Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Air conditioner and furnace combos use the same blower to distribute conditioned air throughout your home. They can also be controlled by smart thermostats.
If you choose a different brand for your furnace and AC could invalidate your warranty on both units. The matching of two units can save you time and money on repairs and maintenance.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and air conditioners are energy efficient, especially when paired together. By choosing gas furnaces that come with air conditioning unit with an excellent SEER rating, you will save a lot on your energy bills throughout the year. A professional can calculate the energy load of your home to get the most efficient results. This will help you decide the appropriate size and type of system for your home.
Furnaces generate heat by burning fuel using propane or natural gas. The steam is circulated through ductwork to warm 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 work like an Goldilocks power couple, ensuring that your home’s temperature is always just right, never too hot or cold.
Consider a variable-speed AC unit if you’re looking to boost the energy efficiency of your system. This technology allows your air conditioner to run at a lower rate and help it to remove moisture from the air, leading to drier indoor air.
For homeowners living in climates that are moderate the heat pump can provide the heating and cooling they need without burning fuel. They transfer heat from the air inside your home to the outside air, which reduces on energy consumption and environmental impact.
A hybrid system, which combines a heat pump with a traditional gas furnace for back-up warmth during the coldest months — is an alternative. A new high-efficiency heat pump makes use of the exact same technology to transfer warmth from one region 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 new, high-efficiency furnace and air combination, you can cut your home energy bills by up to 40%. To maximize savings from your new HVAC system, install the right insulation and weatherization, as well as thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
A furnace could last for 15-30 years while an AC unit may last for as long as 15 years. The majority of the time an HVAC system is replaced when one component starts to show signs of ageing or the other has serious malfunctions that affect its efficiency. If this happens, a homeowner is often faced with the dilemma of whether to replace the air conditioner or furnace. While it may seem counterintuitive to purchase an HVAC system that is new when your current one is functioning well, this is typically the most efficient option for homeowners because they can save money on repairs and cut their energy bills by investing in a modern HVAC system.
Installing and purchasing two HVAC systems new is costly. However an air conditioner combo is less expensive. Additionally, you’ll only have to maintain the unit once per year instead of twice per year with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is yet another option to lower the price of a combination furnace and air conditioner. The majority of modern gas furnaces have an AFUE (annual energy efficiency ratio) of at minimum 80%, and the majority of AC units come with a SEER (seasonal performance rating) of 16 or more. This can help you reduce your energy costs and significantly decrease your home heating and cooling expenses.
If you select a furnace and AC combination from the same manufacturer, you’ll also enjoy excellent energy efficiency and long-lasting performance as the systems will cooperate well. If you select two different brands, remember that a mismatched combination will affect their performance and lifespan.
Mismatched units can cause serious problems that could result in leaks of refrigerant and CO which pose a risk to humans. These issues can also damage your HVAC system as well as your ductwork.
A professional from Georgia Air Repair can perform precise HVAC repairs on all kinds of equipment. It’s important to remember that the majority of manufacturers will not honor their warranties if the units are mixed and matched. Choosing the same air conditioner and furnace will ensure that the unit is correctly installed, repaired and performs optimally throughout its lifespan.
3. Convenience
When you opt to install a furnace as well as an air conditioner combination 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 a unit that works well with the other HVAC component. It will also ensure that your existing and new components will function well without voiding either one’s warranty or causing problems with the HVAC system.
A furnace and air conditioner combination will give you all-year-round comfort. In contrast to window air conditioners, which only work in summer and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter, these units are properly installed to cool and heat your entire house. They are also more durable and reliable than other kinds of heating and cooling systems.
A combination air conditioner and furnace unit will save you on energy costs too. While traditional HVAC systems come with SEER ratings of up to 10, a combination unit has a higher SEER rating, giving you greater energy savings and convenience. It is possible to save money if you use a heatpump in conjunction with a gas or electric furnace, based on your utility rates.
If you plan to purchase your air conditioner and furnace with a loan, it may be better to choose a combination unit instead of two separate units. Purchasing two HVAC systems with credit can have the effect of putting two hits on your credit report, which could affect your borrowing power for years to come. If you purchase a single AC heater with an approved credit card your credit score won’t suffer any damage at all.
A combination of a furnace and air conditioner can also let you make use of existing ductwork, making the process less complicated than replacing only an AC unit or a new furnace. Replacing both the air conditioning and furnace will require extensive ductwork that can be costly.
4. Versatility
A furnace and AC combo is a great choice for those who live in moderate climates. It will efficiently heat your home during the winter months, and cool it in summer. Also known as gas-electric systems this type of HVAC system makes use of propane gas or natural gas to heat your home during the winter months and electricity to cool it down during summer. This makes it more flexible than an air conditioner and furnace combination that can only work on only one mode at a time.
Air conditioners utilize an ingredient called freon in order to cool your home. The AC unit compresses first the freon, which then evaporates to circulate cool air through your home. It also absorbs heat in the air around your home, which helps keep it cool. However, if your house isn’t properly insulated, the evaporation cycle could cause the air to lose its cooling power. This occurs when refrigerant leaks, or the heat exchanger wears down.
Furnaces provide heat to your home through combustion, but they are less efficient in terms of heating than air conditioners. They also have a tougher to deal with cold temperatures than air conditioners. A lot of people living in mild climates choose to use the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This kind of HVAC system is a combination of energy-efficient features from a heatpump with the reliability of an oil stove.
To select the ideal AC/furnace combination, you must make sure that it is right-sized for your home. A HVAC expert can help you determine the HVAC system will work best for your home. They’ll take into consideration factors such as the square footage, the levels of humidity, and insulation.
A specialist in heating and cooling can also help you determine the proper size furnace and air conditioner you need. They’ll take into account the needs of your heating and cooling, as well as any future expansion plans for your home. They will also tell you what incentives and rebates you could get.
Get three estimates from various contractors before purchasing a new HVAC unit. Then, compare the costs and AFUE ratings of each system. Don’t forget that an expert HVAC installation is crucial to ensure the warranty is protected and that your HVAC unit functions properly.
