house using air ducts, or condition specific areas with smaller, wall-mounted units known as mini-splits
Ground-res some trenching to bury tubing and is more expensive, but these systems are highly efficient
Every type of HVAC system has had its peak, and you may have lived with various heating and cooling methods in homes of different ages. Here are the pros and cons of each type of system.
Pros: Works well even in extremely cold temperatures; can be an affordable type of heat when gas prices are low.
Cons: Requires extensive ductwork throughout your house; burns fossil fuels, a
Pros: Highly desirable for home comfort, which could boost home resale value; can run on clean, fossil-free energy.
Cons: Requires extensive ductwork throughout your house; a new central AC installation can be expensive and lead to higher energy bills.
Pros: Provide both heating and cooling; can run on clean, fossil-free energy; use less electricity than other electric heating methods.
Cons: A new cooling system can be expensive and lead to higher electricity bills; mini-split systems might require wall-mounted, interior units that some might find unsightly.
Pros: Efficiency can save you a lot on energy bills; can run on clean, fossil-free energy; provide both heating and cooling.
Cons: One of the most expensive types of systems to install upfront; require invasive construction of wells on your property.
Although many different types of HVAC are still available, Berry says there’s really no competition these days. “If I was going to put a unit in, there’s no question in my mind I would go with a heat pump,” he said. “No if, ands or buts about it.”
For existing homes, Berry recommends mini-split or central heat pump systems. Either way, this type of heat is the most efficient, cost-effective and comfortable option, Berry said. “You can’t really beat those,” he said.
Finding an HVAC installer right now — like finding any contractor — can be challenging. Berry recommends getting at least three to four quotes and asking for a guaranteed installation timeline, that way you know you’re getting the best deal.
To find a reputable installer, Berry advises you seek out established companies that have a good reputation among your neighbors. “You’re going to want somebody who is dependable, reliable, who’s been around for a while,” he said. Don’t be afraid to ask the installer for past customers who you can contact and ask about their experience, Berry recommends.
In an ideal world, it takes about two weeks to install a new HVAC system, Berry said. Add in some buffer time for unexpected problems, and 30 days is a good estimate to work with.
But before you set a contractor loose on your home, make sure that estimated time frame is in your contract with the installer, Berry said. Reputable installers have an incentive to get the job done in a timely manner, so they can get on to the next job — so if your contractor declines to give you a timeline, that might be a red flag.
If you have any kind of system that involves ductwork (like a gas furnace or central AC), there’s one piece of maintenance you can do yourself: changing the air filters.
Beyond that, Berry recommends calling in the professionals. Gas furnaces should be checked once a year, and Berry said service usually takes about an hour and a half. (If it takes any less, you might be getting ripped off.) Air conditioners need regular checkups, and don’t forget to clean the filters on the mini-splits too. Proper maintenance can extend your HVAC system’s life.
The same advice applies here: Make sure to work with a reputable, long-established HVAC company, even if it’s a bit more expensive, Berry said.
Luckily, Berry’s recommended HVAC technology — air-credits right now. A federal tax credit covers 30% of the project cost, up to $2,000
There are other types of HVAC eligible for federal money: Check out the rebates for biomass stoves/boilers, central AC, gas furnaces and geothermal heat pumps.
Some states have additional credits available for heating systems. Check with your local power company for more details.
Heating systems are fundamentally designed to overcome the loss of heat that happens when air leaves your home through windows, doors and walls.
Many homeowners now invest heavily in insulation and weather-sealing, which can significantly reduce the amount of heat your home loses. And in turn, that can allow you to get away with a smaller (and cheaper) heating system. New windows, doors, insulation and air sealing items also qualify for up to $1,200 in tax credits.
Berry recommends, however, that you don’t go too small with your heating installation: No matter how insulated your home, you still want an HVAC system that can keep you toasty on the most frigid night.
