Any homeowner has to make a major decision about new HVAC installation. With effective operation, your North Carolina house will remain comfortable all year long, and you will save money with the correct HVAC system. But given so many choices, from heat pumps and ductless systems to conventional AC and furnace configurations, how do you decide which best fits your house? This guide will help you to decide by breaking out the factors to be considered and the main forms of HVAC installations.
Key Factors to Consider
Every home is different, so start by assessing your specific needs:
- Ductwork: Every house is unique; thus, first consider your particular requirements:
- Should your house already have ducts, you could choose a heat pump using those vents or a central AC + furnace. Ductless mini-split systems allow you to do heating and cooling installation without major renovations if there are no ducts, common in older homes or additions.
- Climate & Fuel: Many North Carolina homes would find great use for heat pumps given the hot summers and moderate winters. If you have natural gas available, a dual-fuel system—heat pump with gas backup—or a gas furnace plus AC is also a good option (this can be helpful in the colder mountain areas). Heat pumps are rather popular in all-electric houses.
- Energy Efficiency: Low energy bills are of great significance to you. Though they cost more up front, higher-efficiency systems—high SEER for cooling, high AFUE or HSPF for heating—save more over their lifetime. Sometimes North Carolina utilities provide rebates for installing heat pumps or high-efficiency HVAC systems, which helps with expenses.
Common HVAC System Options in North Carolina
These considerations will help you select from the several kinds of heating and cooling systems:
- Central AC + Furnace (Dual-System): This classic arrangement heats using a furnace (usually gas in NC) and cools using a dedicated air conditioner. If you already have ductwork, this is a tried-by-fire decision. In summer and winter, it performs rather well. For maximum efficiency, choose this configuration and a high-SEER AC unit along with a high-AFUE furnace.
- Heat Pump System: Using the same unit, a heat pump system moves heat in or out of your house, both heating and cooling. A heat pump can usually handle year-round comfort in our North Carolina environment on its own. In summer, it cools your house; in winter, it generates heat. It can be augmented for below-freezing evenings with electric or gas backup heat (a dual-fuel arrangement) to provide additional warmth. Heat pumps’ efficiency and adaptability have made them rather popular in NC.
- Ductless Mini-Splits: When you need heating and cooling in a house without ducts or when you wish to include climate control to a new addition or renovated space, ductless Mini-Splits are perfect. Ductless mini-splits comprise one or more indoor air handlers housed inside an outdoor unit. They also operate as heat pumps, generating both AC and heat. Install several indoor units to individually control zones—that is, one for every room or area. Since installation is typically faster and less intrusive than adding complete ductwork, and there is no energy loss via ductwork, they are quite efficient.
Although selecting the correct system can be overwhelming, you are not alone in making this decision. Experts at Air Support Heating & Air will assess your house and go over the advantages and drawbacks of every choice with you. We will assist you in identifying the ideal heating and cooling installation solution for your NC house, whether you are replacing an old system or building a new house. Get a free consultation and quote on a new HVAC installation by contacting Air Support Heating & Cooling right now. We will make sure you have a correctly sized, well-installed system that will keep you comfortable for many years to come. Get your Free estimate today!