Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combos make use of the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your home. They can also be controlled via smart thermostats.
If you have another brand of furnace and AC, your warranty could be void on both units. The two units being matched saves time and money when it comes to repairs and maintenance.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, especially when they’re combined. By choosing a gas furnace with an air conditioning unit with an impressive SEER rating, you’ll be able to reduce your energy bills throughout the year. For the most efficient efficiency make sure you have a professional perform an estimate of the load for your home. This will allow you to determine the right size and type of system that is appropriate for your space.
Furnaces generate heat by using propane or natural gas to ignite fuel to produce hot steam. This steam then circulates through ductwork and warms the air inside 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 work like an Goldilocks power couple, 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 want to increase the energy efficiency of your system. This technology allows the air conditioner to run on lower power and allows it to better extract moisture from the air.
Heat pumps are a great alternative for homeowners living in mild climates. They can provide cooling and heating without burning fuel. They transfer heat out of your home to the outside air, reducing energy costs and impact on the environment.
A hybrid system that combines a heat pump with a traditional gas furnace for back-up warmth during the coldest months — is another option. A new high-efficiency heat pump will use the exact same technology to transfer warmth from one part of your home to another however, it has a gas furnace added for backup during the coldest temperatures.
By replacing your old inefficient HVAC system with a modern high-efficiency furnace and combination, you can reduce your energy costs by up to 40%. For the greatest savings on energy costs, be certain to install the proper insulation and weatherization as well as thermostat settings with your new HVAC system.
2. Longevity
A furnace could last for 15-30 years while an AC unit may last for as long as 15 years. HVAC systems are usually replaced when a part begins to get old or suffers from serious issues that affect the efficiency of the unit. The homeowner will usually have to decide whether to replace their air conditioner or furnace when this happens. It may seem counterintuitive, but investing in a new HVAC unit when the existing one is still in good working order is often the best choice for homeowners. They can save the cost of repairs and also reduce their energy costs.
Installing and buying two HVAC systems new can be costly. However, a furnace and air conditioner combo is much less costly. You’ll only need to service your system every year instead of twice as often if you have separate units.
A high-efficiency system is a different method to lower the cost of a combination furnace and air conditioner. The majority of modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE rating of at minimum 80% while most AC units have an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of up to 16 or more. This can help you save on your energy bills and significantly decrease your home heating and cooling expenses.
If you select a furnace-AC combination from the same manufacturer, you will also enjoy excellent energy efficiency as the two systems work well. However, if you choose to go with two different brands it’s important to note that a mix of brands will reduce their life span and performance.
Mismatched units could cause serious problems that can lead to dangerous CO and refrigerant leaking. 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 kind of HVAC equipment. It’s important to note that most manufacturers will not honor their warranty when you mix and match their units. Making sure you choose the same manufacturer for your furnace and air conditioning will ensure that the unit is correctly installed and maintained and will give you the best performance throughout its lifetime.
3. Convenience
When you opt to install a furnace as well as an air conditioner combo, 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 can save time and money by selecting the unit that is compatible with the other HVAC component. It will also help ensure that your new and old components will work perfectly without voiding one’s warranty or causing other issues with the HVAC system.
Having a furnace and air conditioning unit in your home will provide you with all year round comfort. These units can cool and heat your entire house, in contrast to window air conditioners, which are only effective during summer and can cause CO poisoning in winter. These units are more reliable and durable than other heating and cooling systems.
A furnace and air conditioner combo unit can save you money on energy costs too. Combination units have a higher SEER rating than conventional HVAC systems. This enables you to conserve energy and enjoy greater convenience. Depending on your rates for utilities and the climate, you might even be saving money by using a heating pump along with an electric or gas furnace.
If you are planning to purchase your air conditioner and furnace using a loan it is possible to choose an integrated unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases for two HVAC systems could negatively impact your borrowing capacity for years. Your credit score will remain not affected by buying one AC/heater combination unit that is financed with credit.
A combination of air conditioner and furnace can also let you utilize your existing ductwork, making the process less complicated than replacing only an AC unit or a brand new furnace. The cost of replacing both the furnace and air conditioning is often high.
4. Versatility
For those who reside in areas that have moderate temperatures, a furnace-AC combo can be a great choice. It can efficiently heat your home in the winter and cool it down in summer. This type of HVAC is also referred to as gas-electric systems, utilizes natural or propane to heat your house in the winter months and power during summer. This makes it more flexible than a conventional air conditioner/furnace combination that only works in one mode.
The chemical freon is utilized by air conditioners to cool your house. The AC unit compresses freon which is then evaporated to circulate cool, dry air throughout your home. It also absorbs heat from the air surrounding your home, which helps keep it cool. If your house isn’t adequately insulated, the evaporation process could cause the air in your home to lose its cooling ability. This happens when the refrigerant or heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces provide heat to your home through combustion, but they are less efficient in heating than air conditioners. Air conditioners are also less able to deal with cold temperatures. Many people living in mild climates prefer the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC system combines energy-efficient features from heatpump and the reliability of an oilstove.
The most important factor to consider when choosing the right AC/furnace combo is to ensure that it’s the right size for your home. An HVAC expert can help you determine which HVAC system is best for your house. They’ll look at aspects like square footage, humidity levels, and insulation.
A technician for heating and cooling can also assist you in deciding what size furnace and air conditioner you need. They’ll take into account the needs of your heating and cooling and any plans for future expansions to your home. They’ll also let you know what incentives and rebates you can get.
Before you buy a new HVAC system, you must obtain three quotes from different contractors. Compare the prices and AFUE rating of each system. Be aware that a professional installation of your HVAC system is necessary to ensure your warranty.
