3 Important Factors to Consider when Purchasing a New HVAC System
Are you looking for an HVAC system for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area? Maybe you have just moved here recently and want a new HVAC system for your home; or you just want to get your current HVAC system replaced for some reason. Before you go looking for HVAC professionals for your needs in heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area, you need to know important factors before you consider buying an HVAC System. But if you are new or just need a refresher in HVAC systems, you need to know exactly what they are. If you already know this, skip to “Considerations in buying HVAC systems”.
What are HVAC Systems?
HVAC systems are designed for heating and cooling throughout your home to keep you comfortable all year round. They are designed for your comfort concerning heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area, so you are warm in winters and cool in the summers. HVAC systems consist of components that can be of many types, but for simplicity’s sake, we will take a look at the function of two of these:
Air Conditioners
The commonly used split versions of ACs have separate outside and inside units. Each has coils packed into them and a refrigerant (a liquid coolant) flows through the coils. The refrigerant turns from a liquid to gas at low temperatures. The heat from the air inside is absorbed by the refrigerant and released from the outside unit via a fan. The thermostat ensures that the thermal levels inside your home remain comfortable by reducing or increasing the cooling speed.
A Furnace or Heater
These can be electric or gas fuelled and pick the cold air from inside your house and throws it into a hot metal box known as the heat exchanger. The metal heats the air around it and a blower fan distributes that heat all over the house via ducts. A heater also works on the same principle. A gas furnace uses gas and heat pumps to sufficiently raise the temperature of air before circulating it. In case of an electric heater, electricity is used to heat the heating elements.
There are three types of furnaces: single-stage with only an on/off switch; two-stage with high low settings in addition to the switch; and the new modulating furnace that works like the household stove.
Heat Pumps
These are of three types, namely air-source, geothermal and ductless. Air-source heat pumps work as the AC does but the outside and inside coils reverse roles to make it either a heater or cooler. The refrigerant can either release or absorb the heat in your room. Geothermal heat pumps utilize the heat deep inside the earth or a deep water source by pipes in the ground. An antifreeze or water solution flows through them to take the heat away from or to the indoor unit. Ductless pumps have indoor and outdoor units, just like the AC.
Considerations in buying HVAC systems
1. Size and Efficiency of Components
The size of the components that you have to get installed is important because a larger AC in a small room will result in higher utility bills, more energy being used and discomfort whereas a smaller AC in a large room which will not be efficient in cooling. Same is the case with heat pumps or furnaces. An HVAC professional for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area, will help you in deciding which size equipment to select for your comfort needs, after they fully inspect your home for the most suitable HVAC system for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area.
Efficiency standards for heating and cooling are regulated by the state. For ACs and the cooling performance of heat pumps, SEERS (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is used. AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is used for furnaces/heaters and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) covers heating performance of heat pumps. For SEERS, the minimum mark required is 13; 14 is considered high performance and the highest ranged systems have SEER ratings of more than 20. AFUE ratings work as percentages to measure how much of the energy from the fuel gas or electricity is converted to usable heat. So naturally, electric furnaces have much higher ratings in the late 90s. Minimum requirements for HSPF are 7.7; for units after 2005. Contact an HVAC professional for more help or information for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area.
2. What’s in Your Budget?
Don’t always go for a cheaper option. Cheaper HVAC systems and components have bad efficiency resulting in higher utility bills instead of energy and bill savings, may need untimely repairs due to bad quality, and won’t last that long altogether. An expensive system component which is in your budget may prove to be an asset in the long run due to higher energy savings and superior builds. Go for the best value for your money, which means suitable price as well as quality. HVAC professionals help you decide what’s best for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area.
3. Repairing and Maintaining the System
Regularly scheduled maintenance of your HVAC system is important and no HVAC professional dealing in heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area will tell you any different. It can save you extra costs of replacement and extensive repairs down the road. When buying HVAC equipment and parts, ask for warranties on parts as well as service; some HVAC professionals for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area also give warranties on parts as well as service, so be sure to ask. HVAC professionals for heating and ac in Arlington and Fort Worth area, like those at Minuteman Heating and Air inspect your home for what equipment or system will suit your home and where each and every “piece of the puzzle” goes. So you need not worry about the location of outdoor AC units and inefficient cooling or heating as long as these NATE and EPA certified professionals have your back.