Installing new cooling and heating HVAC systems is one of the best moves you can make for your property. HVAC companies install heating and cooling products made by top HVAC brands that are trusted throughout the HVAC industry. Oil and gas furnaces, packaged HVAC, dual fuel system options, central AC units, air source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, mini split heat pumps, and ductless systems are some of the most popular options available in the residential HVAC market for homes.
With all the choices for your new system, choosing the best HVAC system for 2022 could appear to be a difficult task. Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is Columbus’s trusted HVAC contractor that can provide the expert guidance you require to assess the best HVAC systems for this calendar year.
Continue reading to learn what HVAC system options are available as well as how they compare to each other in regards to energy efficiency, capacity, lifespan, installation costs, and other critical factors. This is the information that you need to determine the most efficient HVAC system that will meet your needs.
General HVAC System Options
Many different HVAC systems are on the market to manage home heating and cooling needs. When you want to find the best HVAC systems, offering the best level of temperature control and the other elements your family wants, a knowledge of the various HVAC systems is required.
To begin, you must be aware of the ways HVAC systems function when it comes to home heating and cooling.
- Forced air systems transfer air between an indoor unit and rooms with the ductwork system. Homes with mini-split systems don’t use ductwork; instead, air handler split systems deliver conditioned air right into the room.
- Heating systems that radiate heat do so by infrared radiation. The heat is dispersed via a pipe, generally found in the floor, electrical heating strips that are placed in walls or the floor, or a set of pipes and radiators that run in various areas of the home.
HVAC systems are categorized by the amount of area they are able to cover.
- HVAC systems that condition air across the entire dwelling are generally classified as central air systems. They are comprised of split systems or packaged HVAC units. Split systems operate using two units: an indoor unit and one outdoor component, which are connected via refrigerant lines. The packaged HVAC systems are made to keep all HVAC components within the same HVAC unit.
- It is possible to find HVAC units specifically designed to control the temperature for smaller areas or a single room.
After you’ve got a clear picture of the general HVAC system types, let’s look at the many heating and cooling products that HVAC companies put in homes throughout Columbus.
Products to cool and heat your entire house:
- Furnaces are a forced air system. Furnaces get to work using electricity or burning oil or gas fuel to generate heat that later warms the air via heat exchangers. There are several options for propane furnaces, natural gas furnaces, oil furnaces, as well as electric furnaces. Electric furnaces don’t require the consumption of fossil fuels. Instead, they utilize electric heating elements to create heat.
- Boilers provide a home with radiant heating. A gas, oil, or electrical boiler may warm water, producing steam or hot water. Hot steam or hot water is transported through radiators and pipes in the house to add warmth.
- Central AC units are known as split systems, which use forced air distribution to cool indoor areas. They include both an outdoor and indoor unit. The cooling process is accomplished through refrigerant absorbing heat from the warm air indoors. The outdoor HVAC unit is referred to as condenser unit. The indoor part of this HVAC system can be an air handler split system or efficient furnaces.
- A standard heat pump is a forced air split system that can be used for cooling as well as heating. An outdoor heat pump and an indoor air handler work together to control indoor air temperature. It is able to transmit indoor heat to outside air by using refrigerant.
- Geothermal heating systems are also referred to as geothermal heat pumps. They can cool and warm the house by transfer of heat between the home as well as the earth. They are installed either as radiant or forced air systems for HVAC. They rely on a ground loop that is buried and a geothermal heat pump that is typically located inside the home. They gather heat underground through the use of the ground loop and then transfer the heat through the heat pump to raise indoor air temperature. Geothermal heating systems are capable of absorbing warmth from the air inside the home and moving it over to the underground loop. The heat is released underground, allowing for cooling.
- Ductless systems, also known as mini-split systems, are a split system alternative. Mini-split systems or ductless system use mini-split heat pumps or air conditioners located outside, which are linked to air handlers inside the indoor space. The split system air handlers send conditioned air into the designated space directly, resulting in multi-zone systems. There could be one air handler sending heat and cooling to the room or a number of air handlers that create several zones to ensure that every room in the home is cozy.
- The packaged HVAC systems include a variety of kinds of cooling and heating equipment. They may be called dual-fuel or hybrid systems. They include heat pumps with gas furnaces or gas furnaces combined with AC units. The packaged HVAC units can also be found in a range of choices that include an air handler and the heat pump or air conditioner and air handler in one.
- A swamp cooler, also referred to by the name of an evaporative cooler, is one kind of cooling system. The HVAC system works by treating air using an evaporation process. The treated air moves through ducts leading to living areas.
Equipment for heating and cooling rooms:
- Window air conditioners deliver cooling to the specific space in which they’re placed. They’re typically placed in windows.
- Air conditioners that are portable can be described as self-contained units that can provide cooling to particular areas.
- Electric baseboards are separate heating units that are installed in one space or throughout the home, using electrical resistance heating to create warm living spaces.
- Space heating units produce heat for one space or room. They are powered by fuel such as electricity or gas. Space heating systems that are powered by gas must be vented from the building to protect people living there.
- Stoves heat wood, pellets of fuel, or other fuels in order to supply warm air to the area of the home where they are situated. The exhaust is vented outside, away from the house, for safety reasons.
- Fireplaces are often favored to provide warmth to rooms. Fireplaces can burn gas or wood, but electric fireplaces are also accessible.
For more information about heating and cooling products from the leading reputable HVAC brands and central air conditioning brands, check out our past articles: Links.
