Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Air conditioner and furnace combination units use the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your home. They can also be controlled via smart thermostats.
If you have an alternative brand of furnace and AC, your warranty could be void for both units. Combining the two units can save time and money when it comes to repairs and maintenance.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and air conditioners are extremely energy efficient, particularly when paired together. You can save a good amount on your monthly utility bills by choosing a gas furnace with an air conditioner that has SEER ratings. For the most efficient efficiency make sure you have a professional perform a load calculation for your home. This will help you determine what size and kind of system is best for your home.
Furnaces create heat by burning fuel with propane gas or natural gas. The steam is circulated through ductwork to warm 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. Both systems are like Goldilocks, working together to keep your home’s temperature right.
If you want to increase your system’s energy efficiency even further, consider a new variable speed AC unit. This technology allows the air conditioner to run at lower power, which lets it better extract moisture from the air.
Heat pumps are an excellent option for homeowners in mild climates. They are able to provide cooling and heating without burning fuel. The units transfer heat from the air in your home to outdoor air, which reduces on energy consumption and environmental impact.
A hybrid system that incorporates a heat pump with an old-fashioned gas furnace to provide back-up warmth during the coldest winter months is another option. A new high-efficiency heat pump can utilize the same technology to transfer heat from one part of your home to another and will be paired with a gas furnace to back up the heat during the coldest temperatures.
If you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system with a brand new, high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner combo, you can reduce your energy bills by as much as 40%. However, for the best savings on energy, make sure to install insulation, weatherization, and thermostat settings in conjunction with your new system.
2. Longevity
A furnace can last between 15 and 30 years while an AC unit may last for up to 15 years. Typically, an HVAC system is replaced when one component begins to show signs of getting old or has serious malfunctions that affect its efficiency. A homeowner is often forced to decide if they want to replace their air conditioner or furnace when this happens. While it might appear counterintuitive to buy an HVAC system that is brand new if your current one is operating well, it’s often the most efficient option for homeowners because they will reduce repair costs and lower their energy costs with a newer system.
Installing and buying two new HVAC systems is costly. A combination of a furnace and air conditioner is less costly, however. You will only have to service your system once a yr instead of twice often with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is yet another way to reduce the cost of an air conditioner. The majority of modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE rating that is at least 80% while most AC units come with an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of up to 16 or more. This will save you money on your energy bills, and lower your home’s cooling and heating costs.
If you select a furnace and AC combo from the same company, you will also enjoy high energy efficiency since the two systems are compatible. However, if you choose to go with two different brands it’s important to note that a mismatched combination will decrease their life span and performance.
Mismatched units can cause serious problems that can result in CO and refrigerant leaks which pose a risk to humans. These problems could also result in damage to your HVAC system and ductwork.
A Georgia Air Repair professional can repair any type of HVAC equipment. However, it’s important to note that most manufacturers will not honor their warranties if you mix and match their units. Selecting the same manufacturer for your air conditioning and furnace will ensure that the unit is correctly installed and maintained and will give you the best performance over its life.
3. Convenience
When you opt to install a furnace and air conditioner combo both HVAC systems are designed to work 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 choosing a unit that works well with the other HVAC component. This will ensure that your new and existing HVAC components will work together without voiding any warranties or causing any other issues to the system.
A furnace and air conditioner combo will provide you with peace of mind all year round. Contrary to window air conditioners which only work in the summer months and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter they are installed to heat and cool your entire home. They are also more durable and reliable than other kinds of cooling and heating systems.
A combination furnace and air conditioner unit can help you save on energy costs too. A combination unit has a higher SEER rating than conventional HVAC systems. This enables you to conserve energy and also enjoy more convenience. You may be able save money by using the heatpump along with an electric or gas furnace, depending on the rates you pay for utilities.
If you are planning on buying your air conditioning and furnace using the aid of a loan, you might think about a combination unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases for two HVAC systems could negatively affect your borrowing capacity for years. Your credit score is unaffected by the purchase of a single AC/heater combo unit that is financed with credit.
A combination of air conditioner and furnace can also permit you to utilize your existing ductwork, making the process much less difficult than replacing only an AC unit or a new furnace. Replacing both the AC and furnace will require extensive ductwork that could be costly.
4. Versatility
A furnace AC combo is a great choice for those living in moderate climates. It is able to efficiently heat your home in winter and cool it in summer. This type of HVAC, also known as gas-electric systems uses propane or natural gas to heat your home in the winter and electricity in the summer. This makes it more flexible than a combination of an air conditioner and furnace that can only work in one mode.
The chemical freon is employed by air conditioners to cool your house. The AC unit compresses freon which is then evaporated to circulate cool dry air through your home. It also absorbs heat from the surrounding air, which helps keep your home cool. If your home isn’t adequately constructed, the process of evaporation can cause the air in your home to lose its cooling capacity. This occurs when the refrigerant leaks, or the heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces are a way to heat your home with combustion, but are less efficient at heating than air conditioners. Air conditioners are also less able to deal with cold temperatures. Many people in mild climates prefer a heat pump and oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC system incorporates energy-efficient features of a heatpump with the reliability of an oilstove.
The key to selecting the right combination of air conditioner and furnace is to ensure it’s sized correctly for your home. A HVAC professional can help determine which HVAC system is the most suitable for your home. They’ll consider factors like square footage as well as insulation and the level of humidity.
A technician with expertise in cooling and heating will also help you determine the size furnace and air conditioner you need. They’ll take into account your heating and cooling requirements as well as any plans for expansion you may have for your home. They’ll also explain the types of incentives and rebates are available to you.
Before you purchase a new HVAC system, you must get three quotes from different contractors. Compare the costs and AFUE rating of each one. Make sure you have a professional install of your HVAC system is required to protect your warranty.