There a few important points to consider before upgrading a heating system. After all, it’s an expensive investment, and you want to make sure when you’re replacing equipment that you’re choosing the best system for your home and climate. Here are three things you should know before you make your purchase.
What Size?
Whatever heating system you choose, it should be the right size, and that doesn’t mean just duplicating the same size equipment you had prior. Too small, and it will labor to reach thermostat set points. If a heating system is too large, it will short cycle, running inefficiently and causing unnecessary strain on the parts. In both cases, an incorrectly sized heating system may need repairs or break down completely before its time. Have an HVAC contractor come to your home to gather data about your home’s square footage, number of windows and other factors. That information should then be fed into HVAC software to determine what size system you need. Don’t accept “rule of thumb” estimates.
What Type?
There are many types of heating systems available these days, and just because you’ve always had one type doesn’t mean you need to continue with it. For instance, if you’ve always had a furnace, you might be interested in replacing it with a heat pump. Heat pumps cool as well as heat homes, and are recommended as efficient choices for warmer climates such as ours. Heat pumps also provide more even heating than a furnace. Other options to consider are ductless mini splits and radiant heating.
How Efficient?
None of us wants to pay more than necessary to heat or cool our homes, so determine the most efficient heating system you can afford. It may not need all the bells and whistles homeowners in more northerly climes will require, but efficient operation is still important, so discuss AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) for furnaces and HSPF (heating season performance factor) for heat pumps with your HVAC contractor.
Before upgrading a heating system, contact Bradbury Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve The Woodlands and surrounding area.
