An HVAC unit that is new and modernized can be among the most effective investments for your home. HVAC companies install many kinds of HVAC systems and there are a number of heating system and central air conditioning brands in the HVAC industry making heating and AC units for residential homes in Cincinnati. Choose air source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, central air conditioners, gas and oil furnaces, ductless systems, dual fuel system setups, and packaged HVAC systems, or other HVAC system options available from the residential HVAC market.
With the many new options for HVAC systems, choosing the most efficient HVAC system or the one offering the best indoor air quality in 2022 could be difficult. Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is a Cincinnati area HVAC company that will help you choose the best HVAC system to suit your household needs.
Here we will review and discuss the different heating systems and air conditioner options. Take the various points below into consideration and see how each HVAC system type compares to other choices. When you know how the different HVAC systems stack up, this knowledge helps you purchase the best HVAC systems based on the factors important to your family.
Types of HVAC Systems
Numerous types of HVAC products are available for home heating and cooling. Finding the best HVAC system that can deliver the best temperature control, and also provide the other elements that are essential to your family demands some basic knowledge of the different HVAC and cooling options.
The first step is to learn how different HVAC systems provide cooling and heating for the home.
- Forced air systems circulate air from the indoor unit into the living spaces through ductwork distribution systems, or indoor units that are installed inside rooms when using mini split systems.
- The radiant system creates a heated surface that is able to distribute the heat via infrared radiation. The heat is distributed through pipes typically located in the floor, electrical heating strips, or a network of pipes and radiators.
HVAC systems are also classified according to how much space they cover.
- HVAC systems that supply cooling and heating for the whole home are commonly called central systems. These central systems include split systems and packaged models. Split systems are made up of an indoor unit as well as an outdoor unit which are connected, while packaged systems store all HVAC equipment within one cabinet.
- There are also HVAC units for rooms specifically designed to meet the needs for temperature control for a small area.
Since you’ve gained an appreciation of different types of HVAC systems, we’ll explain the different types of heating and air conditioning products that you can buy and have installed by HVAC companies.
Heating and cooling products for the whole home:
- Furnaces are an example of a forced air system. Oil and gas furnaces use fuel to generate heat that is then passed to the air by means of heat exchangers. Options include natural gas furnaces propane furnaces, heating oil furnaces along with electric furnaces that make use of heating elements powered by electricity to produce heat.
- Boiler systems provide radiant heating. A gas, oil or electric boiler is used to heat water. Steam or hot water is transported through a system of radiators and pipes throughout the house to increase the warmth inside living spaces.
- Central AC units can be described as forced air split systems. They make use of an outdoor unit as well as an indoor unit. Cooling is performed by taking heat out of the indoor air, and refrigerant in the HVAC system makes this possible. Outdoor HVAC unit is called the condenser unit, while an air handler split system or efficient furnaces can serve as the indoor portion of the split system.
- The standard heat pump is a forced air split HVAC system used for heating and cooling. They have one outdoor heat pump that connects to an indoor air handler and the equipment can transfer heat between indoor air and the outdoor air through refrigerant.
- Geothermal systems or geothermal heat pumps heat and cool a home by moving heat between your house and the soil below the property. They can be set up as radiant or forced air HVAC systems, and rely on components called a ground loop that is buried and a geothermal heat pump that is typically housed inside the home. These HVAC systems collect the heat in the ground using fluid in the ground loop and send this heat to the heat pump to be added to the home’s air. Geothermal heat pumps can also pull heat from the house and then send it through the ground loop to be released below ground in order to cool the space.
- Ductless systems, also known as mini split systems are split cooling or heating cooling systems. Heat pumps or air conditioners sit outside and connect to indoor air handling units, which deliver chilled air directly into the space. The ductless mini split system can be installed with one air handler to provide heating and cooling within a single room or a number of air handlers to make multi zone systems that provide heating and cooling in all areas of the house.
- Packaged HVAC systems integrate various kinds of cooling and heating products. Also called dual fuel systems (or hybrid HVAC), they blend gas furnaces and heat pumps or gas furnaces that are equipped with air conditioning units. The packaged HVAC units may also come in options that include a heat pump and air handler or air conditioner and air handler packaged together.
- A swamp cooler or evaporative cooler is a form of cooling system that makes use of evaporation to cool the air. Treated air flows through ducts to living areas.
Room heating and cooling equipment:
- Window air conditioners deliver air conditioning to the same room or part of the house. They are usually located in windows.
