In the Market for a New System?
When you are shopping for a new furnace or cooling system, picking the contractor and brand of equipment are often the most difficult tasks.
Most HVAC contractors specialize around a few manufacturers, so no one shop is going to carry every major brand.
How to Pick a Contractor
Remember that sizing an HVAC unit by matching it to your home and existing ducting requires significant skill and experience.
A poor design can result in a system that doesn't deliver a consistent temperature from room to room. It can also cost you more to operate.
Worse yet, a poor design can lead to back drafting, a dangerous situation where flue gases are sucked back into the house.
Any contractor you are considering should offer these services:
- Heat Loss Calculation--this process estimates the Btu capacity needed to heat or cool your home. The calculation should include the amount and type of insulation in the walls, attic and floors of your home, and the type, number and location of windows and doors. This data should be combined with our regional climatic conditions to determine the size of the furnace or cooling system you require. Failing to properly calculate heat loss can result in over or undersized equipment.
- Energy Efficient Equipment--use these baselines as a minimum when comparing energy efficiency:
- An air-conditioning unit (below five tons) with a SEER of 13, preferably 16. All refrigerant should be R 410, not R 22. (R 22 is being phased out to protect the ozone layer.)
- A high efficiency, natural-gas furnace with an AFUE of 90%. If you are using fuel oil, the AFUE should be around 85%.
- A heat pump with an EER of 12.
- An Indoor Air Quality Analysis--this process helps identify the type of filtration system required for home and the steps necessary to reduce the allergens in your home.
- Payback Calculations--a quality HVAC contractor will show you payback calculations for the various furnace or AC units offered. Payback calculations should give you estimates of seasonal operating costs, based on our regional heating and cooling load, the heating or cooling capacity of the units you are considering, and the costs of the various types of energy, electric, gas, and oil, for comparison purposes.
- Itemized Cost Estimates--these allow you to compare costs and do some of your own research on equipment. For comparison purposes, look at operating efficiency, costs, and consumer-rated reliability, then compare the knowledge of the contractors and their service history (how long they have been in business).
If you are shopping for a new system and would like a quote, or have general questions regarding the purchase of a new system, please call 801-SameDay (801-726-3329) or contact us via email.
