HVAC Basics: Before you buy - Part 1 "Overview & Cost"
Confused about home heating and cooling? Don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry. Our parter Trane has created a comprehensive guide for what you need to know about home heating and cooling before you buy. Over the next three weeks we will help walk you though what you need to know to make the best choice for you and your home.
OVERVIEW – WHAT IS HVAC?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. This system is responsible for heating and cooling your home and includes products like furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps as well as ductwork, thermostats and other home comfort controls.
HOW MUCH DOES A NEW AIR CONDITIONER OR FURNACE COST?
Prices can vary from city to city and depend on multiple factors like the make and model you choose and even the size of your home. Trane recommends contacting your local Trane dealer (that's us here at Service First Tradeworks Ltd.) to schedule your custom, in-home evaluation and estimate.
WHAT FACTORS AFFECT THE COST OF A NEW HVAC SYSTEM?
LOCATION Region and climate matter when finding the right system for your home and saving energy. The heating and cooling needs will differ in the hot and humid south and cold north. Also, installation costs can vary by as much as 20% depending on where you live.
HOME SIZE AND CONSTRUCTION A large home will need a larger unit or even multiple systems to properly maintain a comfortable temperature — which of course will cost more than a smaller home. In addition, proper seals on windows and doors and the quality of your home’s insulation will affect your monthly heating and cooling costs.
DUCTWORK
Ductwork plays a crucial role in determining how comfortable your home is from room to room. When properly designed and installed, a duct system can maximize comfort and minimize energy use. If you’re replacing ductwork in a current home, adding ductwork can add as much as $2,000 – $3,000 to the total cost of your HVAC system.
PROJECT DIFFICULTY If your new system is planned for a hard to reach space or if you live in a historic home that requires retrofitting, you’ll see your HVAC installation price increase. Only with an onsite evaluation will these kinds of costs be discovered.
SPECIAL FEATURES Along with your traditional heating and cooling system, you have options to enhance the overall air quality of your home with a Trane CleanEffects™ air cleaner or add climate zones with a ComfortLink™ II Zoning System or and take advantage of the latest smart home, connected thermostat controls.
REBATES
Good news, there are many ways to save on a new Trane. Currently FortisBC is offering rebates of up to $700 on high-efficiency natural gas furnace upgrades and up to $3000 on natural gas furnaces for income qualified homes. Check out our rebates page for links to all the current rebates.
Stay tuned next week for Part 2. For all your plumbing, heating and cooling needs give us a call at Service First Tradeworks Ltd. (250) 832-5558 or (250) 675-3668. Proud to be your local Trane Dealer for the Shuswap :).
*https://www.trane.com/residential/en/resources/hvac-basics-what-you-need-to-know-about-home-heating-and-cooling-before-you-buy/
