Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Air conditioner and furnace combination units use the same blower to distribute conditioned air throughout your home. They can also be controlled by smart thermostats.
If you use an alternative brand of furnace or AC the warranty may be void on both units. Combining the two units can save time and money on maintenance and repairs.
1. Energy Efficiency
Modern furnaces and AC units are extremely energy efficient, particularly when they’re paired together. You can save a great amount on your energy bills by choosing a gas heater with an air conditioner that has SEER ratings. A professional can determine the load of your home to ensure the best results. This will allow you to determine which size and kind of system is best for your home.
Furnaces create heat by burning fuel using propane or natural gas. The steam is circulated through ductwork to warm 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 functions as a Goldilocks power coupler, ensuring that your home’s temperature will always be just right, never too hot or cold.
If you’re looking to improve the efficiency of your system further, consider a new, variable speed AC unit. This technology permits the air conditioner to operate at lower power and allows it to better remove moisture from the air.
Heat pumps are an excellent option for homeowners in mild climates. They can provide heating and cooling without burning any fuel. These units transfer heat from your home into outside air, which reduces the energy cost and affecting the environment.
Another option is a hybrid that blends the heatpump and gas furnaces to provide back-up heating during the coldest winter months. A new high efficiency heat pump uses the same technology to transfer warmth from one region of your home to another but with a gas furnace added for backup during the coldest temperatures.
You can cut your home’s energy bills by as much as 40% if you replace your old inefficient HVAC system. For the best energy savings from your new HVAC system, install the right insulation and thermostat settings, as well as weatherization.
2. Longevity
A furnace could last for 15-30 years, whereas an AC unit may last for up to 15 years. HVAC systems are usually replaced when a part begins to age or suffers serious issues that affect its performance. If this happens, 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 the old one is operating well, it’s usually the most efficient option for homeowners because they will save on repair bills and cut their energy bills with a newer system.
Purchasing and installing two new HVAC systems could be expensive. A combination of a furnace and air conditioner is much less expensive but it is more expensive. You will only have to service your system every year instead of twice often with separate units.
A high-efficiency system is yet another method to lower the cost of a combination furnace and air conditioner. Modern gas furnaces are equipped with an AFUE rating of at minimum 80 percent while the majority of AC units come with an SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating of up to 16 or more. This can save you money on your energy bills, and will reduce your home’s cooling and heating costs.
When you choose a furnace-AC combo from the same company and you’ll also benefit from excellent energy efficiency as the two systems are compatible. However, if you choose to go with two different brands, it’s important to remember that a mismatched combination can reduce their longevity and performance.
Mismatched units could cause serious issues that could result in dangerous refrigerant leaks and CO. These problems can also damage your HVAC system and ductwork.
A specialist from Georgia Air Repair can perform precise HVAC repairs on any kind of equipment. It’s important to remember that the majority of manufacturers will not honor their warranties in the event that the units are mixed and mixed. Making sure you choose the same manufacturer for your air conditioning and furnace will ensure that your unit is properly installed and repaired and will give you the highest performance throughout its lifetime.
3. Convenience
If you decide to install a furnace and air conditioner combo the HVAC systems are designed to work together 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. Selecting a unit specifically designed to work with your other HVAC component will save you time and money in the long run. It will also help to ensure that your new and existing components will function effectively without voiding the other’s warranty or causing other issues with the HVAC system.
The presence of a furnace and air conditioning unit in your home will provide you with year round comfort. These units can cool and heat the entire house, in contrast to window air conditioners, which are only effective in summer and can cause CO poisoning in winter. They are also more durable and reliable than other kinds of cooling and heating systems.
You can also reduce energy bills by using a furnace and air conditioner combination unit. A combination unit has an increased SEER rating than conventional HVAC systems. This enables you to save energy and enjoy greater convenience. Depending on your energy costs and climate, you may even be saving money by using a heating pump when combined with a gas or electric furnace.
If you plan to purchase your air conditioner and furnace with a loan it might be better to choose an integrated unit instead of two separate units. Buying two HVAC systems using credit has the result of taking two hits to your credit report, which could adversely affect your borrowing capacity for years to come. By purchasing just one AC heater and combo unit using a credit card that is approved, your credit score won’t suffer any damage at all.
The replacement of a furnace and AC unit is much less difficult using the ductwork you have already installed. The cost of replacing both the air conditioning and furnace can be high.
4. Versatility
For those who live in climates with moderate temperatures, a furnace-AC combination is a good option. It will efficiently heat your home in the winter, and cool it down in the summer. This type of HVAC system, also known as gas-electric systems, uses natural or propane to heat your house in the winter and electricity in summer. This makes it more versatile than an air conditioner and furnace combo, which can only operate in one mode at a given time.
Air conditioners use the chemical freon 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 surrounding air and keeps your home cool. If your house isn’t adequately insulate, the process of evaporation can cause the air in your home to lose its cooling ability. This occurs when the refrigerant leaks or when the heat exchanger wears out.
Furnaces are a way to heat your home with combustion, but they are not as efficient in terms of heating than air conditioners. Air conditioners are also less able to handle cold temperatures. Many people living in mild climates prefer the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC system combines energy-efficient features from a heatpump with the reliability of an oilstove.
The key to selecting the best combination of AC and furnace is to ensure that it’s properly sized for your home. An HVAC professional can help you determine which HVAC system is suitable for your home. They’ll consider aspects like area, levels of humidity, and insulation.
A technician in heating and cooling will also help you decide the size of furnace and air conditioner you require. They’ll take into account the needs of your heating and cooling and any plans for future expansions to your home. They’ll also tell you what kinds of incentives and rebates are available to you.
Before you buy a new HVAC system, it is recommended to get three estimates from various contractors. Then, you can compare the costs and AFUE ratings of each system. Be aware that a professional installation of your HVAC system is necessary to protect your warranty.
