Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combos make use of the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your house. They also function with smart thermostats that allow for individual control.
Using a different brand for your furnace and AC could void your warranty on both units. Matching the two units saves time and money on maintenance and repairs.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and air conditioners are highly energy efficient, especially when used together. You can save a good amount on your energy bills by choosing a gas heater with an air conditioner with an SEER rating. To get the most efficient results make sure you have a professional perform an estimate of the load for your home. This will allow you to determine the appropriate size and type of system that is appropriate for your home.
Furnaces generate heat using propane or natural gas to burn fuel and create hot steam, which then circulates through ductwork, warming 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. The combination of these two systems functions as a Goldilocks power couple, ensuring that your home’s temperature is just right–never too cold or too hot.
If you’re looking to boost your system’s energy efficiency even further, consider a new, variable speed AC unit. This technology permits the air conditioner to run at a lower capacity and help it to remove moisture from the air, resulting in less humid indoor air.
Heat pumps are a great alternative for homeowners living in mild climates. They can provide heating and cooling without burning fuel. These units transfer heat out of your home and into the outside air, reducing energy costs and impact on the environment.
Another option is a hybrid system that combines the heatpump and gas furnace to provide back-up heating during the coldest winter months. A new high-efficiency heat pump will use exactly the same technology to transfer warmth from one region of your home to another however, it has the addition of a gas furnace for backup during the coldest temperatures.
If you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system with a new high-efficiency furnace and combination, you can reduce your energy costs by up to 40%. To get the most savings on energy, make sure to install insulation and weatherization as well as thermostat settings in conjunction with your new HVAC system.
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 typically replaced when a component starts to wear out or has serious issues that affect its performance. If this occurs, a homeowner is often faced with the choice of whether to replace the air conditioner or the furnace. While it might appear counterintuitive to buy an HVAC system that is brand new if your old one is still functioning well, this is typically the most efficient option for homeowners because they can reduce repair costs and reduce their energy bills by investing in a modern HVAC system.
Purchasing and installing two HVAC systems new can be costly. A furnace and air conditioner combo is more affordable but it is more expensive. In addition, you only need to maintain the unit once per year instead of twice a year with separate units.
Another way to lower the overall cost of a furnace and air combination is to opt for a high-efficiency model. Most 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 16 or more. This can help you save on your energy bills and dramatically reduce your home’s heating and cooling expenses.
When you choose a furnace-AC combination from the same company you can also benefit from high energy efficiency since the two systems are compatible. However, if you choose to go with two different brands it is important to keep in mind that a combination that is not compatible can reduce their longevity and performance.
Mismatched units could cause serious problems that can lead to dangerous refrigerant and CO leaks. These issues could also cause damage to your ductwork and reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system.
A specialist from Georgia Air Repair can perform accurate HVAC repairs on any kind of equipment. It’s important to remember that many manufacturers won’t honor their warranties if you mix and match their units. Selecting the same brand for your air conditioning and furnace will ensure that your unit is correctly installed and repaired, and will offer the best performance throughout its lifetime.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems will operate seamlessly when you install a furnace-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. You can save time and money by selecting an appliance that is compatible with the other HVAC component. This will ensure that the new and existing HVAC components will work together without voiding any warranties or causing any other problems to the system.
A combination of a furnace and air conditioner can provide you with peace of mind all year round. They can heat and cool the entire home, unlike window air conditioners which are only effective during summer and can cause CO poisoning in winter. They are more reliable and durable than other cooling and heating systems.
A combination furnace and air conditioner unit can save you money on energy costs too. While conventional HVAC systems come with SEER ratings as high as 10, a combo unit has a higher SEER value which means you will enjoy more energy savings and greater convenience. Depending on your utility rates and climate, you may even be saving money by using a heat pump in conjunction with an electric or gas furnace.
If you intend to purchase your furnace and air conditioner by borrowing money it is possible to go with a combination unit rather than two separate units. Buying two HVAC systems with credit has the effect of taking two hits to your credit report, which may adversely affect your borrowing capacity for years to come. Your credit score will be unaffected by the purchase of an AC/heater unit on authorised credit.
A combination of air conditioner and furnace can also let you utilize your existing ductwork, making the process less complicated than replacing only an AC unit or a new furnace. The cost of replacing both the air conditioning and furnace is often high.
4. Versatility
A furnace AC combination is a great option for those who live in moderate climates. It can efficiently heat your home in winter months and cool it down in summer. Also known as gas-electric systems, this kind of HVAC system makes use propane gas or natural gas to heat your home during the winter, and electricity to cool it down during summer. This makes it more flexible than a combination of an air conditioner and furnace which can only function in one way.
The chemical freon is employed by air conditioners to cool your home. The AC unit first compresses the freon before it evaporates to circulate cool air throughout your house. It also absorbs heat from surrounding air which helps keep your home cool. If your house isn’t properly insulated, the evaporation process could cause the air in your home to lose its cooling ability. This happens when the refrigerant or heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces use combustion to heat your house, but they are less efficient than air conditioners in terms of heating. They also have a harder time dealing with cold temperatures than air conditioners. This is why many people living in climates with moderate temperatures opt for an oil furnace and heat pump combination. This type of HVAC combines energy-efficient features from an oil furnace with the reliability of an oil stove.
The most important factor to consider when choosing the right combination of air conditioner and furnace is making sure it’s the right size for your home. A HVAC expert can help you determine which HVAC system is best for your home. They’ll take into consideration factors like the square footage, the humidity levels, and insulation.
A heating and cooling technician can also assist you in deciding the size of furnace and air conditioning unit you need. They’ll consider the needs of your heating and cooling and any plans for future expansions to your home. They’ll also inform you which incentives and rebates you can get.
Before purchasing a new HVAC system, it is recommended to obtain three quotes from different contractors. Compare the prices and AFUE ratings of each one. Make sure you have a professional install of your HVAC system is necessary to protect your warranty.
