residential hvac system

Residential HVAC Systems are complex devices capable of heating and cooling a house.  For the average homeowner, it is difficult to compare HVAC systems on the market today since there are many factors to consider including:


Efficiency ratings are recognized worldwide and are applicable to all kinds of cooling and heating systems. The newer and more technologically advanced a particular model is, you can likely expect it to have a higher efficiency rating. It is the standard set by the government to determine a unit’s efficiency in consuming energy. Hence, all homeowners must always take into consideration an HVAC unit’s efficiency rating before buying one.

The HVAC Unit’s Size

The size of a residential HVAC system is crucial in saving energy and minimizing utility costs.  A unit smaller than what your space requires is never enough to thoroughly cool or heat your home. It means that your unit’s motor/ engine/ energy/ fuel is working nonstop because your unit cannot fully regulate your home’s indoor environment. Meanwhile, a very big unit results to an overkill or an excess of your residential HVAC system’s energy output. As a golden rule, only purchase an HVAC unit that is the right size for your home and can sufficiently heat or cool it according to its square footage.

Kinds of Air Conditioners

In a centralized HVAC system, the air conditioner is a separate component.  However, an AC can also be bought individually. You can place them outside your home, in the furnace room or the basement, it all depends on the kind of AC you purchased. You can also purchase a window-mounted unit that is ideal for smaller spaces. An AC does not need gas to work since you can just plug them into any electrical outlet.

Kinds of Furnaces

Like ACs, you can buy individual furnace or as a component of a residential HVAC system. A wood-burning furnace is a bit obsolete, whereas electric and natural gas models are its more typical modern counterparts. A furnace heats the air that passes through the vents or the water that goes through pipes. The power source is often based on what you have on-hand, or what source is most feasible in your locality.


You can opt to go with geothermal if you are constructing a new residence and have the extra money to burn. A small residential HVAC system will often cost you around $5,000 up to $10,000 on the average. Industry experts came up with this estimate back in 2012. Now, a geothermal unit will cost even more. But with a geothermal unit in place, you can enjoy lower energy consumption in comparison to other conventional forms of heating since it utilizes the ground temperature to ensure your home enjoys a constant comfortable temperature throughout the year. A geothermal unit can enable homeowners to save as much as 40% of their energy costs but there is a caveat since there is a huge upfront cost to acquire such a highly energy-efficient residential HVAC system.