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Building a new home is an exciting milestone. You can customize it to your preferences and tailor your appliances to your family’s specific needs. One of the most important elements is the air conditioning and heating system. While it may seem relatively straightforward to select the right style, several factors play vital roles in the decision. Here’s what you should know.

Options to Consider

Central air is a common option that consists of an indoor furnace and an outdoor AC compressor, both of which transfer air through ductwork situated in the house. While generally considered to be the most convenient HVAC setup—particularly for a home with ample square footage to cover—each of the two separate units requires its own maintenance schedule. When building a new home, you’ll also need to install ducts to accommodate this type of system.

With a ductless system, there’s no need to factor ductwork into your design. Instead, each indoor air handler is simply mounted to a wall inside the home, with tubes connecting it to the outdoor unit. Through this tube, refrigerant circulates and allows you to cool the house on demand. When paired with a heat pump, a ductless system can provide ample comfort all winter as well. You can install several different ductless units, making it easy for you to independently control the temperature in each area of the home. This is an efficient, money-saving option since you’ll largely avoid the need for complex repairs and duct cleaning.

Finally, geothermal technology harnesses the earth’s natural energy by using heat from underground and moving it through your home. During winter, heat is pulled from the ground, and during summer, it’s removed from the home and displaced to the ground.

What to Keep in Mind

air conditioningSeveral factors come into play when choosing the right air conditioning and heating system. First is knowing the home’s square footage so that you can select a size that provides the appropriate output capacity. A small unit will waste energy struggling to cool the home, while one that’s too large will cycle on and off too much in its effort to keep your home comfortable. In both scenarios, more energy than necessary is expended, driving up your costs.

If your primary concern is reducing your carbon footprint and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle, it makes sense to install an environmentally friendly geothermal system that rarely requires maintenance.

Consider its energy-saving components, too. Modern central systems are equipped with variable speed motors, which help promote greater efficiency, and valves that restrict refrigerant flow when you don’t need to cool the home as frequently.

If some family members prefer cooler temperatures than others, a ductless system makes sense because it allows for customized heating and cooling. However, keep in mind that in a larger home build, it will be necessary to connect multiple outdoor units to each area’s indoor air handlers. 

 

If you’re ready to select the right HVAC system for your new home, turn to the professionals at Smith Air Conditioning. Proudly serving clients throughout the Acadiana, LA, area since 1963, the company offers air conditioning maintenance, repair, and installation services. Visit them online for information or call (337) 363-1866 to schedule an appointment.

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