4 Important Factors When Buying a Furnace or Air Conditioner

Heating and air conditioning systems are important especially in states with a wide variety of weather such as New Jersey. They make the quality of life of locals better. The purchase or replacement of a furnace or air conditioner requires some important considerations to be made. When choosing a new heater or air conditioner you should consider the following factors.

Energy Efficient HVAC Systems

Energy efficiency should be a priority to prevent power bills from skyrocketing. Look out for high seasonal efficiency ratios of energy for different models as this implies efficiency. Air conditioners are rated on their energy efficiency by their SEER rating. A higher rating results in lower costs to run the unit. When it comes to forced air furnaces, a heater must be at least 90% efficient to receive a heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF). Because high efficiency furnaces exhaust cooled fumes, they must be exhausted with PVC as metal flue pipes would rust. This should be kept in mind as a conversion from an 80% to a 90% efficient heater will require additional costs to install new PVC flue pipes.

The seer rating determines savings — The higher the SEER rating, the less it costs to run.

Arctic Heating and Cooling provides free estimates where we come out and factor in the position and size of your home to recommend the best unit for your families needs. Too often a unit is over sized which will result in increase costs to the homeowner.

Preventative Maintenance Requirements

Another important thing to look out for is the level of maintenance of the conditioner or heating system. There are manufacturers who offer warranties of their products for a specific period of time. This should be a relief to the buyer as it will bring peace of mind, however preventative maintenance should not be neglected. The required level of maintenance ensures the system continues working efficiently and that dirt or other substances do not accumulate there. Heater and air conditioner models vary on their required maintenance. Carrier provides some of the best equipment in the business and we stand by its ability to last with common preventative maintenance tasks. Follow this link to read more.

Furnace maintenance — Getting to know what your furnace should look like can help determine problems in the future.

Size Matters

Contrary to the common saying “bigger is better”, in the case of furnace and air conditioner size, this can often lead to bigger bills and premature wear. When an over sized heater is installed in a small home, the heater will expend more energy than is required to heat the air moving past the heat exchanger. Not only will this run up your utility bill but the heat exchanger can crack from overheating over time. In the case of an air conditioner, an over sized unit will short cycle making it impossible for humidity to properly be removed by the system. Short cycling can also increase electrical bills because of the increased energy needed to start an air conditioner. Short cycling will also cause premature wear on components. For these reasons, having your furnace and/or air conditioner sized to meet your home’s requirements is important.

cracked furnace heat exchanger — Want more information on Furnaces?

HVAC System Costs

The cost of the equipment selected when choosing a new air conditioner or heater should be a major point to consider. Price and quality should never be compromised on. The buyer should be able to get a quality system that is favorably priced. Unfortunately, like other industries recently, low quality products are being introduced to beat competitors on price. Gone are the days one could reliably know their system would last past their expected expiration dates. Arctic Heating and Cooling works with our customers to ensure they can find a system that best suits their needs as well as their budgets. There are times when you are constrained by your budget, which is why we offer HVAC financing options to ensure you get the best system for your home that you wont regret in the future.

There are other factors to consider when choosing a new heating system. These may vary from one household to another but more often than not, they are similar across homes. Do not rush into making such an important decision that involves the quality of life you lead.

Call Arctic Heating and Cooling today to schedule your free estimate!