Five Things to Consider When You’re Planning an HVAC System Replacement

Replacing your home’s cooling or heating system can seem like an intimidating task for many homeowners, and if you’re like most, you’re not really sure if you even need an HVAC system replacement. When considering this serious of a move, there are five important things to keep in mind to help you ask the right questions and make an informed decision:

1. How long have you had your cooling or heating system? If your HVAC equipment is 12-15 years old and is having frequent problems, replacing it with a modern, high-efficiency system can make your home more comfortable and substantially reduce energy usage.
2. Do you need to replace everything at once? Many homeowners consider replacing components of their HVAC system to save money, especially in the case of split-system A/Cs or heat pumps. While that makes sense in theory, replacing the whole system at once will generally save you money on repairs and service calls down the road. Retrofitting an old evaporator with a new condenser/compressor, for example, is usually a costly and inefficient option, even if it is feasible. It’s essential that all parts work together, and the best way to make that happen is to install an entirely new HVAC system.
3. What size do you need? Picking the right size HVAC system isn’t something you can do on your own; a careful cooling or heating load calculation of your home is necessary in order to find the right capacity system. An A/C, heat pump or furnace that’s too small won’t provide adequate cooling or heating. One that’s too large will cycle on and off frequently, using up extra electricity, stressing parts, and providing poor humidity and temperature control.
4. What type of HVAC system replacement should you buy? Split-system heat pumps are ideal for year round heating and cooling in places that don’t get too cold. For areas with cold winters such as Northeast Ohio, a hybrid-system heat pump with a backup furnace is a good option. Many homeowners do just fine with the traditional furnace/air conditioner set-up, and with modern high-efficiency options, you can save substantially on energy costs.
5. What’s the efficiency rating of your new split-system A/C and heat pump? You’ll want to know the A/C or heat pump’s cooling efficiency, as expressed by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and a heat pump’s heating efficiency, as expressed by its Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF). Furnaces are rated by their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) number. Your HVAC pro can explain the minimum ratings in each case that you should be looking for. Higher-rated equipment generally costs more at purchase but then eventually save you money through lower operating costs.

Please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more about HVAC system replacement. We serve Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties, and look forward to helping you and your family with all of your HVAC needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC system replacements and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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