Top Heating and Cooling Capacity for HVAC Systems
It doesn’t matter if you’re building a new home or choosing a new system for your current residence – capacity matters. In the heating and air conditioning world, BTU is a common acronym. It stands for British Thermal Unit, which is a unit of measurement that gauges heating and cooling capacity. The BTU rating of gas and oil furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, and other HVAC equipment indicates how much heat it can either produce or move from one place to another.
HVAC systems come in many different capacities. This way, you can select the right HVAC system that offers a capacity consistent with the cooling and heating requirements of the space. Central air conditioning systems and heating systems are the best options for cooling and heating the whole house, but for smaller rooms, room units can handle adequate temperature control in most cases. Room air conditioning units can efficiently cool small rooms, and space heaters or stoves warm them effectively, but these choices may be too small for particularly large areas of your home.
- In Columbus, homeowners prefer heating and cooling units to offer them comfort throughout the year. Gas furnaces combined with central AC systems are the most popular choice. Geothermal heat pumps or air source heat pumps and air handler split systems are also an option for most homes.
- In homes that have boiler heating system equipment, central air conditioners or heat pumps can be added for air conditioning if ductwork can be installed. Mini-split heat pumps or air conditioners are other options that don’t require ducts for home cooling.
- Many homeowners also turn to mini-split systems, which not only provide heating and cooling throughout the home but also eliminate ductwork. These ductless systems can also be used as single-area heating and cooling solutions.
- There are many options for room heating, and the best HVAC system for you usually depends on what you like. Some enjoy the gentle warmth that comes from a fireplace or stove, while others go with space heaters or baseboard heaters.
The Most Efficient HVAC System Options
With each utility statement, many of us begin to think about how we can save money on our energy bills. Heating and cooling costs make up a large portion of the average household’s energy expenses, so it makes sense to invest in a high-efficiency HVAC system. With a little research, you can find an HVAC system is energy efficient and will help reduce your household expenses.
When shopping for a new HVAC system, you need to know how energy efficiency is measured. With this knowledge, you can select a system that will be both effective and efficient. By making the investment in a high-efficiency HVAC system now, you can start saving money on your energy bills today.
- The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is the measurement of how efficiently a furnace or boiler can convert fuel into heat. The most efficient furnaces have an AFUE rating of 90% and higher.
- The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, HSPF, shares how well a heat pump makes use of consumed energy over the heating season.
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, SEER, is the energy efficiency measure of heat pumps and air conditioners in terms of their cooling performance. This number shares cooling output compared to energy intake.
When it comes to heating, here are your most efficient choices:
- Geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient and cost-effective heating system available. These systems use a network of underground pipes to gather heat underground, which is used to increase air temperature, and then the system sends warm air throughout a structure. So for every unit of power it draws, it can produce four units of heat. Geothermal heat pump equipment with ENERGY STAR rating is also an option.
- Another good choice for homeowners in Columbus is an air-source heat pump. A common misconception about cold weather heat pumps is that they’re not as efficient when it gets colder. In reality, they still operate with excellent efficiency in temperatures down to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold weather models can work well in even colder conditions. But if you want extra protection against high heating bills during periods of freezing outdoor temps, homeowners often install the most efficient furnaces as backup heating systems.
Improve Indoor Air Quality with These HVAC Systems
When was the last time you were able to really breathe? What about stepping outside for some fresh air because you’re so sick of being inside all day? Well, if this sounds familiar, then it might be time to upgrade your HVAC system for better indoor air quality! So which choices are the best HVAC systems to accomplish this?
Mini split systems are often chosen for indoor air quality considerations due to their unique design – there are no ducts, so the conditioned air can’t pick up dirt from inside the system during its travel time before entering your home. Plus, there’s no chance of carrying dust from the vents back into your living space. There are usually multiple units indoors that come equipped with built-in filter systems to provide enhanced filtration and particle pollution removal.
HVAC System Lifespan
There are a few things that you need to take into account when trying to determine how long your HVAC system will last. First, you have to think about how well the system is maintained. If it isn’t taken care of properly, it definitely won’t last as long as it could. Another thing to consider is how often the system is used. The more it’s used, the shorter its lifespan will be. With that said, there are still some averages that can give you a general idea of how long different types of HVAC systems should last.
- Gas and Furnaces: Between 15 to 20 Years
- Electric Furnaces: 20 to 30 Years
- Electric Boilers: 15 Years
- Boilers Using Oil or Gas: Between 15 and 25 Years
- Electric Baseboard Heaters: 10 Years
- Steam or Radiant Hot Water Heating Systems: 25 Years.
- Central Air Conditioners: 10 to 15 Years
- Air Conditioners for Windows As Well as Portable AC Units: 10 Years
- Standard Heat Pumps: 10 to 15 Years
- Geothermal Heat Pumps: 20 to 25 Years
- Ductless Systems: 10 to 30 Years
Geothermal HVAC systems typically have the longest lifespan, with heat pumps lasting between 20 and 25 years and ground loops often remaining functional for 50 years or more. If components of the ground loop are still in good working order, a brand-new heat pump can be installed and operated with them.
Variable-speed HVAC systems are more efficient than fixed-speed or two-stage HVAC systems, saving you cash and reducing your carbon footprint. The reason for this is simple: the unit doesn’t spend as much time running at its highest speed. A two-stage system spends half of its operating time at full capacity in order to heat or cool a space rapidly from one extreme temperature to another, and fixed speed units always run on high. Because variable speed units are able to operate at lower ranges, they tend to last years longer than the alternatives.
Find Your New HVAC System Today
Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing helps Columbus area homeowners compare HVAC systems and find the best HVAC system for their needs. To learn more about central air conditioning units, gas furnaces, geothermal heat pumps, and all other heating and cooling systems, call us today!
