Are you replacing, upgrading or buying a new HVAC system for your home and feeling confused? A 2022 Consumer Reports survey noted that 20 percent of Americans that year were doing the same, with a majority of respondents needing to repair or replace a HVAC system saying they were “overwhelmed” by the process.
No wonder! The average consumer spends a lot these days for household energy, including the cost to heat and cool their home. HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems control a home’s air quality, heating and cooling.
Energy costs vary depending on the length of heat or cooling seasons, the structure and age of your house and the type of equipment you have. Simply focusing on heat or cooling is not enough. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in hot, humid climates air conditioning systems must lower both air temperatures and indoor humidity. If an air conditioning system does not dehumidify adequately, the air inside your home will feel damp even when the actual temperature may be cool.
If you have not had to shop for a HVAC system recently, educate yourself first. 2025 Consumer Reports released survey data based on data collected between 2009-2024, and the results were not pretty. Their survey predicted about 19 percent of central air systems will have problems during their first eight years of ownership. Along with all the homework you need to do before shopping, do not forget to research reliability predictions.
Experts say reliability has a lot to do with whether a system is sized correctly for your home’s needs in the first place, as well as with maintenance that homeowners need to practice. Let’s see what different HVAC systems do and how they work.
Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: A central air system uses ducts to distribute air throughout the house, important during Virginia’s hot summers. Since Virginia is considered to be in a milder or moderate overall climate zone, heat pumps are a popular choice in the Commonwealth instead of an AC-only system. A heat pump provides all-in-one heating and cooling.
Ventilation components involve ductwork, which spreads heated or cooled air around your house. An air handler moves air through ducts, with vents and registers controlling airflow and direction. The compressor, which increases refrigerant pressure, and the evaporator and condenser coils exchange heat. These parts work to take heat and moisture out of the air. A thermostat controls temperatures.
Heat pumps use outside air to heat a home in winter and cool it in summer. Basically, a heat pump “pumps heat” from one place to another, moving heat out of your home when you want it cooler and pumping heat into your home for warmth in winter. In the summer, heat pumps operate similarly to a central air conditioning system by using refrigerant to pull heat from inside your home and transfer it outside through the system’s compressor. In winter, they operate in reverse, using a reversing valve to switch from cooling to heating mode.
Since heat pumps simply move heat in and out of your home depending on the season, they do not require fossil fuels, making them environmentally friendly as well as energy efficient. Air source heat pumps are the most common type of heat pump, but other heat pumps include ductless mini-split heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps.
Ductless heat pumps are also a popular option today. Ductless systems do not need ductwork to distribute conditioned air to your home’s living areas. Ductless mini-splits use an outside compressor/condenser unit and one or more indoor air handling units installed on walls or ceilings as needed around the home. They are connected by a conduit that contains refrigerant and power lines, with each indoor unit providing heat or cooling to just one room or a particular area of the house where it is installed.
Ductless systems are great when retrofitting or renovating an older structure without existing ductwork. They are also often used to heat or cool areas difficult to keep comfortable, such as sunrooms or bonus rooms atop garages. Having to install ductwork in a home without existing ductwork can add 2,000-3,000 dollars or more to a heat pump’s total cost, depending on your home’s size and your heating and cooling needs. Ductless systems can offer these cost savings.
Geothermal heat pumps are considered the most efficient HVAC systems, but they are also the most expensive. Like traditional heat pumps, they operate by moving heat in and out of the home but instead of exchanging heat with the outside air they use a constant temperature six feet underground, where temperatures average 55 degrees.
Also known as ground-source heat pumps, geothermal systems extract indoor heat and transfer it underground to cool a home. In cold months, a geothermal system works in reverse, taking heat from underground and moving it inside. Geothermal heat pumps use a “ground loop” system with a series of pipes buried underground.
According to www.homeguide.com, a geothermal system costs on average between 15,000 to 35,000 dollars (unit prices only). Their biggest expense is installation costs, which vary depending on home site/property conditions and loop type. Geothermal heating and cooling systems typically cost 25 to 65 percent less to run than conventional heat pumps, but their high upfront costs are barriers for many consumers.
Furnaces: Furnaces can also be used for home heating. A furnace uses four main components: burners that deliver and burn fuel, heat exchangers, a blower and a flue that provides exhaust for gaseous by-products. Many experts recommend attaching a humidifier to a furnace to obtain ideal humidity levels. Furnaces use electricity, oil or natural gas to make heat. Furnaces are often used in cold climate areas.
OTHER SYSTEMS:
Part of a HVAC system can also include other heating forms, such as freestanding woodstoves or fireplace inserts for supplemental or even sole heating needs; solar systems; and forced-air furnaces. Forced air furnaces, also known as warm air furnaces, use wood, wood pellets or wood chips to heat an entire house. Typically located indoors, heat from a forced air furnace is distributed via ducts using a blower fan.
