How Old Are the HVAC Systems in Your Home?
Updated 05/17/22
A working HVAC system is essential to keeping your home safe and comfortable. If your HVAC system isn’t working properly, make sure you have a professional inspect and repair it for you. If you don’t know any HVAC technicians in your area, look online or ask people you know for recommendations. If someone has a similar system in their own house, they can suggest air conditioning providers that know how to work with your setup. This can make the search for a good provider much easier.
While you can look at an air duct diagram and possibly do minor maintenance yourself, you should have a professional do any actual repairs. They not only know air conditioning vs ventilation, but they can also do the necessary work with tools that you don’t have access to. If you try to do it yourself, you might end up causing greater damage to your system. This will lead to you having to call a professional anyway. The bills will be larger and you might have to replace damaged parts that would have been fine.
Choosing a contractor is always important, but if you are in the process of installing a new air conditioning unit it is especially important. The HVAC system in a home is one of the most expensive parts of a home and a home is one of the biggest investments that most people will make, so it makes sense that this kind of contract work is significant. The wrong contractor can turn a powerful air conditioning unit into an ineffective part of a home if you are not working with dedicated professionals.
From the skilled use of ductless mini split systems to the decision about the exact kind of air conditioning unit, many of the decisions that are made will play an important role in the cooling efficiency of a home. Unfortunately, much of the energy costs that a home owner pays go into the heating and cooling systems in a home, so it is imperative that you pay for the highest quality equipment and materials that you can afford, as well investing in the most skilled installers and contractors who are available.
High Quality Air Conditioning Units Can Help Property Owners Create a More Efficient Home
There are many expenses to owning a home, but when you are in a position where you need to make a change to a heating and cooling system or to the plumbing or electrical work in a home, it is important to make sure that you are using the the utmost caution. Without the best equipment, for example, you many find yourself having to go from one kind of repair to another, constantly worrying that your house will be working the way that it should. When you are prepping for any of these changes, it is also important to know that you are working with the most experienced contractors that you can find.
Nearly 66% of all homes in the U.S. have air conditioners, but not all of them are as efficient as they should be. By switching to high-efficiency air conditioners and taking other actions to keep your home cool, however, many property owners find that they can reduce energy use for air conditioning by as much as 20% to 50%. For this reason, it is important to know the investments that you make in your home can actually help you start saving money from the time they are made.
In addition to the kinds of heating and cooling units that are installed, there are other parts of a system that can add or subtract from the overall efficiency. For instance, duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning. Fortunately, this is a loss that can be avoided with the implementation of ductless mini split cooling and heating systems. Without any upgrades, however, the fact is that older, traditional ductwork can have cooling losses as high as 40%. And while many home owners do not invest the time or money for a change until there is a complete failure, the wiser decision may be to upgrade to a more efficient system sooner rather than later.
How Energy Efficient Is the Heating and Cooling System in Your Home?
High efficiency heating systems have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 90% to 98.5%. For this reason, even if you are buying a new home it is important to make sure that you are making a purchase that has spared no expense on the kind of heating and cooling unit that has been installed. The latest research indicates that air conditioners cost U.S. home owners more than $11 billion each year, and regular maintenance can keep an air conditioner running efficiently. Used in 57% of U.S. homes., the most common heating fuel is natural gas. As the nation continues to grapple with questions about clean and efficient energy options, it only makes sense that the entire HVAC industry will work toward efficient options for keeping all buildings as comfortable as possible, without causing unnecessary damage to the environment. Taking the time to examine the current heating and cooling system in your home will allow you to determine if you need changes in either your air conditioner or furnace.