- The portable air conditioners can function as standalone units that offer cooling for an enclosed space.
- Baseboard heating systems are separate heating units placed in one area or throughout the entire home to offer electric resistance heating in living spaces.
- Space heating units create heat for a smaller space or even a single room. They run using electricity or gas. Gas-powered space heating units generally must be vented outside of the house to ensure the safety of occupants.
- Stoves burn fuel pellets, wood, or other fuels in order to produce warmth for an area within the home. They vent to the outside to ensure safety.
- Fireplaces can create warmth in a room. They could be wood-burning, or powered by gas or electricity.
To find out more about the HVAC brands that produce heating and cooling products for the home, read our previous blogs: Links
Best HVAC Systems for Heating and Cooling Capacity
If you’re planning to build a new home or are trying to determine whether it’s time to replace your current HVAC system, you’ll need to understand the factors that influence the heating and cooling capacity of a heating or AC unit. The capacity of heating systems, heat pumps, and AC units is determined by the number of BTUs, British Thermal Units, of heating the unit can produce or remove from a space.
HVAC systems manufactured by different HVAC brands are available in various capacities. The right HVAC system for capacity will depend on the cooling or heating requirements of your home. You need to determine if you want a system that can heat and cool the whole home, or just one area.
For cooling and heating for your entire house, centralized systems are the best option in terms of capacity. For smaller rooms, room HVAC units can provide adequate temperature control.
- In the Cincinnati area, home heating and cooling equipment are usually necessary for comfort throughout the year. Most homeowners select HVAC and cooling units that combine to form a whole home heating system and central AC system, like gas furnaces that are matched with air conditioners, standard heat pump systems, or geothermal heat pumps.
- Older homes that have boiler systems installed could also include the central air conditioning units or heat pump and air handler split system to cool. Mini split heat pumps and AC unit mini split systems are another alternative for these homes to keep ductwork out of the way.
- To provide cooling and heating in only the smallest space or room, the greatest cooling and heating capacity is provided by mini split heat pumps.
- Mini split systems with an AC unit can be a great option that provides plenty of cooling capacity.
- There are a variety of choices for heating your room and the ideal HVAC system selection usually comes down to personal preference since many homeowners appreciate the warmth that comes from a fireplace or stove, and some prefer space or baseboard heating that runs on electricity.
What Are the Most Energy Efficient HVAC System Choices?
Over half of a typical household’s energy bills are focused on space cooling and heating. Therefore, many homeowners consider it essential to find an energy efficient HVAC system. Making the investment in a high efficiency HVAC system now will save you money on your energy bills in the long run.
It is important to understand the methods of measuring energy efficiency in the case of cooling and heating systems before you shop. With this information, you are able to select an energy efficient heating and cooling system to meet your requirements.
- The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is the term that is used to display how efficient the furnace or boiler performs in changing fuel into heat. The most efficient furnaces are 90% AFUE and higher.
- Heating Seasonal Performance Factor or HSPF is the measurement that describes how well the heat pump performs during heating season.
- The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, also known as SEER, is the term used to describe the amount of cooling output that the air conditioner or heat pump produces in relation to the amount of electricity consumed during the course of cooling season.
In the case of heating, heating homes with a geothermal heat pump will typically be the top option for energy efficiency.
- Geothermal heat pumps gather heat underground. They can transfer up to four units of heat per every unit of electrical power they use, which makes these HVAC systems the best to use for cooling and heating energy efficiency. High efficiency heat pumps as well as heat pump equipment with ENERGY STAR ratings are also available for top energy efficiency performance.
- Another energy efficient heating system that is a good choice for homes in Cincinnati is an air source heat pump. They work efficiently even in temperatures that are at a low level. They typically operate at a high efficiency in conditions down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold weather heat pumps can operate without lost efficiency in even lower temperatures.
- For efficient heating no matter what temperatures exist outdoors, some homeowners opt to combine air source heat pumps with a secondary heating system, like a gas furnace. They will switch over and efficient furnaces warm the home in the event that temperatures outside have become too frigid for efficient heat pump performance.
When it comes to cooling systems, both a central air conditioner and heat pump work in the same manner – by transferring heat out of the home’s air. Look at SEER ratings of the heating and cooling products from various HVAC companies to identify the most efficient. Air conditioners and conventional heat pump systems with a SEER of at least 16 are regarded as high efficiency systems.
