Replacing Your Unit 

 

"When it comes time to replace your homes heating and cooling system, we at Modern Air Inc. realize it is a tough financial decision. We want want to lessin that stress for you by installing a top of the line system with superior quality work, this way you will not only get the many many years out of your new system but the efficiency as well. We also offer financing to assist you in your purchase of a new system, the installation, and warranty program offered with all of our Maytag units."

 

 

When is it time to replace your central heating and cooling system?

• When your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are increasing.

• When your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing it with a newer, more energy efficient equipment that me

• When your furnace is more than 10 years old. Consider replacing it with a newer, more energy-efficient furnace.

• When your system is just no longet efficient because today's higher efficiency systems have innovative comfort features like two stage compressors, variable speed fans, and automatic temperature/humidity controls. Not only will you save money on repairs, but you'll see monthly savings on your utility bills. At the same time you'll experience more consistency and comfort from your heating and cooling system system.

 

Some things to consider when purchasing a new heating and cooling system.....

 

Fuel

The types of fuel available will influence the type of equipment that can be used. Heat pumps run on electricity with supplemental heat provided by an electric resistance heater in the air handler.

If gas is available, comparative fuel costs usually indicate that an electric air conditioner coupled with a gas furnace in the most cost-efficient choice.

A heat pump can be coupled with a gas furnace. In this case, the heat pump would be used only for cooling and the gas furnace would be used for heating.

 

Efficiency

The US Department of Energy sets the standards for rating the energy efficiency of heating and cooling systems. The rating number is an indication of how much energy (electric or gas) it takes to produce one unit of heating or cooling.  The terminology differs for air conditioners/heat pumps and gas furnaces.

 

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps:

Efficiency in air conditioners and heat pumps is measured in terms of its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). "SEER" is similar in concept to "MPG" (Miles per Gallon)—the higher the number, the more efficiently the system uses electricity.

Since 1992, the Federal mandate for the minimum rating has been 10. Before that time, it was 8, so units that are over 14 years old are usually rated at 8 SEER. We offer units with a SEER rating as high as 24.5!

Since January, 2008, manufacturers are no longer permitted to produce equipment that has a SEER of less than 13. With an efficiency increase of 38% coupled with higher electrical rates, it becomes easier to see why you may want to replace a system that still works with a new, higher efficiency system.

 

Gas Furnaces:

 

Gas furnaces have a similar rating system using the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) percentage. Equipment installed in the 1980's usually has a rating of 60% to 70%. Today, the minimum rating is 78% and high efficiency units have a rate of 90%. Newer equipment also has enhanced comfort and safety features not found on older furnaces.

 

Comfort

Innovations in the design of today's heating and cooling systems include features that eliminate the "heat pump chill" associated with older equipment. Two of the most significant are variable-speed blower motors and two-stage gas valves.

Variable-speed motors:

Variable-speed motors are used most commonly in the indoor air handler. They typically use less than 1/4 the electricity that the older, single-speed motors used. Their biggest comfort advantage is that they can match the air flow to changing temperature conditions.

For example, if the indoor section of your heat pump were running in the cooling mode, this motor would ramp up to its highest airflow speed for maximum comfort and efficiency.

When running in heating mode with a heat pump, the motor is typically slowed down to increase the temperature rise across the coil, thereby giving higher duct temperatures—thus, eliminating that cool, drafty feeling that people think they have to tolerate with a heat pump system.

 

Two-stage gas valves:

Gas furnaces have also seen improvements in comfort. It is now common to get a gas furnace with two-stage valves. This feature enables heat to be delivered to your home more evenly over time instead of heating with shorter, higher temperature bursts of heat. This allows the system to maintain a more constant temperature throughout your home.

 

Your Home's Unique Characteristics

There are many factors that affect the sizing and specifications of your system, including square footage, insulation, window surface and configuration, geographic location of your home, duct sizing and arrangement, and many others.

We can perform a Load Calculation to determine which equipment combinations will best suit your home and your family's needs. A load calculation will provide information to help you decide how to allocate your home improvement budget.

 

Most importantly—consult with your contractor early!

Dont let your system completely fail before you decide to replace it.