Biggest Factors in Determining the Best HVAC Unit for Your Home

A new HVAC system is a big investment, both for your wallet and your day-to-day comfort. Modern systems come with a lot of features and ratings, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here’s a breakdown of the most important factors to consider. Down here in South Louisiana, where your AC runs six to eight months a year, getting the right system matters even more than it does in milder climates.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a New HVAC System

Several important factors influence which HVAC system is best for your needs. You will need to find a balance that works for you. Budget should always be the first priority, both in terms of the immediate investment and cost of operation. When you think of a budget, consider how much money you have on hand and your estimated cost savings with a higher efficiency unit. The other factors to consider are:

• Existing HVAC structures in your home, such as ductwork and thermostats
• Square footage of your home
• Special features, such as zone control, programmable thermostats, indoor air purifiers, and humidifiers

Why Square Footage Matters

HVAC systems have ratings in British thermal units (BTU) that are set by the manufacturers to let consumers know the output of the unit. The BTU rating lets you know how much warm or cold air can be removed from the interior of your home per hour. Given the same square footage, units with higher BTUs will remove the same amount of warm or cold air faster than units with lower BTU ratings. Matching the right BTU rating to your home’s square footage is how you get the energy efficiency the manufacturer intended.

If you choose a unit that is too high in BTUs for your square footage, you will likely spend too much up front. Choose a unit that is too small, and you will spend more money than needed on your utility costs. Calculating BTUs is relatively easy. Take the square footage of your home and multiply it by 25.

Choose the Right HVAC System With Professionals

We’ve been sizing and installing HVAC systems for Acadiana homes since 1956, and we carry a full Lennox® lineup for every size property. If you’re shopping for a new heating and air conditioning system, call F & R Air Conditioning at (337) 893-5646 and we’ll walk you through the options that fit your home and your budget.