Technology

HVAC Upgrades – Tips That Will Help You

Published

4 years ago

September 6, 2020

Everly

We live in a technological age where everything that we buy has something newer and better to replace it. This technological advancement has been phenomenal across all facets of the buyer’s market. One facet that we might forget about is the HVAC industry. There is a growing concern to have more efficient HVAC systems now more than ever because HVAC is a huge source of power consumption.

The government now has standards and regulations on what type of HVAC systems you can buy and use because later model HVAC systems use more energy than anyone expected in the past. If you haven’t purchased a new HVAC system recently, or need to decide if you need to upgrade your system, here are some tips listed below that will help you.

SEER

Season Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) measures air conditioning and heat pump cooling efficiency, which is calculated by the cooling output for a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input during the same time frame. Older model HVAC systems have a SEER rating of 10 or less, and as of January 2015 the government is requiring all HVAC systems to have a SEER rating of 14 or higher.

This means that if you have an older model HVAC system, it is high time that is updated, especially if it isn’t cooling as well as it should. Not only will installing a newer system be beneficial to the comfort in your home, but it will be an ample benefit to your wallet, as you will save money on your utility bills. HVAC consumption is over half of your utility bill. So if you are looking to save money and help the environment at the same time, upgrading to a higher SEER HVAC system is the way to go.

Programmable Thermostats

Ok, so sure, HVAC systems have advanced in technology, but the further you go down the rabbit hole of HVAC technological advancement, you tend to forget about thermostats. The thermostat is what helps relay information to your HVAC system, to let it know what the desired temperature it is that you want. Standard thermostats just use a temperature sensor to relay what temperature that you want. However, now you can have a digital programmable thermostat that works conjunctively with your smart phone!

You will receive up to date weather information that will help you in deciding what to set your thermostat on. You can also have different settings for your thermostat, this is very helpful if you work more than eight hours a day, or if you like to travel. You can program your thermostat to stay at certain temperature when you leave, and before you return home, return the temperature to a more comfortable setting. Who knew that a thermostat could do all of that?

Ductwork

One of the things that most home owners don’t think of when deciding to upgrade their HVAC system is that the ductwork in the home needs to be upgraded as well. If you are upgrading to a new SEER HVAC system, you will need to have you ductwork replaced as well.

This is because you the ductwork needs to be sized to the HVAC system that is being installed. Sometimes HVAC contractors and home owners want to bypass this when installing new HVAC systems, but it needs to be done for your HVAC system to work properly and efficiently.

It is always wise to consult with a reputable HVAC contractor so you can decide if upgrading your HVAC system or equipment is right for your home. Together you and your HVAC contractor can make a plan will suited for your home and your household.