Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combos use the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your house. They can also be controlled by smart thermostats.
Using a different brand of your furnace and AC could void your warranty on both units. Combining the two units can save time and money when it comes to maintenance and repairs.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, especially when they’re paired together. If you choose gas furnaces with an air conditioner with an impressive SEER rating, you will save a lot on your utility bills throughout the year. To get the most efficient results, have a professional do an energy calculation for your home. This will help you determine the right size and type of system that is appropriate for your home.
Furnaces generate heat using natural or propane gas to ignite fuel to produce hot steam. The steam then circulates through ductwork and warms the 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 two systems are similar to Goldilocks working in tandem to keep your home’s temperature right.
If you’re looking to boost your system’s energy efficiency even more, think about a new variable speed AC unit. This technology permits the air conditioner to operate at less power and lets it better extract moisture from air.
For homeowners who live in mild climates A heat pump could provide the cooling and heating they require without burning fuel. They transfer heat out of your home to the outside air, reducing the energy cost and affecting the environment.
Another option is a hybrid system that combines a heatpump with gas furnaces to provide back-up heating in the coldest winter months. A new high-efficiency heat pump can make use of the same technology to transfer heat from one region of your house to the next, but with an added gas furnace to back up the heat during the coldest winter temperatures.
You can cut down your home’s energy bills by up to 40% if you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system. For the best energy savings from your new system, you must install the correct insulation, weatherization and thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
The lifespan of a furnace can be between 15 and 30 years, while an AC unit can last up to 15 years. Typically an HVAC system is replaced when a component starts to show signs of getting old or suffers from serious malfunctions that compromise its effectiveness. The homeowner will usually have to decide whether to replace their furnace or air conditioner when this happens. While it may appear counterintuitive to buy a new HVAC system when your current one is working well, it is typically the most efficient option for homeowners because they will save money on repairs and reduce their energy bills with a newer system.
Installing and buying two new HVAC systems is expensive. However an air conditioner combo is less expensive. Plus, you will only need to maintain the system once per year instead of twice a year for separate units.
A high-efficiency system is another way to reduce the cost of an air conditioner. Modern gas furnaces are equipped with an AFUE rating that is at least 80 percent while the majority of AC units have an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of 16 or more. This will save you money on your energy bills, and reduce your cooling and heating costs.
If you select a furnace-AC combination from the same manufacturer you can also benefit from high energy efficiency since the two systems are compatible. However, if you choose to go with two different brands it is important to keep in mind that a mismatched combination will reduce their life span and performance.
Incorrectly matched units can cause serious problems that could cause leaks of refrigerant and CO which pose a risk to humans. These problems could also result in damage to your HVAC system and ductwork.
A specialist from Georgia Air Repair can perform accurate HVAC repairs on all kinds of equipment. It’s important to remember that the majority of manufacturers won’t respect their warranties when the units are mixed and match. Making sure you choose the same manufacturer for your air conditioner and furnace will ensure that the unit is correctly installed and maintained and will give you the best performance throughout its life.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems will seamlessly integrate when you install a furnace 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 your time and money in the long time. This will ensure that your new and existing HVAC components will work together without voiding any warranties or causing any other damage to the system.
Having a combination of a furnace and air conditioner inside your home will provide you with all year round comfort. Unlike window air conditioners that only work in summer and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in winter they are installed to heat and cool the entire house. They are also more robust and reliable than other kinds of heating and cooling systems.
A furnace and air conditioner combo unit can help you save on energy bills as well. While conventional HVAC systems have SEER ratings as high as 10, a combo unit is more SEER-rated which means you will enjoy greater energy savings and convenience. You could save money if you use a heatpump in conjunction with an electric or gas furnace, depending on your energy costs.
If you’re planning on purchasing your air conditioner and furnace with a loan, you may think about a combination unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases of two HVAC systems can negatively affect your borrowing capacity over the course of years. Your credit score will remain unaffected by purchasing one AC/heater combination unit that is financed with credit.
The replacement of the furnace and AC unit is much simpler when you use the ductwork you have already installed. Replacing both the air conditioning and furnace will require extensive ductwork and could be expensive.
4. Versatility
For those who reside in areas with moderate temperatures, a furnace AC combination can be a good option. It can heat your home efficiently in the winter, and cool it in the summer. Also known as gas-electric systems this type of HVAC system makes use of propane gas or natural gas to warm your home in the winter and electricity to cool it down in summer. This makes it more adaptable than an air conditioner and furnace combo, which can only operate on one mode at a time.
Air conditioners make use of an ingredient called freon in order to cool your home. The AC unit first compresses the freon, and then evaporates to circulate cool air through your home. It also absorbs heat from the air around your home, which helps to keep it cool. If your home isn’t well-insulated, the evaporation cycle can cause the air to lose its cooling power. This happens when the heat exchanger or refrigerant wears out.
Furnaces heat your home using combustion, but are less efficient in terms of heating than air conditioners. They also have a harder to deal with cold temperatures than air conditioners. Many people in mild climates choose to use a heat pump and oil furnace combination. This kind of HVAC system blends the energy-efficient characteristics of a heat pump along with the reliability of an oil furnace.
The key to selecting the right AC/furnace combo is to ensure it’s properly sized for your home. A HVAC expert can help you determine which HVAC system is suitable for your home. They’ll take into consideration factors such as the square footage, the levels of humidity, and insulation.
A heating and cooling technician can also assist you in deciding what size furnace and air conditioner you require. They’ll consider your heating and cooling needs, as well any future expansion plans you may have for your home. They will also tell you what incentives and rebates you can get.
Before purchasing a new HVAC system, it is recommended to obtain three quotes from different contractors. Then, compare the costs and the AFUE ratings of each. Make sure you have a professional install of your HVAC system is necessary to ensure your warranty.
