5 Highly Efficient HVAC Systems for Your Home

Winter months in Puyallup, WA, can reach freezing temperatures. While staying indoors and wearing layers of clothing can help you and your family stay warm, it is usually not enough. A heating system can help keep you warm and cozy once temperatures begin to drop.

Which HVAC system should you get? There are numerous choices available on the market and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each one is key to choosing the right HVAC system that suits your household size, budget, and other needs. Here are five highly efficient units to consider.

1. Geothermal

Geothermal heating systems capture and release hot air by using the soil beneath your home or an adjacent body of water as the source of heat. Geothermal systems are considered the most efficient type of heating system. It can reduce utility costs by as much as 70%. Geothermal systems are also the preferred choice by environmentally conscious homeowners as these systems use relatively smaller amounts of fossil fuel to operate.

A common barrier to entry when it comes to geothermal heat pumps is their initial cost. The heating equipment and the installation process are often more expensive than other types of heating systems available.

2. Furnace

Residential furnaces remain the most common type of heating solution for American households. In fact, up to 60% of households in the country have and use a furnace for indoor temperature regulation. There are three main types of furnaces: gas, oil, and electric. Each type of furnace has slight advantages over the other. For instance, gas-powered furnaces are generally cheaper to run since natural gas prices are consistently low. Electricity-powered furnaces, on the other hand, are deemed safer for indoor use since they do not burn gas or oil and do not emit exhaust gases or carbon monoxide.

If you opt for a furnace, regardless of what energy type it uses, check for an AFUE rating. AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, is the main scoring system for furnace efficiency and tells you how much of the energy is converted into circulated heat and how much is wasted.

3. Boiler

The old-fashion boilers are in third place. This type of heating system is more commonly installed in commercial spaces than households but is still a viable option if you prefer them to furnaces or heat pumps. A boiler works by generating hot water that is then circulated via pipes and radiators across the property.

Similar to furnaces, boilers are graded by the AFUE standard. The higher the number, the more efficient the boiler. For instance, a boiler with an AFUE rating of 90 or greater means that the boiler can convert up to 90% of the fuel’s energy into usable heat, and only 20% is lost in the process.

4. Ductless

Ductless, also referred to as mini-split, heat pumps work by either capturing heat from or dumping heat into the air indoors. Ductless systems, as the name implies, do not require any ductwork, which is a plus for many homeowners who do not want to go through that tedious process of installing and maintaining ducts in their homes. Over the last several years, ductless heating systems consistently found their place in the market.

Mini-split heat pumps are highly efficient since they do not produce heat, but, instead, capture and move it with the use of refrigerants. When shopping for a ductless system, look for the EER rating, which is the standard scoring system for mini-split heating efficiency. The most efficient ones on the market will have an EER rating of at least 20.

5. Standard Split

Also referred to as air source, standard split heat pumps are still the most inexpensive option in today’s HVAC market. Standard split systems work by circulating refrigerant between an indoor and outdoor component. During wintertime, heat is collected by the outdoor component and then distributed indoors. The process is reversed during summertime.

In terms of efficiency, standard split heat pumps are generally inferior to mini-split or geothermal heat pumps. The highest EER rated standard split heat pump clocks in at only 15 EER.

Many factors need to be considered when shopping for heating systems. While you have an understanding of the pros and cons of each heating system available, it takes years of firsthand experience and expertise to precisely know which heating system best fits a given situation. Our experts at Puyallup Heating & Air Conditioning can help you figure out what heating system to install in your home. Contact us today for more information on our products and services!