If you are a homeowner thinking of whether to repair or replace the HVAC system of your home, consider age, repair frequency, and cost of repairs. Sometimes, repairing an HVAC system may be cheaper than replacing it with a new one. It is always good to get a professional opinion about this decision. Keep in mind, in South Florida, winter is the best season to replace your HVAC system. Don’t wait until it’s too late, so won’t have to endure the heat while your unit is being replaced.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a New HVAC System

Once an HVAC technician inspects your HVAC system and concludes that it needs to be replaced, then you need to consider different factors before buying a new HVAC system. Some of the factors include:

Cost

When buying a new HVAC system, there are many aspects of the cost that you need to consider. Apart from the price tag of the unit, determine the installation cost, lifetime cost, and the potential savings on energy bills you could get from the system.

The Efficiency Rating

After using an A/C system for more than 10 or 20 years, you are probably not aware of the latest developments in HVAC technology. When buying a new HVAC system, we highly recommend choosing the unit with the current technology. Here are some of the efficiency ratings to look for:

SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio)

Always check the SEER of an HVAC unit before purchasing it. The higher the ratio, the more efficient the HVAC unit will be. A SEER of 14 or above is recommended. At POLAIR, we offer up to SEER 20 in all the brands you love, including Trane, Carrier, Rheem, and RunTru by Trane.

AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency)

An AFUE rating indicates the energy consumed by the HVAC system that is converted into heat. The minimum standard for HVAC systems is 78 percent. We recommend that you look for high-efficiency units with a rating of between 90 to 97 percent. A high AFUE rating indicates that the HVAC system is fuel-efficient and will therefore have lower energy costs.

HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor)

The HSPF metric measures the heating process of a heat pump. We recommend you go for an HVAC system with an 8.2 rating or above because of its high efficiency.

Energy Star Rating

Another thing that you need to be keen on when buying a new HVAC system is the Energy Star certification logo. Any HVAC unit with the energy logo indicates that the appliance is highly efficient and meets all the standards of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Department of Energy. With this rating, you can qualify for a $150 rebate from FPL for your new installation. Start your quote here.

The Size of the Heat Pump

The size of the heat pump will depend on the size of your home. To get the ideal size of the heat pumps your home needs, you can use a BTU calculator online. You will need the ceiling height, width, and length of your home to do so. The best way that we recommend you use to obtain the best heat pump size is by consulting an HVAC specialist.

Type of Installation

Some homeowners are not aware that there are different options of installation for HVAC systems. This includes vertical or horizontal installation. The type of installation depends on the location of the air handler and airflow.

Vertical Installation has two options up-flow or down-flow. The flow is which direction the air flows through the air handler. If you have a down-flow the cold air is taken from the top and warm air is released in the bottom. However, the more common flow is down-flow – this is the opposite of the up-flow.

Horizontal installation is perfect for installation in an attic. Not all air handler models allow for horizontal installation so make sure the HVAC contractor knows which model to use.

Warranty

Most new HVAC systems come with a manufacturer warranty that will cover most major parts, however, you want to ensure that your HVAC contractor files the warranty for you after installation. You may also want to consider if the HVAC contractor also covers additional items in an extra warranty:

• Labor warranty
• Parts warranty
• Term of the warranty

Smart Pricing & Installation

At POLAIR, we make choosing the perfect HVAC system for your home an easy choice with smart and simplified pricing. We have a straightforward way of pricing installations so there is no confusion. If you are looking for a new HVAC system, look no further than POLAIR. Call us at 561-495-6400 or visit www.polairusa.com.