Posted by Todd Wilson on Monday, June 19, 2006 at 9:34PM :
In Reply to: Advice on HVAC (sorry for non-PW topic) posted by Brad on Monday, June 19, 2006 at 7:02PM :
I dont know what part of the country you live in and what is legal and available for you. I live in Kansas in the city. Electric or natural gas is it. No fuel oil or propane for me.
6 years ago I put in a new central heat and air system in my house. My heating and air dude sat down and talked with me on various systems and options.
If you have the money now is the time to upgrade and look towards the future in the way of energy costs.
I had a central heat and air system. The AC compressor went out. I was going to put a new AC in and they talked me into putting in a new natural gas unit also. The old one was 30+ years old and not very efficent. The A coil in the old unit wouldnt work as efficient with my new AC unit outside. Also the old heater was howing its age and I could put a new one in and save more money in the long run. Who knows when my heat exchanger would have cracked in the old unit.
They then showed me the heat pump options. I went with a brand new natural gas heater with a heatpump/ac combo unit for the outside. I have 2 methods of heating the house depending on climate and costs of gas or electrical.
It all works great and has cut my costs in half of what it used to be.
Todd