Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
The same blower is used to distribute conditioned air throughout your home. They also integrate with smart thermostats to provide individualized control.
Using a different brand for your furnace and AC could invalidate your warranty on both units. The matching of the two units could save time and money on maintenance and repairs.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, especially when they’re used in conjunction. If you choose gas furnaces with an air conditioner with an excellent SEER rating, you can reduce your energy bills throughout the year. For the best efficiency results, have a professional do an energy calculation for your home. This will help you determine the appropriate size and type of system for your home.
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 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 two systems functions as a Goldilocks power couple, ensuring that your home’s temperature is always just right, never too cold or too hot.
Think about a variable-speed AC unit if you’re looking to further increase the efficiency of your system. This technology permits the air conditioner to run on lower power, which allows it to better extract moisture from the air.
For homeowners who live in mild climates, a heat pump can provide the cooling and heating they require without burning fuel. These units transfer heat from your home and into the outside air, reducing the cost of energy and affecting the environment.
A hybrid system, which combines a heat pump with an old-fashioned gas furnace to provide back-up warmth during the coldest winter months is an alternative. A new high-efficiency heat pump can use the same technology to transfer heat from one area of your home to the other however, it comes with a gas furnace to back up the heat during the coldest winter temperatures.
You can cut down the cost of energy for your home by up to 40% when you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system. To maximize savings with your new system, install the right insulation and weatherization, as well as thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
A furnace can last 15-30 years, while an AC unit may last for up to 15 years. Typically, an HVAC system is replaced when one component starts to show signs of getting old or suffers from serious malfunctions that affect its efficiency. When this occurs, a homeowner is often faced with the decision of whether to replace the air conditioner or the furnace. While it might seem counterintuitive to purchase an HVAC system that is new when your current one is operating well, it’s typically the most efficient option for homeowners because they will save money on repairs and lower their energy costs with a newer system.
The purchase and installation of two new HVAC systems can be expensive. However, a furnace and air conditioner set-up is less expensive. Additionally, you’ll only have to maintain the system once per year instead of twice per year with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is another option to lower the price of an air conditioner. Modern gas furnaces are equipped with an AFUE rating of at least 80% while most AC units have an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of 16 or more. This will allow you to save on your energy bills and dramatically reduce your home’s heating and cooling expenses.
If you choose a furnace and AC combo from the same manufacturer, you’ll also benefit from excellent energy efficiency and longevity because the two systems work well. However, if you choose to go with two different brands, it’s important to remember that a combination that is not compatible will reduce their life span and performance.
Mismatched units can cause serious issues that could cause leaks of refrigerant and CO, which are hazardous for humans. These issues can also damage your ductwork, which can affect the effectiveness of your HVAC system.
A specialist from Georgia Air Repair can perform precise HVAC repairs on all kinds of equipment. However, it’s important to remember that many manufacturers will not honor their warranties when you mix and match their units. Choosing the same manufacturer for your air conditioning and furnace will ensure that the unit is installed correctly and maintained, and will offer the best performance over its lifetime.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems will operate seamlessly when you install a furnace 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. Choosing a unit specifically designed to function with your other HVAC component will save you time and money in the long run. It will also help ensure that your new and existing components will work together perfectly without voiding one’s warranty or causing other issues with the HVAC system.
A furnace and air conditioning combo in your home provides you with year round comfort. Contrary to window air conditioners which are only effective in summer and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in winter the units are set up to cool and heat the entire house. They are also more durable and reliable than other types of cooling and heating systems.
A furnace and air conditioner combo unit can help you save on energy costs as well. Combination units have a higher SEER rating than traditional HVAC systems. This allows you to conserve energy and also enjoy more convenience. Depending on your rates for utilities and the climate, you might even be able to save money by using a heating pump when combined with electric or gas furnace.
If you intend to purchase your air conditioner and furnace using a loan it might be better to go with a combination unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases for two HVAC systems can adversely impact your borrowing capacity for years. By purchasing a single AC heater with an approved credit card your credit score will not take any hits at all.
A furnace and air conditioner combo can also permit you to utilize your existing ductwork, which makes the process less complicated than replacing only an AC unit or a new furnace. The cost of replacing both the air conditioning and furnace could be substantial.
4. Versatility
A furnace AC combination is a fantastic option for those living in moderate climates. It will efficiently heat your home during the winter months, and cool it 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 during summer. This makes it more flexible than an air conditioner and furnace combo, which can only operate in one mode at a given 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 throughout your house. It also absorbs heat from the air surrounding your home, which helps keep it cool. If your home isn’t well constructed, the process of evaporation can cause the air in your home to lose its cooling capability. This happens when the refrigerant leaks or when the heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces are a way to heat your home with 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 prefer the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC combines energy-efficient features from heatpump and the reliability of an oilstove.
The most important factor to consider when choosing the best combination of AC and furnace is to ensure that it’s properly 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, insulation, and the level of humidity.
A technician who specializes in heating and cooling can also help you determine the proper size furnace and air conditioner you need. They’ll take into account your heating and cooling requirements and any future expansion plans for your home. They’ll also inform you what incentives and rebates you could receive.
Before purchasing a new HVAC system, you should get three quotes from different contractors. Compare the costs and AFUE ratings of each one. Remember that an HVAC installation by a professional is essential to guarantee your warranty and ensure that your HVAC unit works properly.
