Replacement Equipment

When it comes to replacing your heating or cooling system it may seem like a simple easy decision, but there are certain things to look out for that you may not know about. For starters though let’s look at why you would want to replace your heating/cooling system. The first reason is pretty obvious in that you have no heat or cooling and don't want your kids to turn into popsicles. Though what if you system is working fine, why would you want to replace the system? It all comes down to the comfort of your family and the money saving benefits of a new system. A lot of older systems (10+ years) were built for homes of the time and didn't take into account energy prices, and proper sizing methods. Still today in new construction contractors are not properly sizing units to meet the size of a home.

 

Sizing your home properly is important in order to make sure there is even distribution or air in every room. In most homes there is usually one room, a basement, or maybe an upstairs that is always hotter or colder than the rest of the house. This is due to improper sizing and ventilation. Sizing your system properly can actually even help the system last longer. When a system is under sized it has to work overtime to keep up with the demand of the house and when it is oversized it runs in short cycles producing too much heating or cooling. Either way both of these scenarios will cause the system to become worn and will not last as long as a correctly sized system.

 

So what goes into sizing your unit anyways? There are several factors that go into sizing a unit including the size of your home, number of windows, which way your home is facing, insulation, and various other measurements. These are then put into advanced computer software to determine what size of system you need. A lot of companies will give you a quote over the phone or on their website, but they are taking a guess at what is best for you based on just a few pieces of information. This way of sizing may work but it is not exact and does not take into consideration your homes needs completely. That is why we offer a FREE in home comfort analysis to figure out the best system that will fit you and your families comfort.

 

Once the proper size has been determined the next step is deciding on the type of system for your home. It would be very easy to replace what you have now with a compatible system and save as much money as you can now but what about the long term financial aspect. If you make a smarter decision that may cost a little more money upfront you will reap the rewards when you have lower energy bills than your neighbors who went that route. There are two important factors to making the selection of your system. The first is the SEER rating of your cooling system and the second is the Efficiency and features of your furnace.

 

SEER Rating - SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Like its "mpg" counterpart in the automotive industry, the SEER gives an indication of the performance efficiency of the system. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. And, the more efficient the unit, the lower the operating costs. Experts at the Trane Home Comfort Institute say that by purchasing a system with a high SEER, you'll use less energy to cool your house, resulting in lower electric bills. In many cases, these savings are enough to partially or fully offset the cost of the new equipment within a few years.

 

Furnace Features - The first feature to look at with a furnace is the efficiency rating. Most furnaces today are 90% efficient and this will save you money on your monthly bills. The second feature to look for is Variable Speed. Variable Speed fans operate on a simple principle: they are able to spin at different speeds depending on the heating and cooling needs of your home. Usually, they operate at lower speeds, delivering a steady, reliable stream of warm or cool air to your home. This helps control humidity levels, utility costs and system noise. When conditions become more extreme, the fan speed increases so that the system can meet increased demand, guaranteeing that on even the hottest days or coldest nights, you’re comfort needs will be met.

 

With such a huge purchase that no really wants to make you want to make sure that you make the right decision. The last thing you want is someone taking a deposit from you and then never hearing from them again. When choosing a contractor make sure they are licensed, bonded, and insured and ask for references if need be. Also make sure to get everything in writing of what they are going to do for you. This includes what is going to be installed, how they are going to install it, and even whether or not they will clean up after they are done. Other great resources to look at are the BBB, Angie's List, and NATE.

 

Here at Herrmann Services we have chosen only the best equipment to install which is Trane Equipment. Based on various consumer surveys they have been rating the best and also rate number one in various contractor surveys as well. To find out more information specifically about Trance products Click Here and take a look at their website.