Furnace and Air Conditioner Combo
Furnace and air conditioner combination units use the same blower to distribute the conditioned air throughout your home. They can also be controlled via smart thermostats.
If you have a different brand of furnace or AC, your warranty could be void on both units. The two units being matched saves 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 conditioning unit that has an impressive SEER rating, you can save a lot on your utility bills throughout the year. A professional can calculate the load for your home in order to achieve the best results. This will help determine which size and type of system is right for your home.
Furnaces produce heat by burning fuel using propane gas or natural gas. The steam is then circulated through ductwork to warm 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 is just right, never being too cold or too hot.
If you want to increase the efficiency of your system further, you should consider purchasing a brand new, variable speed AC unit. This technology allows the air conditioner to run on a lower power which allows it to better extract moisture from the air.
The heat pumps are a fantastic option for homeowners living in mild climates. They can provide cooling and heating without burning any fuel. These units transfer heat from your home into outside air, reducing the energy cost and affecting the environment.
A hybrid system that includes a heat pump and a traditional gas furnace for backup warmth during the coldest months — is another option. A new high-efficiency heat pump makes use of the same technology to transfer warmth from one region of your home to another but with an additional gas furnace to provide backup during the coldest temperatures.
If you replace your old, inefficient HVAC system with a new high-efficiency furnace and conditioner combo, you can reduce your energy bills by up to 40 percent. To get the most energy savings from your new system, make sure you have the proper insulation, weatherization and thermostat settings.
2. Longevity
A furnace can last 15-30 years, while an AC unit can last up to 15-20 years. HVAC systems are usually replaced when a part begins to get old or suffers from serious issues that affect its performance. A homeowner is often forced to decide if they want to replace their air conditioner or furnace when this occurs. Although it might seem counterintuitive to invest in an HVAC system that is brand new if your old one is still functioning well, this is usually the most beneficial option for homeowners since they can reduce repair costs and reduce their energy bills with a newer system.
Installing and buying two new HVAC systems is expensive. However an air conditioner set-up is much less costly. Additionally, you’ll only have to maintain the unit once per year instead of twice a year with separate units.
Another way to lower the total cost of a furnace and air conditioner combo is to opt for a high-efficiency model. The majority of modern gas furnaces come with an AFUE (annual energy efficiency ratio) of at minimum 80%, whereas most AC units come with SEER (seasonal performance rating) of 16 or greater. This can help you reduce your energy bills and dramatically reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs.
If you choose a furnace and AC combination from the same manufacturer you’ll also enjoy excellent energy efficiency and long-lasting performance as the systems will work well. If you select two different brands, remember that a mismatched combo can affect their efficiency and longevity.
Incorrectly matched units can cause serious problems that can result in dangerous CO and refrigerant leaking. These issues can also harm your ductwork and affect the efficiency of your HVAC system.
A specialist from Georgia Air Repair can perform accurate HVAC repairs on all kinds of equipment. It’s important to note that most manufacturers will not honor their warranty in the event that you mix and match their units. Choosing the same brand for your air conditioner and furnace will ensure that the unit is correctly installed and repaired and will give you the best performance over its lifetime.
3. Convenience
Both HVAC systems will work seamlessly together 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. Selecting a unit specifically designed to work with your other HVAC component will save you time and money in the long run. This will ensure that the new and current HVAC components work together without voiding warranties or causing any other issues to the system.
A furnace and air conditioner combination can provide you with peace of mind all year round. These units can cool and heat your entire house, in contrast to window air conditioners, which are only effective in summer and can cause CO poisoning in winter. They are more reliable and durable than other heating and cooling systems.
Additionally, you can save on energy costs by making use of a furnace and air conditioner combination unit. While traditional HVAC systems come with SEER ratings of up to 10, a combo unit has a higher SEER rating, giving you more energy savings and convenience. You could save money by using a heatpump in conjunction with an electric or gas furnace, based on the rates you pay for utilities.
If you intend to purchase your furnace and air conditioner using a loan it is possible to choose a combination unit instead of two separate units. Credit card purchases for two HVAC systems could negatively affect your borrowing capacity for years. Your credit score is unaffected by the purchase of an AC/heater unit with credit approval.
A combination of air conditioner and furnace will also allow you to make use of existing ductwork, making the process much less difficult than simply replacing an AC unit or a brand new furnace. The cost of replacing both the air conditioning and furnace could be substantial.
4. Versatility
A furnace AC combination is a great choice for those living in mild climates. It can heat your home efficiently in the winter and cool it in the summer. Also known as gas-electric systems this type of HVAC system uses propane gas or natural gas to warm your home in the winter, and electricity to cool it down in the summer. This makes it more flexible than an air conditioner/furnace combo that only works in one mode.
The chemical freon is utilized by air conditioners to cool your house. The AC unit compresses freon that is then evaporated to circulate cool dry air throughout your home. It also absorbs heat from surrounding air which helps keep your home cool. If your home isn’t well-insulated then the evaporation cycle can cause the air to lose its cooling power. This happens when the refrigerant leaks or the heat exchanger wears down.
Furnaces are a way to heat your home with combustion, but are less efficient at heating than air conditioners. They also have a harder to deal with cold temperatures than air conditioners. Many people in mild climates opt for the heat pump and oil furnace combination. This type of HVAC combines energy-efficient features from an oil furnace with the reliability of an oilstove.
The most important factor to consider when choosing the right AC/furnace combo 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 house. They’ll look at factors like the square footage, the levels of humidity, and insulation.
A technician with expertise in cooling and heating will also help you determine the proper size furnace and air conditioner that you require. They’ll consider your cooling and heating needs, as well as any future expansion plans for your home. They’ll also let you know what rebates and incentives you can get.
Get three estimates from various contractors prior to purchasing a new HVAC unit. Compare the costs and AFUE rating of each one. Make sure you have a professional install of your HVAC system is necessary to ensure your warranty.
