According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is expected to grow by 15% in 2026. That means that there’s a higher demand than ever for qualified HVAC technicians in America.
Wondering how to get in on the action?
For those who are in the market for residential AC systems, it can be tough to figure out which one will give you the most bang for your buck.
Thankfully, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Take a look at our handy guide to learn how to choose the best HVAC system for your home.
Double-Check Your Ducts
First of all, you should double-check your ducts when you’re considering new residential air conditioning for your home.
Why is this important? Along with buying the proper equipment, it’s also necessary for you to pick the most durable HVAC system for your house.
Start by hiring a professional HVAC technician to double-check your existing duct system to make sure that they’re still in good shape. That way, you can find out if there’s anything wrong with your ducts right away.
Found a nasty breakage or creaky joint? Then you could end up losing up a significant amount of your HVAC system’s energy efficiency.
Why take the risk?
Employ a technician who can conduct the correct duct insulation. While they’re at it, make sure that they clear out the dust from your ducts too. This will help to keep them to run smoothly for quite a while.
Replace Your Furnace
Has your home’s heating system suddenly given up on you? There’s only one major thing to consider: replacing your furnace.
Yes, you read that right.
We highly recommend that you switch up your home’s current heating equipment for a brand-new, sustainable HVAC system.
Still not convinced?
Newer furnaces have way higher efficiency ratings than older ones, thanks to their up-to-date air handler design. Never heard of any air handler? Allow us to enlighten you!
Types of Air Handlers
Did you know that there are several different types of air handlers? In fact, the most common kinds of air handlers for HVAC systems include:
- Single-State Air Handlers
- Two-Stage Air Handlers
- Variable Speed Air Handlers
What’s the real deal about single-state air handlers?
Essentially, single-state air handlers were super popular to use back in the day. That explains why they’re usually only found in antique furnaces.
This is crazy: single-state air handlers only have a single speed setting, which means that they’re stuck on “high” at all times.
Why is this? Because their motor was created to run at full speed in spite of the temperature.
Of course, your home will end up wasting tons of energy as a result of using this type of air handler.
How do two-stage air handlers work?
Here’s the breakdown: two-stage air handlers have special motors that use two settings. Although they have both low and high settings, you’ll save a bunch of cash if you keep your home on the cool setting.
When should you use the high-speed setting on two-stage air handlers?
In reality, the high-speed setting on two-stage air handlers should only be used on extremely cold days when you need a lot of heat.
What about variable speed air handlers?
Now: variable speed air handlers are literally the most efficient type of air handler that you can buy.
Why’s that? Because you can choose which speed setting is the most ideal for your house.
We can’t emphasize this enough: remember to buy equipment that’s the correct air conditioner size for house living to guarantee energy efficiency.
Don’t know where to start? Tell your HVAC technician to research the best air conditioner size for house sustainability.
Benefits of Getting the Right Equipment
Have you ever wasted money on an air conditioning unit that was the wrong size for your house?
If so, then you know how frustrating it can be to buy your equipment without measuring your air conditioning unit first.
Fortunately, we’re here to help.
That being said, a couple of things can go wrong when you purchase air conditioning equipment that doesn’t fit your home. First of all: If your air conditioning unit has too much cool air, it can make your home feel very chilly in a short amount of time. If that’s the case, then your air conditioning system won’t have enough power to suck the humidity out of the air either.
The result? An uncomfortable, clammy climate for your family’s house. And nobody wants that!
The solution: most homeowners turn down their thermostat temperature to make it run for a longer period of time. Unfortunately, this will end up raising your energy bill through the roof.
It gets worse: if your air conditioning unit can’t suck out the humidity from the air, then it could lead to some major problems for oversized AC units. That includes water damage and mold growth.
Has this ever happened to you? Then you know that you need to get a new air conditioning system right away!
But how do you pick out the best air conditioning unit?
Picking an AC Unit
Ready for the fun part? It’s time for you to pick up an air conditioning unit for your home.
Not sure what to look for? We highly recommend looking for an energy-efficient air conditioner system that:
- Keeps your house cool during peak hours.
- Maintains the quality of your indoor air.
- Has a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating.
Pro tip? Make sure that you choose an air conditioner system with the capacity to keep your house cool during peak hours.
Additionally, you’ll want an air conditioning unit that can maintain the quality of your indoor air too.
How do you know if your AC unit is going to be energy-efficient before you buy it?
The answer is simple: choose an air conditioning system that has a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating.
How can you actually use this?
It’s easy: The higher the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio on your AC unit, the more likely it is to help you reduce your monthly energy bill.
Why should you upgrade to a SEER rated AC system?
Because it will help to give you a huge discount on your energy bill.
Still don’t know where to look?
Try to find a SEER qualified air conditioning system with a score of at least 16.
That’s not all: Make sure that you purchase an air conditioner unit with a variable-speed scroll compressor too.
Why does this matter? Not only are variable-speed models less noisy, but they also have reciprocating compressors.
One last thing: when you’re shopping for a new air conditioner system, choose one with an evaporator coil that’s 100% aluminum. That’s because they’re less likely to leak or rust over time, especially in comparison to the steel and copper evaporator coils of the past.
All About Heat Pumps
Have you ever used a heat pump before?
Let us explain: a heat pump is an air conditioning system that can warm and cool your home in a single device. How can you beat that?
Plus, heat pumps are very similar to standard air conditioning systems. For instance, they both use a refrigerant to suck out the warmth from your home.
What’s the difference between heat pumps and air conditioning units?
We’re glad you asked.
When you use a heat pump, you can literally press reverse on the valve to switch the flow of the refrigerant current. That means that you can command your heat pump to pick up the warm air from outside and channel it back into your house.
With so many perks, it’s no wonder why heat pumps are some of the most energy-friendly systems on the market. And they’ll help you to slash your energy bill too.
Just make sure that you talk to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning pro before you install a heat pump in your house.
That way, you can make sure that you’re spending your hard-earned money on the right equipment!
Looking for AC repair services for your home? Make sure that you compare residential air conditioner companies first!
