Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combination units use the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your house. They can also be controlled via smart thermostats.
Using a different brand of your furnace and AC could invalidate your warranty on both units. Matching the two units saves time and money when it comes to repairs and maintenance.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely efficient in energy use, particularly when they’re combined. By choosing gas furnaces that come with air conditioning unit that has an excellent SEER rating, you can reduce your utility bills throughout the year. A professional can estimate the energy load of your home to ensure the best results. This will allow you to determine which size and kind of system is suitable for your home.
Furnaces create heat by burning fuel with natural or propane gas. The steam is then circulated through ductwork, which warms the air in your house. 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 works like a Goldilocks power couple, ensuring that your home’s temperature is always just right, never too cold or too hot.
If you’re looking to improve the efficiency of your system more, think about a new, variable speed AC unit. This technology allows the air conditioner to run at a lower capacity and helps it better extract moisture from the air, leading to drier indoor air.
For homeowners who live in moderate climates, a heat pump can provide the heating and cooling they need without burning fuel. The units transfer heat out of your home into outside air, reducing the cost of energy and affecting the environment.
Another option is a hybrid that combines the heatpump and gas furnace to provide back-up heating during 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 a gas furnace added for back-up during the coldest winter temperatures.
By replacing your old inefficient HVAC system with a modern, high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner combo, you can reduce your energy costs by as much as 40%. To maximize savings with your new system, you must install the correct insulation, weatherization and thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
The lifespan of a furnace can be between 15 and 30 years, while an AC unit can last 15-20 years. HVAC systems are typically replaced when a component begins to age or suffers serious malfunctions which affect its efficiency. If this occurs, a homeowner is often faced with the decision of whether to replace the air conditioner or the furnace. While it might appear counterintuitive to buy an HVAC system that is new when the old one is working well, it is usually the best option for homeowners as they can reduce repair costs and cut their energy bills with a modern system.
Installing and buying two new HVAC systems can be costly. However, a furnace and air conditioner combination is less expensive. You will only have to service your system every year, instead of twice as often with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is yet another method to lower the cost of an air conditioner. The majority of modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE rating that is at least 80 percent, while the majority of AC units have an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of up to 16 or more. This can help you reduce your energy bills and dramatically reduce your home’s cooling and heating costs.
If you opt for a furnace and AC combo from the same manufacturer you’ll also benefit from excellent energy efficiency and durability since the systems will work well. If you choose two brands, be aware that a mismatched combination can affect their performance and lifespan.
Mismatched units can cause serious problems that can cause 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 Georgia Air Repair professional can repair any kind of HVAC equipment. However, it’s important to know that the majority of manufacturers will not honor their warranties when you mix and match their units. Choosing the same air conditioner and furnace will ensure that the unit is installed correctly and is repaired to ensure that it performs at its best throughout its lifespan.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems 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. You can save time and money by choosing an appliance that is compatible with the other HVAC component. This will ensure that your new and existing HVAC components will work well together without voiding any warranties or causing any other issues to the system.
A combination of a furnace and air conditioner will provide you with peace of mind all year round. Contrary to window air conditioners which only work in summer and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in the winter, these units are properly set up to cool and heat your entire house. They are also more durable and reliable than other types of heating and cooling systems.
You will also save on energy costs by using a furnace and conditioner combination unit. While conventional HVAC systems come with SEER ratings as high as 10, a combo unit is more SEER-rated and offers greater energy savings and convenience. Depending on your utility rates and climate, you may even be saving money by using a heating pump along with an electric or gas furnace.
If you are planning to purchase your air conditioner and furnace using a loan it is possible to select a combination unit rather than two separate units. Purchasing two HVAC systems with credit has the result of taking two hits to your credit report, which can adversely affect your borrowing capacity for a long time. 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 air conditioner and furnace can also let you use your existing ductwork, which makes the process much less difficult than just replacing an AC unit or a new furnace. The replacement of both the air conditioner and furnace will require extensive ductwork and could be expensive.
4. Versatility
If you live in areas that have moderate temperatures, a furnace AC combination is a good option. It can efficiently heat your home in the winter and cool it down in the summer. Also known as gas-electric systems this kind of HVAC system makes use propane or natural gas to heat your home in the winter months and electricity to cool it down in summer. This makes it more flexible than a conventional air conditioner/furnace combination that only works in one mode.
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 through your home. It also absorbs heat from the surrounding air which keeps your home cool. If your home isn’t properly insulate, the process of evaporation can cause the air in your home to lose its cooling capacity. This occurs when the refrigerant or heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces heat your home using combustion, but they are not as efficient in heating than air conditioners. They also have a tougher to deal with cold temperatures than air conditioners. That’s why many people living in climates with moderate temperatures opt for an oil furnace and heat pump combination. This type of HVAC system is a combination of energy-efficient features from an oil furnace with the reliability of an oilstove.
To select the ideal AC/furnace combination, you must ensure that it is right-sized for your home. A HVAC expert can assist you in determining which HVAC system is the most suitable for your home. They’ll look at factors like square footage as well as insulation and the level of humidity.
A technician in heating and cooling can also assist you in deciding what size furnace and air conditioner you need. They’ll take into account your cooling and heating needs, as well as any future expansion plans for your home. They’ll also inform you which rebates and incentives you can receive.
Get three estimates from various contractors before you purchase the new HVAC unit. Compare the prices and AFUE rating of each. Remember that a professional installation of your HVAC system is essential to protect your warranty.
