When it’s time for heating installation in your home, you may be assuming that there are a limited number of options available. However, HVAC technology has advanced in the last decade, giving homeowners more options to choose from. Let’s go over how to choose the right heating system for your Colorado home. Whether you’ve made your decision or need more help choosing a system, contact us for heating services.
Furnaces
Furnaces are the most common HVAC system found in US homes. Available in either gas or electric, furnaces are a tried-and-true method of heating a home during our cold Colorado winters. Many homeowners searching for a new system know that they want a furnace but feel confused or conflicted about whether to go with gas or electric.
Although it’s dependent on the fluctuating cost of gas vs electricity, gas furnaces are generally considered more energy efficient than electric. They’ll heat a home much faster than electric furnaces and are a dependable option for climates with winter temperatures that are often in the single digits.
When you take Colorado’s lower gas prices into consideration, the gas furnace becomes more appealing as compared to an electric furnace or a heat pump which runs entirely on electricity.
For those with their hearts set on a furnace, you’ll need to choose an AFUE rating. AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency and it measures a furnace’s heating efficiency. The minimum AFUE rating is 80. This means that 80% of the energy used is becoming heat while 20% of it is being wasted. Mid-efficiency furnaces have an AFUE rating between 90-93% and high-efficiency systems range from 94-98.5%.
A more efficient furnace will cost more upfront but will result in lower utility costs for as long as you own it. If you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, you might want to consider a lower AFUE rating since you’re less likely to reap the financial benefits if you only live in your home for a few years.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is a two-in-one heating and cooling system that uses electricity to operate and no fossil fuels. It uses about 50% less electricity than a standard electric furnace. Heat pumps transfer or “pump” heat instead of generating heat which makes them highly efficient as both heating and cooling systems. Ducted heat pumps are set up similarly to central furnaces where the conditioned air is distributed via ductwork.
Ductless Mini Splits
Ductless mini splits use the same heat pump technology. The only difference is that they don’t use ductwork. This can be an ideal scenario for homes with poor ductwork–or newer homes with no ductwork at all.
Wall-mounted air handlers are installed in various rooms around the house. They provide amazing zone control, giving family members the ability to raise or lower the temperature of specific rooms or zones. Squabbles at the thermostat will essentially be eliminated.
Don’t let the weather get you down, call Brown’s! Brown’s Heating & Cooling is your trusted resource for heating services in Colorado Springs. Contact us today!