HVAC Guide for Upgrading/Replacing your Heating and/or Cooling System

Introduction

Maintaining your HVAC system is one way to keep it running efficiently. Even better, by following the right maintenance schedule, it can last up to 10 or even 15 years.

Nonetheless, there will come a time when the HVAC system design needs to be replaced or upgraded. Although this will be quite expensive, HVAC upgrades can have a lot of benefits. As an example, it will be more feasible than extensive repairs. At the same time, a new system will work more efficiently, saving you money in the long run.

But where do you get started when upgrading or replacing the HVAC system in your California home? Well, you’re in the right place! In this HVAC guide, we’ll tell you some of the most important things you need to consider before making your investment. As a result, you’ll get a more efficient MEP design system with the best possible performance for your home.

That said, let’s get into it!

1. Perform an energy assessment

Heating and cooling account for almost 50% of the average energy use in households. So, before you start spending money on a new HVAC unit, it’s good what you are dealing with. Hence the need to get your home assessed by a certified and licensed HVAC contractor like Innodez. This will allow you to determine all the energy-sucking leaks in your home.

At the same time, the contractor will check the existing ductwork, energy bills, and working/ living space. This will help you determine the best type of HVAC system design to install in your home.

An evaluation will also let you know if it’s a good thing to insulate some parts of the house. Besides, you may even add insulation to areas that were previously insulated to make your house more energy-efficient. Once you’ve plugged up all the air leaks, you can move on to the next step.

2. Choose the right size HVAC system

Sizing your MEP design system is another important factor when you’re upgrading or replacing your HVAC system design. If the system is too big, the cost of running it will be higher. Similarly, the initial cost of buying such powerful equipment will be high as well.

An improperly-sized HVAC unit can also cause critical health implications to the building’s occupants. For instance, it can promote mold growth, carbon monoxide & other toxin leaks or cause fire accidents.

With that in mind, it’s important to undertake a load calculation to ensure that the HVAC design has proper sizing. In this cause, you’ve to consider factors that determine the load needs starting with the insulation levels. Consider other factors like the number of windows, climate zone, and ventilation requirements. A qualified HVAC professional will help you determine your home’s load needs more accurately.

3. Choose the right type of HVAC system

There are various options of HVAC units you can use to replace/ upgrade your existing system. Unfortunately, if you don’t know what each type entails, you can easily make the wrong decisions. Especially considering that there is a wide range of options that never existed a generation ago. So, even if you selected HVAC systems in the past, you may want to pay close attention to the available types today.

Luckily, most modern HVAC systems deliver exceptional energy efficiency. Therefore, they’ll significantly lower your utility bills. Besides, you can set them up to ensure that cooling and heating in your home are zoned.

That said, let’s have a look at the most common HVAC system types available at the moment!

Zoned HVAC systems

In a large household setting, disagreements may arise among occupants over thermostat settings. For instance, some people prefer moderate heating to keep the indoors comfortable. While others prefer more heat, especially in the cold seasons. Thankfully, you can solve this problem once and for all by installing a zoned HVAC system upgrade.

As the name suggests, a zoned system allows different thermal settings in various spaces. That way, you can cool or heat individual spaces in your home. As a result, this will increase energy efficiency and comfort.

A zone HVAC system consists of zone dampers/ valves inside the ductwork or vents. These dampers block the flow of hot or cold air selectively, allowing you to cool/ heat certain parts of the house.

Split HVAC Systems

A split system refers to an HVAC system whose components are located in separate locations; indoor and outdoor. Installing a split system will depend on the requirements and needs of your climate. With that in mind, let’s look at some common setups of split HVAC systems;

• Heat pump + Furnace- a heat pump is ideal for hot and cool weather. While a regular furnace comes in handy in extremely cold weather. Both units are known as ‘hybrid heat’ or ‘dual fuel’ systems since they’re heat sources.
• AC + Furnace- this type of split system is ideal for homes in areas that need bot air conditioning and heat. A combination of AC and furnace usually includes a condensing system that’s located outdoors.
• Ductless Mini-split- in most cases, this type of HVAC is installed near the ceiling. More notably, it contains a horizontal, rectangular HVAC unit with a blower, whereas the compressor is placed outside.
• Heat Pump- A heat pump split HVAC system is a great option for homes in a milder climate. It cats as an AC unit since it can provide both cooling and heating.
• Dehumidifiers and Humidifiers

Adding dehumidifiers and humidifiers is another great option for your HVAC system upgrade. Especially if you live in an area that gets extremely dry or with a humid climate. Interestingly, humidifiers can either be installed as add-ons or integrated into furnaces. While dehumidifiers may be installed alongside the air conditioning unit.

Alternatively, you can install each type of system separately from the AC or furnace. That way, you can control your home’s humidity level without turning on the HVAC system. Most HVAC professionals recommend the installation of split systems with separate dehumidifiers/ humidifiers.

• Heat Pumps

As we mentioned earlier, a heat pump is technically a part of a split HVAC system. However, they’re becoming increasingly popular among homeowners, hence the need to learn more about them.

First, a heat pump can be installed in an existing AC unit or furnace. As an alternative, you can install it separately as a standalone HVAC system. Either way, heat pumps work in a very simple manner. That is, moving hot or cool air from one point to another while passing it through a condensing system along the way.

In winter, the unit transfers how air into your home, and this process is reversed in summer. This will cut your home energy bill by around 50% when compared to baseboard heaters and furnaces. Moreover, they’re more affordable and energy-efficient than electric heaters.

• Single-stage & Two-stage Air Conditioning Systems

In general, there are 2 types of Air Conditioning units; tow-stage and single-stage units. Single-stage ACs are either off or on. Two-stage ACs, on the other hand, have an additional (lower) setting.

Each type of AC has its own benefits and drawbacks. Single-stage AC, for instance, is more affordable than their 2-stage counterparts. Moreover, they’re ideal for dehumidifying your living space than two-stage versions. The only limitation of single-stage AC units is that they’re only suitable for smaller homes.

Contrarily, two-stage units have faster cooling action, increased energy efficiency, and quieter operation.

• Single-stage & Multi-stage Furnaces

Like AC systems, there are 2 kinds of furnaces; single-stage and multi-stage! A single-stage heating & cooling system is popular in hot & humid areas and colder winter climates. That’s because it provides the ultimate comfort for the warmest or coldest days. With a single-stage furnace, the heat is either off or on, but nothing in between.

One benefit of installing a single-stage furnace is that it’s a powerful, single-minded heating system. Also, these furnaces have a simple design and are more affordable than 2-stage systems. On the downside, these systems always operate at full capacity, even when they don’t have to. As a result, you end up using more money and energy unnecessarily. This is where multi-stage furnaces come in!

Multi-stage furnaces have a valve that controls their burner. Therefore, you can open the burner partially, hence the name multi-stage or ‘2-stage’ burner. More importantly, this allows you to run the furnace on low settings for a long period. Yet your home or living space will not overheat. Moreover, these types of furnaces improve the purification and distribution of warm air. At the same time, they ensure greater comfort as well as improved efficiency.

Final Word

Once you consider these aspects, you’re one step closer to making a good decision in your HVAC system. However, this guide doesn’t entail all the factors you need to consider when upgrading or replacing the HVAC system. Thankfully, HVAC experts at InnoDez Design & Engineering will help you with that. Best of all, they’ll give you every detail you want to know about your home’s HVAC system upgrade or replacement!