A Guide to Home Heating and Air Conditioning

Regardless of you being in a market looking to install a new HVAC system or just looking for indefinite ways of getting your existing one in good shape. The following guidelines will help you get over the distress of investing in a new one or getting your existing one fixed to proper efficiency. 

Buying a new HVAC system

Considering to invest in a new HVAC system, primarily when you reside in Duluth, is a full day task. When your heating and cooling system is above the age of 15, it is the reason behind high energy bills; it’s high time to switch it with an efficient one. The one you opt for will be based on tons of pre-made decisions like the size of your house, the amount of insulation, heating and cooling requirements, and above all, the local climate as it affects it directly or indirectly. Make sure you look for the Energy Star label that meets the US authorities’ requirements, especially by the Environmental protection agency.  

You will also need to have complete knowledge of the efficiency ratings related to the new system. It depends on how well a system can cool a given space in the given amount of time. There are two measuring units: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER).

A simple phenomenon for a layman to understand is that the higher the ratios of SEER and EER, the higher energy efficient the system is and vice versa. Window units use EER, while the central air conditioning systems use both SEER and EER.

Types of HVAC systems in the market

There are variants available in the market. Install in your home according to your needs and desires. 

Central air conditioning units  

Initiated in 2006, all residential air conditioners sold in the United States must be SEER and at least 13. The units with the ENERGY STAR label are supposed to be SEER 14 and above. People upgrading from SEER 9 to an above version will drastically reduce their energy bills by up 35%. The trending air conditioning units have affected people’s lifestyle—especially heating and air conditioning service in Duluth.

 Room air conditioning units

While looking for a room unit upgrade, as per the standards, look for units that are EER and higher than 10. The units are specifically designed under the US residential air conditioning standards and regulations. To find further about the rules, check out the ENERGY STAR website.

 Size of the HVAC system 

Every home, apartment, or office has its specific requirements for installing an HVAC system. The size shouldn’t be too small or too big to cause any problem. The size you opt for will determine the ability to heat your home and cool accordingly. Not to forget it has its impact on the energy bills and maintenance cost associated with them.

The bigger the system, the more discomfort it will cause the residents in terms of noise and mold production, making expensive.

A standard estimate is that a simple one ton HVAC unit should provide (12,000 Btu) to 400 to 500 square feet of an area of either a building or an apartment. This rule applies to your house’s effective insulation and is subject to change according to the climate. An ACCA ( air conditioning contractors of America) manual can adequately guide you to opt for the proper size for your home.

Air source heat pumps 

Heat pumps combine the capabilities of heating and cooling. Before buying a new air source pump to replace with your old one m make sure you opt for the label ENERGY STAR. And the pumps are with a SEER of 14 or higher in the capacity. 

A point to keep in conservation is the efficiency of the heating pump in the cold. The HSPF heating seasonal performing factor is the total output ratio divided by the total energy consumed. The ones labeled with ENERGY STAR will have an HSPF of seven or greater. 

Furnace

The mixture of natural gas with oil to create heat is what the furnace is supposed to do. The Annual Fuel utilization agency measures the amount of energy consumed in ratio to the ratio supplied. To check the efficiency of the system, you need to ensure that the AFUE number is high. With a percentage of 85-90%, a furnace gets the label for ENERGY STAR, respectively.

Maintenance of the system 

Following regular and scheduled maintenance will help you reduce your cost to up to 5- 8 % and impact the equipment’s life expectancy. A trend that needs to be followed gets your air conditioning units checked by HVAC professionals in spring and the furnace in the fall. This way, you keep yourself safe from sudden breakdowns during the season of high usage.

Make sure you change your filters every four months and seal duct leaks within time. Getting your outdoor unit clean also plays its part in the efficiency of the HVAC system.

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