How do you know when a new heating and cooling system is right for you?

What should you consider when making that decision?

A heat pump runs totally on electricity and provides heating in the winter and cooling in the summer by pumping or transferring heat rather than producing heat which results in potentially significant energy efficiency/savings. In the summer, it operates like a standard air conditioner, with refrigerant (a special liquid) absorbing heat from the air inside your home and the compressor pumping it outside. In the winter, the process is reversed. The heat pump absorbs heat from the air outdoors and the compressor pumps it inside. Absorbing heat from winter air may sound a little strange, but even on the coldest days of winter, heat is always present in the outside air.

And unlike fossil fuel systems-such as natural gas, oil or propane furnaces heat pumps use no combustion process in their operation. They create no polluting by-products and, therefore, leave your home cleaner and fresher. In addition, electric heat pumps do not create any potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.

To provide the greatest degree of efficiency and comfort, a heat pump must be the correct size. Undersizing the unit can decrease the level of comfort provided, and oversizing wastes energy and can cause poor indoor humidity control. The heat provided by a properly sized and installed heat pump is a warm, steady, consistent heat without the hot and cold spots and temperature extremes that you can experience with other types of heating systems.

Choose a heat pump with a higher SEER rating for lower operation cost

Duel Fuel system combines a heat pump with a back up natural gas or propane furnace for heat when outside temperatures are low enough to make it economical. The heat pump provides the summer cooling and the primary winter heating, and the furnace serves as a back-up when the outside air temperature drops below 40­° F. This dual fuel system enables you to benefit from the lowest possible heating and cooling costs.

A dual-fuel unit costs more than conventional heating and cooling systems because you’re getting essentially two systems in one. But the amount you’ll save in the next two to three years from lower heating costs will probably more than make up the difference you’ll spend on a dual fuel system.

Ductless split-system air-conditioners are used for houses with non-ducted distribution systems (where extending or installing ductwork is not feasible), and for additions such as bonus rooms, enclosed patios, etc.

Ductless split-system air-conditioners combine the zoning flexibility of a conventional room unit (a single air-conditioner installed through a wall or a window frame) with the whole house cooling potential of central systems. Like central systems, they have two main components: a compressor/condenser, as well as an air- handling unit, which contains an evaporator and a fan. Some units operate as heat pumps and provide both summer cooling and winter heating.

The compressor and condenser are housed as one unit and located outdoors. The quiet fan/evaporator unit is indoors, located in the area to be cooled or heated. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor units.

A packaged unit contains the same components you find in a typical split system. However, all components are located in one unit. Just like other systems, you have a variety of efficiency levels and air handling options to select from. A package unit is typically installed either beside, on top of the home, or sometimes in the attic.

For homeowners without forced-air HVAC systems, adding central air conditioning and/or heating ducts can be a daunting task. Installation can require adding unsightly box chases or removing large sections of walls, floors, or ceilings, making it expensive and difficult. In historic homes, traditional forced-air systems may also mar original architectural features, such as plaster moldings.

For these homes, high-velocity heating and cooling systems or, also known as, high-pressure systems can offer an easier solution. These systems use small-diameter ducts that can be more easily threaded through floor, ceiling, and wall cavities and around common obstructions. This minimizes necessary alterations, thereby reducing the installed cost of the system.

High-velocity systems operate by using a special fan coil and air-handling unit that generates high-pressure air that is forced through the small-diameter ducts. The main supply trunk is composed of either a rectangular or a round duct that supplies air to flexible, insulated, 2-inch-diameter plastic feeder ducts. Installation of thermostats and automated climate-control systems is the same as with more traditional ductwork.

The heat is supplied by the burning of natural gas or propane. A mixture of gas and air flows into the burner and is ignited by the pilot. Combustion occurs, and warm air from the burner flame rises to fill a chamber known as a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger becomes hot. Air passing around the heat exchanger absorbs that warmth, continues into the air ducts and the heat is distributed through the house. The by-products of combustion pass upward through a venting system and escape through a vent in the roof or the wall.

There are three main types of gas furnaces. Their ratings are based on AFUE, Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which is the standard measurement of efficiency for gas and oil-fired furnaces. Given in percentages, this number tells you how much of your fuel is used to heat your home and how much fuel is wasted. The higher the AFUE rating, the greater the efficiency. AFUE ratings range from the minimum industry requirement of 78% up to 95%. If you have an older furnace with an AFUE of approximately 60%, you could save up to 40% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high efficiency furnace. The cost to replace your old, inefficient furnace is paid back through lower utility bills.