Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings
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Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings

Have you ever wondered what goes into a heating or air conditioning system for a large office building or another large building like a mall or a school? My name is Evelyn, and I am an HVAC architect. I design heating and air conditioning systems for large, corporate buildings. Making sure that a large building with many rooms or offices is efficiently heated and cooled is a very large job and is much more complicated than simply heating or cooling a home. This blog will educate the reader on how heating and cooling jobs this large are designed and completed.

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Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings

Should You Install A New Furnace With Your New Air Conditioner?

Nicole Jacobs

HVAC equipment doesn't always have the decency to fail at the same time. It's not uncommon for your air conditioning system to fail, even if your furnace is still working just fine. Unfortunately, residential HVAC systems aren't truly independent. If your home uses forced-air heating, your furnace shares its air handler and ductwork with your air conditioner.

When one half of your HVAC system fails, it's often worthwhile to carefully consider replacing the other half. Here are three reasons you might want to install a new furnace alongside your new air conditioning system.

1. System Matching

Your home's heating and cooling systems consist of many different components. For example, you need your furnace, thermostat, ductwork, and air handler to get heat into your home. Modern HVAC systems use matching components to achieve their highest levels of efficiency. Mismatched components may cause one part of your system to work too hard or reduce your overall energy efficiency.

In particular, it's crucial to match your home's air handler to the capacities of your air conditioner and furnace. If you install a new air conditioner, your new blower may no longer match well with your old furnace. Installing a new, matching furnace will ensure your entire heating and cooling system can achieve the best possible energy efficiency and lowest possible utility costs.

2. Warranty and Service

Another consideration is the warranty on your new air conditioner. If you're using an old furnace well beyond its expected lifespan, you probably no longer have any warranty coverage. Installing a new furnace will help you match warranties across your heating and cooling equipment. As a result, you won't need to worry if you're covered if a component fails.

You also shouldn't ignore the benefits of having a complete, matched system installed by the same company. You may not know who installed your old furnace, but you'll have a working relationship with the contractor that installs your matching air conditioner and furnace pair. This relationship can make future repair and maintenance visits quicker and smoother.

3. No Downtime

If you have a relatively new furnace, you may consider keeping it, even after installing a new air conditioner. However, a furnace that's well into its second decade may be approaching the end of its life. Even if your furnace is still running, it may fail unexpectedly or suddenly require expensive repairs to remain operational.

By replacing your aging furnace now, you'll avoid downtime when you need to keep your home warm during the winter. The extra money you spend on your replacement will be well worth it to avoid spending several days in the freezing cold following an unexpected failure.

Contact an HVAC contractor if you have questions about residential heater installation


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