How to buy a new Residential HVAC System

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Ah, spring has sprung, and this means that summer is right around the corner. Depending on where you live, the climate is rapidly heating up. Break out the patio furniture, ice chests, and clean that BBQ. The good times are here!

You may be planning to host friends and family for a pool party. The kids will be splashing out back while your in-laws mingle, and all will be merry.

Then, on a sunny 107-degree Northern California summer day, your HVAC system will cease to work while your wife’s 92-year-old grandfather (dressed in his standard wool suit) begins sweating indoors like an ultrarunner competing in the Western States Endurance Run.

This, my friends, is what happened to me and to my wife’s 92-year-old grandfather when my 15-year-old HVAC system failed before we had it replaced.

side-note: as of this writing, Great Grandpa Jim is 97! He just got some new dentures, and he’s sharp as a whip! The man’s a legend.

Sure, the air conditioner had been making funny cackling and rattling sounds in the past. Maybe it's just a bad capacitor. Simple fix. Or maybe these things aren’t meant to last 25 years?

True, we all lose a little civility when the A/C breaks down!

If this sounds like your HVAC system, then please save your grandparents and read below on how to purchase a new residential HVAC system:

To purchase a new residential HVAC system, you should follow these steps:

Determine your needs: Consider the size of your home, the number of rooms, and your desired level of comfort.

Remember, the air conditioner is a part of the HVAC system. This system is responsible for heating and cooling your home and includes products like furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps as well as ductwork, thermostats and other home comfort controls

You can utilize a calculator like the one found here at HVACDIrect.com to determine the desired size of HVAC unit needed for your home. This site is fantastic because it takes into consideration the size and geographical location of your home.

Do not simply replace your old unit with the same exact size unit that was originally installed in your home.

I learned that when my home was built, 20+ years ago, the same sized unit was installed for all properties, regardless of the home’s square footage. The rationale behind this is that contractors purchasing multiple units could purchase HVAC systems in bulk and ultimately save on overhead, thereby increasing profits.

The old unit I had was bigger than the square footage of my home actually needed! More on this later…

Research different HVAC systems and brands. Look for systems that meet your needs and compare features, prices, and reviews.

This is easy to research, but if you just want to click on one link, start here.

SEER rating explained: SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it measures the energy efficiency of your air conditioner.

According to HVAC.com, the SEER rating quantifies overall air conditioning system efficiency on a seasonal basis. It helps consumers compare energy efficiency when choosing a new air conditioner. 

In the northern United States, new HVAC systems must have a minimum SEER of 13. In the South and Southwest, 14 is the minimum SEER. Come 2023, these minimums will change to 14 and 15, respectively.

Older ACs have lower SEER ratings in most cases. For example, air conditioners from the 1990s are generally rated 8-11.

SEER ratings of 13-15 are considered good, 16-19 are better, and 20-24 is best.

The higher SEER rating will command a greater price premium. Identify which system is best for your particular home and keep in mind the law of diminishing returns as you spend your hard-earned dollars.

Obtain quotes from multiple HVAC contractors: Contact several contractors for estimates on the cost of installation. Compare the quotes you received and select a contractor that you feel comfortable working with.

I’d suggest narrowing down your HVAC system and brands to a few, then finding your local contractor via their website or Yelp (I prefer Yelp since you’ll get local reviews as well). It is also important to check the contractor's licensing and insurance, as well as make sure they have good reviews and references.

I had four different contractors come out and provide me with quotes. Some were more detailed than others. Make sure that they are looking at the entire picture, including your ductwork!

Why is the ductwork so important?

Ductwork is the system of metal or synthetic tubes used to transport air from heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment throughout your home. Properly installed and well-maintained air ducts are a key component of indoor air quality and home comfort.

Imagine two milkshakes… stay with me here

Milkshake #1: tall, frosty, delicious. However, the straw is relatively narrow. You try and try, making that “inverted cheek fish-face” to get a sip of that delicious shake. It’s exhausting to get the shake from the cup and through the straw into your mouth. This is analogous to an underperforming HVAC system with inefficient duct work.

Milkshake #2: same delicious milkshake, but this time with a wide straw. Think back to the McDonald’s shakes you enjoyed a kid (or still enjoy). That striped straw was awesome! The shake flowed smoothly, with little to no resistance from the cup to your mouth. This is how a properly designed duct/HVAC system should work.

The contractor I decided to go with was one of the two that came out and actually looked at our duct work as well as the HVAC system's needs.

Several of the other contractors just quoted a new version of my current system. No mention of ductwork or specific system needs. RED FLAGS!

Ultimately, we went with a smaller HVAC unit with a more efficient duct system. Our home now heats and cools significantly faster than it did with the previous, larger HVAC unit.

Thanks to our new efficiently designed HVAC system, I can flip burgers with a guilt-free conscience, knowing that Great Grandpa Jim is comfortable inside with his wool suit and glass of whiskey.

Note: This is NOT Great Grandpa Jim, but I love this older gents smile and I know that this pic must have been taken in a properly regulated, temperature controlled environment!

I hope this post assists in making your purchase of a new residential HVAC system as comfortable as your favorite t-shirt. Or, at the very least, a satisfying home improvement!

https://www.wser.org/

https://hvacdirect.com/sizing-air-conditioner-and-heater.html

https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/services/hvac

https://www.hvac.com/resources/what-is-seer-rating/