Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combos use the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your house. They can also be controlled via smart thermostats.
If you are using a different model of furnace and AC, your warranty could be voided on both units. The matching of two units could save time and cost on repairs and maintenance.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, particularly when they’re combined. You can save a good deal on your utility bills by selecting a natural gas heater with an air conditioner that has a SEER rating. For the most efficient efficiency get a professional to do a load calculation for your home. This will allow you to determine the proper size and type of system for your home.
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 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 work like a Goldilocks power coupler, making sure that your home’s temperature will always be just right, never being too cold or too hot.
Think about a variable-speed AC unit if you wish to further 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.
For homeowners living in mild climates A heat pump could provide the heating and cooling they require without burning fuel. They transfer heat from your home to the outside air, which reduces energy costs and impact on the environment.
Another option is a hybrid that blends an electric heatpump with gas furnace to provide back-up heating in the coldest winter months. A new high-efficiency heat pump can use the same technology to transfer heat from one region of your house to another and will be paired with a gas furnace to back up the heat during the coldest winter temperatures.
If you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system with a modern high-efficiency furnace and combination, you can reduce your energy costs by as much as 40%. To get the most energy savings from your new HVAC system, you must install the correct insulation and weatherization, as well as thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
A furnace could last for 15-30 years while an AC unit could last up to 15-20 years. HVAC systems are typically replaced when a part begins to wear out or has serious problems that compromise its performance. When this occurs, a homeowner is often faced with the choice of whether to replace the air conditioner or the furnace. It might seem counterintuitive, but investing in a new HVAC unit when the existing one is still working well is often the best option for homeowners. They will save the cost of repairs and also reduce their energy costs.
Purchasing and installing two HVAC systems new can be costly. A combination of a furnace and air conditioner is less costly, however. Plus, you will only need to maintain the system once per year instead of twice per year with separate units.
Another way to lower the total cost of a furnace and air conditioner combo is to opt for a high-efficiency system. Most modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE rating that is at least 80 percent, while the majority of AC units come with an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of up to 16 or more. This will help you save on your energy bills and significantly decrease your home heating and cooling expenses.
If you select a furnace and AC combination from the same company you can also benefit from high energy efficiency since the systems work well together. However, if you go with two different brands it is important to keep in mind that a mix of brands can reduce their longevity and performance.
Unmatched units can create serious problems that could result in leaks of refrigerant and CO which can be dangerous for humans. These problems could also result in damage to your HVAC system and your ductwork.
A specialist from Georgia Air Repair can perform accurate HVAC repairs on any kind of equipment. However, it’s important to note that most manufacturers won’t honor their warranties in the event that you mix and match their units. Choosing the same brand of air conditioner and furnace will ensure that the unit is correctly installed and repaired, and will perform optimally over its lifetime.
3. Convenience
If you decide to install a furnace and air conditioner combo the 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. Choosing a unit specifically designed to work with your other HVAC component will save you money and time in the long run. It will also help ensure that your new and old components will work effectively without voiding the other’s warranty or causing any other issues with the HVAC system.
A furnace and air conditioner combo will give you all-year-round comfort. They can cool and heat the entire house, unlike window air conditioners which are only effective during summer and can cause CO poisoning in winter. They are more durable and reliable than other cooling and heating systems.
A furnace and air conditioner combo unit will save you on energy bills as well. A combination unit has an increased SEER rating than traditional HVAC systems. This enables you to conserve energy and enjoy greater convenience. It is possible to save money by using an air conditioner in conjunction with a gas or electric furnace, depending on your energy costs.
If you are planning to purchase your furnace and air conditioner with a loan it might be better to select a combination unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases of two HVAC systems can negatively impact your borrowing capacity for years. Your credit score is unaffected by purchasing one AC/heater combination unit that is financed with credit.
The procedure of replacing a furnace and AC unit is much simpler when you make use of the existing ductwork. Replacing both the AC and furnace will require extensive ductwork that could be expensive.
4. Versatility
A furnace AC combination is a great choice for those living in moderate climates. It is efficient in heating your home during winter and cool it during summer. Also known as gas-electric systems, this kind of HVAC system makes use natural or propane gas to heat your home during the winter and electricity to cool it down in the 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 home. The AC unit is first compressed by the freon before it evaporates to circulate cool air through your house. It also absorbs heat from the surrounding air, which keeps your home cool. But if your home isn’t properly insulated, the evaporation cycle could cause the air to lose its cooling power. This occurs when the refrigerant leaks or the heat exchanger wears down.
Furnaces make use of combustion to heat your house, but they are less efficient than air conditioners in terms of heating. Air conditioners are also less able to handle cold temperatures. This is why many people living in moderate climates choose the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC is a combination of energy-efficient features from a heatpump with the reliability of an oilstove.
To choose the right combination of AC and furnace, you need to ensure that it is sized correctly for your house. A HVAC expert can assist you in determining which HVAC system is the most suitable for your home. They’ll take into consideration aspects like square footage, levels of humidity, and insulation.
A heating and cooling technician will also help you determine the size of furnace and air conditioner you require. They’ll consider your cooling and heating needs, as well as any plans for future expansions to your home. They’ll also inform you which incentives and rebates you can get.
Get three estimates from different contractors before you purchase an entirely new HVAC unit. Compare the prices and AFUE ratings of each one. Be aware that a professional installation of your HVAC system is essential to protect your warranty.
