Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combos use the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your home. They can also be controlled by smart thermostats.
If you are using an alternative brand of furnace and AC your warranty may be void on both units. The two units being matched saves time and money on maintenance and repairs.
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 conditioner that has an excellent SEER rating, you will reduce your energy bills throughout the year. A professional can calculate the load for your home in order to achieve the best results. This will allow you to determine which size and kind of system is best for your space.
Furnaces generate heat using natural or propane gas to ignite fuel to produce hot steam. This 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 combination of these two systems functions as an Goldilocks power coupler, making sure that your home’s temperature will always be just right–never too hot or cold.
You should consider a variable speed AC unit if you wish to increase the energy efficiency of your system. This technology allows the air conditioner to operate at less power, which lets it better extract moisture from air.
Heat pumps are an excellent option for homeowners living in mild climates. They can provide heating and cooling without burning fuel. The units transfer heat out of your home to the outside air, which reduces energy costs and impact on the environment.
A hybrid system, which incorporates a heat pump with traditional gas furnaces to provide backup warmth during the coldest winter months is an alternative. A new high-efficiency heat pump will utilize the same technology to transfer heat from one area 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 new high-efficiency furnace and conditioner, you could reduce your energy bills by up to 40 percent. For the best energy savings from your new HVAC system, install the right insulation, weatherization and thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
The lifespan of a furnace is between 15 and 30 years and an AC unit can last for 15 to 20 years. HVAC systems are usually replaced when a part begins to age or suffers serious malfunctions which affect its performance. When this occurs, a homeowner is often faced with the choice of whether to replace the air conditioner or furnace. While it may appear counterintuitive to buy a new HVAC system when the old one is working well, it is often the most efficient option for homeowners because they can save money on repairs and lower their energy costs with a modern system.
The installation and purchase of two new HVAC systems is costly. A combination of a furnace and air conditioner is less costly however. Additionally, you’ll only need to maintain the unit once per year instead of twice a year with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is a different way to reduce the cost of the combination furnace and air conditioner. The majority of modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE rating of at minimum 80 percent, while the majority of AC units have an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of up to 16 or more. This can save you money on your energy bills and will reduce your heating and cooling costs.
If you select a furnace-AC combo from the same company you can also benefit from high energy efficiency since the two systems work well. However, if you choose to go with two different brands it’s important to note that a combination that is not compatible will decrease their longevity and performance.
Unmatched units can create serious problems that could result in CO and refrigerant leaks which pose a risk to humans. These issues could also result in damage to your HVAC system and your ductwork.
A Georgia Air Repair professional can repair any kind of HVAC equipment. It’s important to know that the majority of manufacturers will not honor their warranties in the event that you mix and match their units. Choosing the same manufacturer for your air conditioner and furnace will ensure that the unit is correctly installed and maintained and will provide the highest performance throughout its lifetime.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems will operate seamlessly when you install a furnace and air 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. Selecting a unit specifically designed to operate well with your other HVAC component will save your time and money in the long time. This will ensure that the new and existing HVAC components will work well together without voiding warranties or causing any other issues to the system.
A furnace and air conditioner combination will provide you with comfort all year long. They can cool and heat the entire house, unlike window air conditioners, which are only effective in the summer months and can lead to CO poisoning in winter. They are also more durable and reliable than other types of heating and cooling systems.
A combination air conditioner and furnace unit can save you money on energy bills as well. Combination units have an increased SEER rating than conventional HVAC systems. This allows you to save more energy and also enjoy more convenience. Depending on your energy costs and the climate, you might even be saving money by using a heat pump when combined with a gas or electric furnace.
If you’re planning on buying your air conditioning and furnace with a loan, you may think about a combination unit instead of two separate units. Purchasing two HVAC systems with credit has the effect of taking two marks on your credit report, which could affect your borrowing power for a long time. Your credit score will remain unaffected by the purchase of an AC/heater unit with credit approval.
A combination of a furnace and air conditioner can also permit you to utilize your existing ductwork, which makes the process less complicated than simply replacing an AC unit or a brand new furnace. The cost of replacing both the air conditioning and furnace can be high.
4. Versatility
For those who live in areas that have moderate temperatures, a furnace and AC combo can be a great choice. It can efficiently heat your home in the winter months and cool it down in the summer. Also called gas-electric systems, this type of HVAC system uses natural or propane gas to heat your home during the winter months and electricity to cool it down in summer. This makes it more flexible than a conventional air conditioner/furnace combination which can only function in one mode.
Air conditioners make use of an ingredient called freon in order to cool your home. The AC unit compresses freon which is then evaporated to circulate cool, dry air throughout your home. It also absorbs heat from surrounding air, which helps keep your home cool. If your home is not well insulated, the evaporation process could cause the air in your home to lose its cooling capability. This occurs when refrigerant leaks or when the heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces provide heat to your home through combustion, but are less efficient in heating than air conditioners. They also have a harder time dealing with cold temperatures than air conditioners. That’s why many people who live in climates with moderate temperatures opt for the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This kind of HVAC system incorporates energy-efficient features of a heatpump with the reliability of an oilstove.
The key to choosing the right AC/furnace combo is to ensure it’s sized correctly for your home. A HVAC professional can assist you to determine which HVAC system is best for your home. They’ll take into consideration aspects like area, levels of humidity, and insulation.
A technician with expertise in cooling and heating will also assist you in determining the size furnace and air conditioner that you need. They’ll take into account the needs of your heating and cooling and any future expansion plans for your home. They will also tell you which incentives and rebates you can receive.
Get three estimates from different contractors before you purchase the new HVAC unit. Then, compare the costs and AFUE ratings for each system. Make sure you have a professional install of your HVAC system is essential to ensure your warranty.
