Selecting the right HVAC system for your home!

This post is provided by Jesse Hughes.

At some point you will need to replace or add a HVAC system into your home. It does not matter where you live in the country you will appreciate the benefits of a good Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning unit.

But when you come to start looking you will realize that this is a huge decision and one that you want to get right. After all, the system should be in your home for many years to come.

Just follow these steps and you will be sure to get the right system.

Manufacture

Choose a well known and respected manufacturer such as Axiflow. This will ensure you are purchasing a quality product which comes with guarantees and should last you for years.

If you are unsure regarding a manufacturer you can easily check their reputation online, specifically on their website and social media sites.

Know The Ratings

There are 3 main ratings when dealing with HVAC systems:

Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency

This rating shows how efficient the system is. For example, if it has a rating of 70% then the HVAC system is capable of converting 70% of the fuel used into heat or cooling for your home.

The higher the rating the better the system.  The best systems are rated at 98%; it is recommended that you choose one that is offering at least 80%.

Heating Seasonal Performance Factor

Instead of assessing the efficiency of the system this rating relates to the energy efficiency of the heat pups within the system. 

Again the higher the rating the better. A high rating means the pump is very efficient and uses very little energy to power it. You should aim for at least 8. But the best are in the region of 13.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

Again the higher the rating the less energy that is used, this makes it more efficient and more desirable.

You should aim for a HVAC system with at least 14 although the best are 30+!

Your Budget

Of course you need to decide what you can comfortably afford before you commit to a HVAC system. There are two elements to affordability.

The first is the cost of the system to buy and install.

It is worth noting that installation is more complex and costly if you are not replacing an existing system. This is because you will definitely need ducts installed round your home. If you are replacing an existing system it may be possible to use the ducting already in place.

The second is the cost of running the system. Generally the higher the purchase cost the lower the running costs!

The Capacity

You need to know the HVAC system will be effective at heating your home. To do this, you will want to measure the area inside your home and find a system that can comfortably meet this requirement.

It is worth getting a system that does a slightly larger area than your home, this will help to extend its life as it would not be working at full capacity all the time.