When choosing a new comfort and the best hvac system for your family, you need to consider which brand is good and what size system your home needs. There are many brands on the market today and all claiming that their unit is the best. My advice is to stick with the brand that only manufactures heating and air conditioning equipment.
Some HVAC brands are appliance companies that also make HVAC equipment. I will looking for one of the major HVAC brands such as Carrier, Brian, Trane, York or Lennox. These are companies that only focus on heating and air conditioning. As far as technology, there’s not a lot of big secrets in the HVAC industry and everyone makes good quality equipment. However most established heating and air conditioning companies choose to align themselves with one major brand.
This doesn’t mean that they can’t sell other air conditioner brands if the application warrants it. They can supply just about any other brand, but most major brands have such an extensive product line. It’s rare that a match can’t be found. It’s in your best interest when an air conditioner company sticks with one brand. Here’s why if you’re buying one brand they can leverage the strength of a strong long-standing relationship to help get lower prices and better resolutions if any problems were to occur.
Why it’s Important to Have the Right Sized HVAC System
When it comes to HVAC system selection, your home will pick the size of the unit. By that, I mean the tonnage or size of the system that’s right for your house is determined by the square footage, infiltration rate, exterior exposure, duct system design and other factors that you have no control over. The right size system is critical. A system that’s oversized will cause unnecessarily high utility bills. Uneven temperatures and poor humidity control. An undersized unit will run all the time and still not be able to keep you comfortable
You’re going to hear a lot of industry jargon such as SEER, HSPF and AFUE. These are all terms that describe how efficiently the equipment operates. Like miles Gowan for your car the higher the efficiency number the lower the cost of operation.
SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and provides an annual measure of the efficiency of the air conditioner. Higher numbers use less energy.
AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Higher numbers use less energy.
HSPF means Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. Higher numbers use less energy.
Consider Your Total Costs
Basically the more money you pay upfront for a system the better it will perform for you. The bottom line, best HVAC systems are quieter, last longer and save you money in the long run. Buying an HVAC system is not like buying a TV. You don’t just buy it and bring it home and plug it in. Proper installation is critical and unfortunately for consumers, the installing dealer can be the weak link in the chain.
Tips for Choosing the Right HVAC Dealer
With all those heating and air conditioning dealers listed in the yellow pages and on the Internet, how do you know which one to choose?
Don’t assume that all HVAC dealers are the same. They’re not! If you just want to get your heating or cooling back on. And don’t really care how well the system performs or about how long it lasts or whether you actually save any money on your utility bills, the yellow pages are full of HVAC dealers with a few tools that can get the job done.
But if you’re looking for a long-term relationship with a strong company that will be there to service your HVAC system for years to come, here’s a few things to look for.
- Do they have a legitimate place of business to operate the company or are they just working out of their home?
- Are their technicians certified by an independent test agencies such as Nate?
- Are they members of a national trade association?
- Do service personnel wear company uniforms with the company’s name proudly displayed?
- Do they offer true 24-hour emergency service?
- Do they have a written satisfaction guarantee?
- Are they properly licensed by the state?
- Do they comply with the state laws and codes?
These are just some of the things that HVAC company needs to do to meet your needs now and in the future. It takes dedication training experience and a quality reputation to stay in business for a long time.
A quality HVAC company assumes a serious responsibility to select the proper size and type of equipment that’s right for your individual circumstances. If they’re not taking lots of measurements of your home and ductwork or if they’re not asking a lot of questions and trying to get to know you, how can they put together a proposal that’s tailored to your individual needs?
So if you want to get the best value for your money, solve existing discomfort or dust problems, and end up with a new comfort system you’ll be proud to own and enjoy for many years to come, better take the time to identify which is the Best HVAC System for Your Home.