Gas stoves, whether propane or natural gas, emit little pollution and do not require much maintenance. They can be installed almost anywhere in your home and can be vented through an existing chimney or directly vented through the roof or wall behind the stove. However, gas stoves vary in efficiency.
Decorative fireplace logs, using electricity, propane or natural gas, can be installed in an existing fireplace. They are not designed to provide a significant source of heat.
Masonry heaters, site-built or site-assembled, consist of a firebox, a large masonry mass and heat exchange channels. They store heat within their masonry structure and slowly release heat into the home throughout the day.
For information on masonry heaters, which currently do not require EPA certification, contact The Masonry Heater Association of North America. When it comes to solar, there are nearly a dozen different solar associations in America that provide information on these specialized systems.
Since heat pumps are so popular in Virginia, one area you need to educate yourself about involves heat pump capacity, measured in British thermal units per hour, or BTU/hr. or in “tons.” One ton of cooling equals 12,000 BTU/hr. Regarding sizing and BTUs needs, the website www.energystar.gov offers much information, including rough sizing requirements (In general, every 500 square feet requires one ton of air conditioning capacity). However, regardless of your rough estimates, it is important to have a professional HVAC contractor do a “load calculation” based on a recognized method, such the Manual J protocol.
Manual J was designed by ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association) for technicians to assess your home’s structural and thermal characteristics. Part of the Manual J protocol involves variables like insulation levels, home size and layout, how many windows you have and where they are located, how many people live in your house, the local climate (how many days you will need heating and cooling) and air duct tightness. It is important to pick the right sized unit. A unit too small will struggle to keep your home comfortable. An oversized unit will not only cost more, it will cycle on and off (unless it has a variable speed compressor) more often than it should, which stresses components and makes it a struggle to control humidity inside your home. Systems that are too large or too small can struggle with humidity control. An additional way to assess ductwork, if you need ductwork done, is called Manual D. Ask for a printout of all calculations including ductwork design and be wary if a contractor estimates your system needs based only on the size of your home.
If you are replacing a current system, do not automatically assume you need the exact same size. For examples, changes you may have made to improve your home’s efficiency (adding insulation, upgrading windows, etc.) could change your heating and cooling needs.
EFFICIENCY
Efficiency is defined as how much cooling a system delivers for every watt of electricity. The higher the SEER (seasonal energy efficient rating), the greater the efficiency. The minimum SEER today is SEER 14. Systems that meet Energy Star guidelines for efficiency are rated at least SEER 15 and can go up to SEER 26 for the most efficient models.
Keep in mind that HVAC systems need maintenance. Experts say you should have a professional do a once-yearly maintenance check that includes cleaning and flushing coils, draining the pan and drainage system and vacuuming blower components. A professional technician should also make sure the system is correctly charged with refrigerant, check for any leaks and make sure all mechanical components are working properly.
Maintenance that you can do yourself includes cleaning grilles and changing filters every one to three months, cleaning dirt or debris from condenser coils and checking for drainpipe blockages. Modern heat pumps are much more efficient than older models. Some people say new heat pumps tend to be noticeably warmer in winter than their older predecessors.
HOW LONG DO HEAT PUMPS LAST?
Heat pumps last about 15 years, although some can stop working efficiently after ten years. Others can work fine up to 20 years or more. Longevity is influenced by maintenance, climate, usage and models selected. Geothermal heat pumps can last 20-25 years (for indoor heat pump).
Finding a good contractor is crucial. Installation is very important. If a unit is installed correctly, a SEER 14 can run better than a poorly installed SEER 25 unit.
HOW TO CHOOSE A CONTRACTOR
Finding a good contractor to install and service your system is your most important job. Do your research.
Some important things to consider when choosing a contractor:
• What’s included in the installation? This helps when comparing cost quotes.
• What is the labor and parts warranty? Many manufacturers offer ten-year warranties on parts, but if they also offer a ten-year labor warranty, that is even better.
• How long has the manufacturer been around? If a company is here today, gone tomorrow, their warranty may be useless.
• The specifics of how the unit will installed from start to finish. What are the advantages of choosing a certain company, especially when it comes to ongoing service requirements or if problems are encountered with the new system?
• Contractors who bid on your installation should be able to show you verification of things like bonding, insurance and any required licenses. Check with places like the Better Business Bureau or a consumer affairs office regarding complaint reports.
• Trade organizations such as North American Technician Excellence (NATE), founded in 1997, is a nonprofit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. Certification exams are developed by a committee of industry experts. Consumers can look for NATE certification when shopping various companies. For more information see the website:
https://www.natex.org
A new or replacement HVAC system can save energy and make your home more comfortable. It can also be an expensive undertaking. Figuring out ROI (return on investment) for an upgrade or replacement will help you make this informed choice.