HVAC is one of the most important appliances in every home. It is estimated that about 75 percent of home are using air conditioning system and about 90 percent use central air in the United States.

HVAC system makes your home comfortable and aids relaxation. This is why it is very important to make the right decision while buying a HVAC system. If your HVAC system is not efficient enough, you are likely not going to enjoy all the benefits that come with it.

To make your buying decision an easy one, we have put together a buying guide to help you understand what you will be looking out for in an HVAC system.

Understanding what an HVAC is

When you hear about a HVAC system what comes to your mind? Well, HVAC is an acronym for “Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning”. It is a home atmosphere regulation technology. With an HVAC system, you can easily control your home temperature to either cool or heat the house so that you can live inside your home comfortably despite the weather outside.

HVAC Systems Types

Basically, HVAC systems are of four types. You have the Hybrid, the packaged air & heating system, the split system and the ductless system. You choose must depend on what suits your home the best.

• Hybrid system:  This is just like the split unit with an improved heater. Hybrid system is energy efficient which means you can save some utility cost from it.
• Packaged system: This type of system can be installed outdoor; it has cooling and heating system of high quality, all in one unit.
• Split system:  This is popular type of HVAC system; it has one cooling unit and one heating unit.
• Ductless system:  If you home cannot accommodated the duct system, then you have to go for the ductless system. Its cooling air conditioner is out and it has heat pump.

Factors to consider in HVAC System

Home Comfort: The Air Quality

The quality of air in your home should be one of your major considerations. Your HVAC system should be able to distribute quality indoor air in your home. If you do not take care about the quality of air you receive, you might witness some airborne elements from your unit.

Efficiency

Systems which are rated 14 and above according to SEER rating is the best because they save energy better. You won’t want to be pay a very high energy bill just because of your new system.

Capacity

One of the major essences of buying an HVAC system is to have your home either cooled or heated when need be. If an HVAC system does not have the capacity to do this, then, it is not serving you efficiently. The capacity of HVAC system is determined by BTUs.

Programmable Thermostat

Technology has made some features in your HVAC system easy. With a smartphone, you can control the cooling of your home and the heating of your home from almost anywhere in your house only is your HVAC system has a thermostat that is compatible with the technology. So look out for such features while buying an HVAC system.

Maintenance requirements

There is a need to run some maintenance check on your HVAC system in order to ensure that it always functions effectively. This why negotiating the maintenance plan with a professional contractor as you make your purchase.

Sound

No one likes a noisy HVAC system. However, the type of the system and where it is installed may be the factors behind the noise. An HVAC contractor will help get the perfect HVAC system for your home.

Price

Your budget is a major factor to consider while making a decision on which unit to purchase. However, the comfort of your home and the long run effect of your decision are of great importance. While HVAC system might be more expensive as you purchase, they are durable and energy efficient which means you will be saving a lot of money from utility bill at the end of the day.

You budget might affect your choice but it shouldn’t affect the overall comfort of your home. If you buy a lesser quality because it is cheaper, you might end up spending more in energy and getting less from the unit.

Types of HVAC system and its cost

Your contractor will have to do the proper calculation to understand what you HVAC system might cost you because he has to put into consideration; the size of your home, the brand you have chosen and the installation process. However, the cost might vary as follows: 

For a central air conditioning system, the installation cost may range from $3,000 to $6,000 some contractor might go less. For heat pumps, you may get from $4,000 to $8,200 and this is for the conventional type. For the geothermal pump, the cost goes from $15,000 to about $35,000.

The gas furnace will cost around $1,800 – $4,100. Oil furnace is about $4,200 to $7,000. The electric furnace is a little cheaper; it goes from $1,600 to about $2,500. The boiler which heats your home the forced hot water from the pipe will cost around $1,500 to $3,600.

Making the Right Choice for your HVAC System

Size System

Your contractor needs to do a load calculation even when you are just replacing your old model. But you are getting a new HVAC system; you need to take care so as not to buy an oversize for your home.

Buying the right size for your home is the best for your maximum satisfaction. Because, if you buy a small system, it will not heat or cool your home effectively, if you buy bigger one, you might have to pay more for utility because it may be wasting energy.

High-Efficiency

A high efficiency model will help save some utility cost for you. They are slightly costlier that other models but they save more in energy. you must look out for a system with high efficient if you want to safe some cost from energy.

Contractor

Choosing a professional contractor to install your HVAC system is as important as choosing the best HVAC system. This is because when a system is not installed properly, its efficiency is reduced. You have to go for the A rated contractors.

The contractor will evaluate the load you have at home, among other thing, and then determine the type of installation job needed. To get an A rated contractor, you need to choose from two or more contractors and also check if they are certified by your local organization in charge of that.

Components that Will Enhance the Quality of the Indoor Air

The HVAC system comes with some add-ons which helps to enhance the quality of the indoor air. Your contractor will know of them.

Warranties

A warranty gives you the security for some uncertainties. You can save a lot of money from the security of your warranty. If you have a plan of selling your home, then you might want to get a warranty you can transfer.