Heating & Cooling Systems
Determining the best type of system for your home depends on geographical location, the size and physical characteristics of your home, and the way the system will be used.
HVAC System Types
Split Systems
A split system is the most common type of heating and cooling. The furnace, which is indoors, is used as the heat source, while the air conditioning unit is outdoors and functions to cool the home. This type of system consistently and reliably heats and cools your entire home, as well as maintains indoor air quality through the use of filters inside the furnace.
Hybrid Systems
A hybrid system consisting of a heat pump provides both heating and cooling but with greater efficiency. This system is normally paired with a gas furnace or an electric air handler. A Heat Pump works just like an air conditioner to cool your home, which is by moving heat from inside the home to outdoors. A heat pump, however, has a reversing valve that allows it to absorb heat energy from outside air (yes, even in cold temperatures) and sends it indoors, thus supporting the heating effort for the home as well. When the weather is extra cold, the gas furnace becomes the primary heat source to ensure maximum comfort is maintained. It’s a solution that saves both energy and fuel.
Ductless Systems
Ductless systems enable you to heat and/or cool your home without invasive ductwork. They also operate quietly, have a compact design, and require minimal installation. Both Heat Pump and A/C solutions are flexible, whether you’re looking to maintain comfort in one room or multiple rooms.
Are you suffering from a hot or cold spot in your home?
Are you renovating your home?
Do you want air conditioning but can’t add duct work?
Ductless systems deliver cooling and/or heating to specific, targeted areas within the home. The installation is less invasive and can even be less expensive since these systems don’t require ductwork to distribute air. Ductless systems have an outdoor unit connected through a small hole to a compact wall-mounted unit indoors. Each indoor unit is designed to provide warm or cool air solely for the room in which it is installed. The indoor unit can be installed on a wall, in the ceiling, or on the floor. Ductless systems can be used for only one or two rooms, but they can also be expanded to make up to 8 separate climate zones in your home.
These flexible systems deliver targeted comfort in the indoor areas they’re placed. They also act as a zoning system by offering individual temperature control over each separate room. For example, if you want a cooler home office but a warmer bedroom, you can install a ductless unit in each room. This allows you to set different temperatures in each area depending on your comfort needs. A wireless remote makes this even easier. Not only are these units generally very energy efficient, but they also give you a much more refined level of control than you would have with a traditional duct-based system.
Heating and cooling systems come in Single-Stage, Two-Stage, and Multi-Stage options representing the levels at which they operate.
A Single stage unit means its operating speed is either on or off.
A Two-stage unit means it operates on either high or low. The low setting is adequate to meet most household comfort demands about 80% of the time, providing even temperatures. On hotter days, it can leverage the high level of operation to maintain comfort levels. Two stage systems are typically quieter and more efficient than a single stage unit.
A Multi-stage unit has a range of operation and therefore the most precise temperature control and best comfort. These variable speed units are the quietest and offer the most energy savings.
With an HVAC system, one size does not fit all. It is important to consider:
Cooling & Heating Capacity
Energy Efficiency
Air Quality
Humidity Regulation
Installation Requirements Unique to Your Home
Your Comfort Consultant will explain what these terms mean and help you identify which equipment will best suit your needs.
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Why Choose Home Comfort Alliance?
Your Comfort is Our Promise
We promise the comfort of dependable heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical services.
We promise you will feel comfortable with the people working in your home because they're knowledgeable, respectful, trustworthy, and tidy.
We promise the comfort of being offered options to help you find the right solution, at the right price.
We promise outstanding communication, service, and follow-up, so you're comfortable now and for years to come.
It's a promise we've kept wtih thousands of homeowners across Western Washington
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