You don’t have to be an expert, but you do need to do some research when looking for an HVAC unit in Fayetteville. This information can help you get started.
Three Important Acronyms
The Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating for gas and oil-fired furnaces tells you what percentage of fuel is used to heat your house and how much is used to heat the outdoors. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER, tells you about the efficiency of air conditioners and heat pumps.
A heat pump’s Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) indicates of the system’s efficiency and how cost-effective it is to operate. As with your car’s estimated MPG, higher numbers are better for all of these ratings.
Two Important Considerations
The real cost of the unit you choose is dependent on both the initial cost and the cost of operation and maintenance over the life of the system. Systems with a higher efficiency rating are typically more expensive to purchase, but offer greater savings in operational costs over the long run.
Where you live affects how much of your energy budget is spent on heating or cooling, and it plays an important part in determining the best unit for your needs. In colder climates, the percentage spent on heating can be as much as 50 percent, while the same percentage can be spent for cooling in warmer areas.
A Final Important Point
There’s a difference between the words load and capacity when discussing HVAC systems. Load in HVAC terms means how much cooling or heating a building requires and is dependent on several factors. Capacity refers to the cooling or heating a particular system is capable of delivering.
Accurately determining the load for your home or business is essential so that you can choose a unit with the appropriate capacity. An experienced contractor can help you with this calculation and finding an HVAC unit in Fayetteville that meets your needs for years to come.
