Comprehensive Guide to Different HVAC Types

Buying a new HVAC system is no easy task. There are a lot of decisions to make, and a lot of research you need to do, if you want to make the right ones. Here’s a comprehensive guide to different HVAC types and what they mean for your home.

Furnaces

A standard gas furnace must have a minimum Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating of 83 percent. That means at least 83 percent of the fuel it uses each year is turned into heat, while only 17 percent is given off as exhaust.

Air conditioners

A/C efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio: the amount of cooling output the system produces throughout the season, for the amount of energy it uses. Look for a SEER rating of 13 or higher.

Heat pumps

In the colder months, heat pumps take the heat from the air outdoors and bringing it inside. If you’re looking to save energy with your new HVAC system, heat pumps are perfect for the mild, Corpus Christi winters.

Geothermal heat pumps

Expensive to install, but they can save you a lot of money and energy over time. Geothermal systems use the near-constant temperature deep underground to heat or cool the air that circulates through your home.

Zoning systems

If you have multiple storeys, or a sprawling, ranch-style house, there can be disparate temperatures between rooms, making it difficult for everyone in the family to get comfortable. A zoning system divides your house into zones, based on each area’s individual heating and cooling needs, with a thermostat in each section. This way, everyone’s comfortable, the thermostat doesn’t have to be constantly readjusted, and you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty room.

Ductless mini-splits

Great for multi-family homes, as well as add-ons built after the rest of the house, a mini-split conveys warm or cool air directly to a particular area, making it comfortable without the need for ductwork.

For more tips on buying a new HVAC system, contact us at CCAC today. We’re the trusted source for quality heating and cooling solutions in the Coastal Bend.