As residents in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Dallas, Texas, deal with heavy rains and flooding conditions this first full week of March, other areas of the country are already experiencing the sunshine and warmth of the approaching spring. Any change of temperature in any location in America forces home owners and business owners across the country to reevaluate and schedule maintenance of their heating and air conditioning units.
As technologies in home energy products and equipment continue to progress, many home owners find the need to make sure that they work with heating and cooling contractors to have the most efficient and cost effective systems. Old furnaces and air cooling systems can waste energy, circulate dust and mildew, and create uncomfortable environments for home owners and renters alike.
How Old Is Your Current Heating and Cooling System?
With proper maintenance, a new HVAC unit can last anywhere from 12 to 15 years. Home owners who live in houses that are older than that may not be getting the most efficient use of their energy investments. While some owners of older homes pride themselves on the longevity of their HVAC systems, it is likely that those same owners don’t understand the ramifications of continuing to use an aging unit. Just as older model cars are now known for their gas inefficiency and dangerous emission numbers, so too are older heating and cooling systems known for their inefficiencies. Since few drivers want to drive a pollution producing, gas guzzling older car or truck model, it is surprising that homeowners try to use their HVAC units long past the time when they are able to run efficiently.
The 2016 Cash for Clunkers program actually paid the owners of many cars older than a certain year to get rid of those vehicles. As a result the cars, trucks, and SUVs that are on today’s roads create less pollution, use less gasoline, and are full of proven driver and passenger safety features. Although no such program has been offered to get all old heating and cooling systems out of houses, some local utility companies do offer some incentives. When customers decide to upgrade to more energy efficient, clean air heating and cooling systems they may be offered manufacturers rebates and local utility company discounts.
Think Dust, Mold, Mildew and Allergens
Ductless heating and air conditioning options are popular options for families that deal with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues. Traditional heating and cooling systems that use a duct system to transport warm and cool air throughout the house can be a breeding ground for allergens, mold, pet dander, and many other unhealthy elements. Unless families take the time and money to get their ducts cleaned on a regular basis, they are circulating all of these unhealthy elements into the home every time that the air conditioner or furnace runs. Unhealthy air quality is a known source of problems for families that suffer from allergies or other respiratory issues.
Transferring to a ductless heating and air conditioning system eliminates the use of old, dirty ductwork. As a result, the ductless heating and air conditioning system provides clean air that can be used to either heat or cool a home or office.
A major advantage to using a ductless heating and air conditioning system is that the units can be mounted inside or outside in several locations throughout a home or office. These varying units can allow the home or business owners to heat or cool only the rooms that are in use. Instead of using complicated, and often dirty, duct systems to force air through a large home, the more efficient ductless system can concentrate in using energy to create the hot or cold air and not waste energy transferring this air clear across a home. The best ductless air conditioner system can even be fit for businesses or homes that currently use inefficient ducted forced-air systems.
A Growing Industry Encourages Customers to Upgrade
Between the years 2009 and 2014, the U.S. HVAC industry grew nearly 4.1% annually. As a result of this growth, the American HVAC industry employs more than 301,000 people. Of the estimated 85,469 HVAC U.S. businesses, many of them offer ductless heating and cooling systems.