Blog

A Comprehensive Guide to Residential Heating and Cooling Systems: Types, Benefits, and Choosing the Best for Your Home

Your home’s heating and cooling system plays a critical role in keeping your living space comfortable, safe, and energy-efficient throughout the year. With a variety of options available, choosing the right system can enhance comfort, reduce energy costs, and increase the longevity of your equipment. Here’s everything you need to know about residential heating and cooling systems, their types, and how to choose the best one for your home.

Types of Heating Systems for Homes in Montgomery, Alabama

  1. Furnaces Furnaces are one of the most common heating systems in residential homes. They work by blowing heated air through ducts, distributing it throughout the house. Furnaces can run on gas, electricity, or oil, making them versatile and adaptable to different locations. Newer models are highly efficient and come with energy-saving features.
  2. Heat Pumps Heat pumps can serve both as heating and cooling systems. They work by extracting heat from the air (or ground) and transferring it indoors during the winter months. In summer, the process is reversed to cool the home. Heat pumps are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, especially when paired with renewable energy sources like solar power.

“Understanding HVAC Metrics: What ‘Ton’ and ‘SEER’ Mean for Your Cooling System’s Performance and Efficiency”

 1. Ton (Cooling Capacity) Definition: In HVAC systems, a “ton” refers to the amount of heat an air conditioning or cooling system can remove from a space in one hour. It is a measure of cooling capacity. Conversion: One ton of cooling capacity is equivalent to 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Example: If an air conditioner is rated at 3 tons, it means it can remove 36,000 BTUs of heat per hour from the indoor air. 2. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) Definition: SEER is a rating used to measure the efficiency of air conditioning systems. It represents the ratio of the cooling output (in BTUs) to the total energy input (in watt-hours) over a typical cooling season. Calculation: SEER is calculated by dividing the total cooling output by the total energy consumption. Higher SEER ratings indicate greater energy efficiency. Example: An air conditioner with a SEER rating of 16 is more efficient than one with a SEER rating of 13. This means the higher SEER unit uses less energy to provide the same amount of cooling. Understanding these terms can help you make informed decisions when selecting or evaluating HVAC systems, ensuring you choose equipment that meets your cooling needs efficiently.

Systems We Offer:

TRANE and GOODMAN split systems and packages units

DAIKIN and MITSUBISHI ductless heat pumps in various configurations
Call Us for an Estimate at (334) 834-6120

Back to Top