Leading HVAC Systems for Indoor Air Quality Improvement
It’s well-known that the quality of indoor air is a major aspect that determines our comfort and health. There are a lot of HVAC systems available today that are designed to offer indoor air quality improvements inside residences. Which one gives us the greatest value for the money?
Ductless systems are typically the best option for indoor air quality considerations. Since this type of HVAC system does not have ducts, the conditioned air won’t take in debris while traveling through the ducts, and will not carry duct debris to the living space. Mini split systems or ductless systems typically have several indoor units that are fitted with filters, therefore mini split HVAC systems provide more filtering than the traditional split system forced air heaters or air conditioning units with ducts offer.
Air Conditioning Systems with Top Cooling Speed
If you’re trying to cool down your home as fast as you can. it is essential that air conditioners and cooling units are properly sized. Whatever air conditioner or heat pump you select for your house, allow your HVAC contractor to conduct cooling load calculations before you buy the new system in order to find the most suitable size for your home’s living space. Manual J calculations can help homeowners learn the ideal HVAC system to meet the specific requirements of their homes.
- The ideal HVAC system to speed up cooling will also be determined by the amount of space that needs air conditioning.
- To cool your whole house, the best HVAC choices are central air conditioner units and heat pumps, as well as ductless systems.
- If you’re just looking to cool a space or even a couple of areas in your residence, ductless systems offer fast, efficient, and precise space cooling
- Some window air conditioner units as well as portable air conditioning unit options could be the right HVAC system to provide quick cooling for smaller areas. Examine the details of the equipment and measure the size of the location before you purchase heating and cooling products.
System Cost & Installation Costs for a New HVAC System
Although system costs are one of the main aspects to consider when buying an HVAC system, there are other qualities to be considered in regard to price, like installation cost as well as operating expenses. The warranty coverage is another aspect that could lead to saving money over the years.
The ideal HVAC system for costs is contingent on your budget. HVAC systems are available in a wide range of price points. As you are looking for heating and cooling products, we suggest choosing the one with the top specifications in every category that is within your financial budget. The most efficient HVAC system within your budget will enable you to reduce your monthly utility bills since these models use less energy compared to low efficiency models.
The price of a particular furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner is not the cost you will pay for the whole installation. Labor costs and other requirements are a factor. You may be shocked to find out that central air conditioner, heat pump or furnace can be more expensive in the sense of installation expenses than a small air conditioner for windows or a portable heater. It’s because those units need ductwork that can be expensive to set up if your house doesn’t have existing ductwork, or if the current ductwork will require replacement. In this scenario, most homeowners choose ductless systems. Although the cost of the equipment can be more expensive, installing ductless units can result in savings due to the absence of ductwork.
Installation of a geothermal HVAC system will result in the most expensive system costs of any heating or cooling option. This is due to the ground loop element that must be installed below the ground using excavation. Geothermal heat pumps are great investments because of how long they last and how efficient they are. The underground loop is located underneath the surface of the property, which is advantageous for fewer repair calls as the buried equipment is protected from the elements. The high efficiency energy use can also help you save on the cost of cooling and heating expenses each month.
Which HVAC System has the Longest Lifespan?
The lifespan of HVAC systems is based on a myriad of aspects, such as how it’s maintained as well as how often it’s operated. There are, however, some averages that aid homeowners in estimating the timespan a particular kind of HVAC system is anticipated to 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
In general, purchasing geothermal HVAC systems will get you the longest lifespan of all the heating and cooling options. Geothermal heat pumps last between 20 and 25 years, whereas the ground loop typically stays functional for 50 or more years. An entirely brand new heat pump can be installed for operation with the components of the ground loop that are in place, provided they’re still in good working order.
Central air conditioning, heat pumps, and furnaces that have variable-speed blowers offer an excellent option for longevity. They tend to last more years than fixed speed HVAC units or two-stage models due to their ability to adjust operating speeds according to the requirements of the home at any time. Fixed speed HVAC units run with the same speed of blower performance constantly, and two-stage units are able to operate at both low and high speeds. Variable speed HVAC systems are able to finely control operating speeds where other HVAC systems can’t. Through varying the speed of blower operation, variable speed HVAC systems don’t experience as much wear and typically remain in operation longer than other HVAC systems.
Find Heating and Cooling Assistance Now!
There are a variety of HVAC companies ready to help you locate new heating or air conditioning systems, but don’t trust your HVAC needs to anyone! Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has the know-how Cincinnati homeowners need in order to select the right HVAC system that meets their requirements. Begin searching for the best HVAC system today by calling us today!