Whether you’re building a new home in the Bay Area or you’ve been in the same home for years, you may find it a chore to shop for HVAC systems. Buying a new furnace or air conditioner is more complex than a few decades ago. As a local HVAC dealer, we can help you find a system that will be the right size, efficiency and cost for your home. But you should know the basics before you set out to shop for a new heating and air conditioning system for your home.
What Should You Know to Shop for HVAC Systems?
When starting to shop for a new heating and cooling system, use these three key aspects of HVAC systems to guide your research.
Sizing an HVAC System to Your Home
Sizing is one of the most important parts of installing new HVAC equipment for your home. An undersized unit won’t be able to heat or cool your home efficiently without working a lot harder than it needs to. But an oversized unit will cost more than you need to spend, and cycle on and off constantly. This will raise your utility bills.
The size of a furnace is measured in British thermal units, or BTUs. If your Bay Area home is 1,150 or 1,200 square feet you will need between 36,000 and 72,000 BTUs to keep it comfortable in a hot summer and a cool winter. In the case of a recently expanded home, you might need a heater replacement (or a zoned heat pump addition) just to keep up with the extra space. If you have a smaller home or a smaller family, you can get away with a smaller furnace. Again, the best way to know what size unit you’ll need is to speak to our estimators at Element Home Solutions.
Energy Efficiency
The next thing you need to consider when shopping for an HVAC system is energy efficiency. While it might make more sense to pay for a more efficient unit with a SEER rating of 21, that can get expensive if you don’t need it. A more efficient furnace or air conditioning unit will lead to lower energy bills, but it will also be more expensive to buy and install. Ask us for the advice you need to help you make a decision.
You need to do a bit of homework to figure out what your household heating and cooling needs really are. If you have a large family living in a large house, you’ll want to spend the extra money on a more efficient system since you’ll be using it more often. If you have a smaller home with only one or two residents, you can invest in a less efficient system. We do that math for you once you have your needs clearly defined.
HVAC Equipment Reliability
Finally, you need to take reliability into account when shopping for new HVAC equipment. HVAC repairs can get expensive, so do your homework. Only buy something that you know will last and not require too many repairs. Read customer reviews, do some comparison shopping, and don’t hesitate to ask for advice from a professional.
Shop for HVAC Systems with Element to Get the Best Heating and Cooling Solution for Your Home
If you live in Oakland, San Jose, and the surrounding areas and you need a new HVAC system for your home, Element Home Solutions can help you. We specialize in replacing old furnaces, installing HVAC systems for new homes, and HVAC maintenance. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
