Your new furnace will impact your home’s comfort and its energy costs for years to come. It’s worth the effort to carefully select a furnace that fits with your home’s unique heating demands without sacrificing efficiency.

There’s a staggering array of furnace types available. Choosing a new model may seem a little overwhelming at first. Here are some key factors that can help you narrow your search:

• Fuel: What sort of fuel is available in your home, or in your area? Utilizing whatever type of fuel is already available to your home is the easiest and least expensive upfront option, but investing in a new energy source might prove much more economical over time.
• Efficiency: Furnace efficiency is relatively straightforward with annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) measurements. AFUE tells you how much consumed fuel is converted into heat. So, for example, a furnace with an AFUE of 80 percent will directly convert 80 percent of its fuel to heat, while the other 20 percent is lost.
• Size: Another consideration is the volume of air the furnace is able to heat as it consumes fuel. Determining the ideal furnace size for your home is fairly complex, but will be calculated by the contractor handling your furnace installation.
• Safety: Safety is very important in any furnace that relies on combustion to produce heat. Combustion byproducts, like carbon monoxide, can leak into your home’s air if either the furnace or its installation is faulty. Make sure your furnace installers are licensed and certified at a minimum.
• Rebates and Credits: Some manufacturer rebates and federal tax credits are quite significant, and worth looking into. It might be the deciding factor between two similar models.
• Contractor: A well-chosen contractor will make furnace shopping a breeze. Your contractor can determine the ideal furnace size for you unique home and explain the various pros and cons between models.

At AC Pro we’ll be happy to help you find a trusted, certified contractor familiar with your area’s heating needs. We’re proud to serve Southern California and Nevada.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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AC Pro Home Comfort Blog

Looking for a new central air conditioning system? Then SEER is a term that you want to pay close attention to. The U.S. Department of Energy created a test method that rates the performance of each air conditioning unit. This test is called SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating.

SEER is an analysis of the air conditioning unit’s operation over the course of an air conditioning season. This rating system is used to determine your system’s efficiency, taking into account the various usage on a day-to-day basis. To measure the overall efficiency, SEER compares the operation of the unit with the total energy consumed over an entire season of usage. The higher the SEER ratings, the more efficient the unit.

Beginning in January 2006, the government required all new central air conditioning systems to be at least 13 SEER. Higher SEER ratings can earn an Energy Star rating. There are many online resources that can easily help you determine your current unit’s rating; however, your unit may not reach the 13 SEER. This just means that when you decide to update your system, you will need a more efficient one, which can save you up to 40% in energy costs. These savings are enough to partially offset the cost of new equipment should you choose to upgrade.

Another important benefit to owning a high SEER cooling unit is a rebate. Sometimes utility companies will compensate homeowners who install high-efficiency systems. The higher your rating, the more the rebate. So be sure to check with your local utility company. Also, Energy Star units can be eligible for a credit on your annual taxes.

To help reduce your monthly spending and improve the efficiency of your air conditioning unit’s operation, be sure to install a system with higher SEER ratings.  It’s especially important in a climate like ours, where homeowners run the air conditioning a lot.

Want more information on rebates available for new system installations? Visit AC Pro’s air conditioning rebate info page now!

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about SEER Ratings and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

AC PRO services the Southwestern United States including Southern California and Nevada.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.

AC Pro Home Comfort Blog