Heating Up The New Year With HVAC Trends: How They Will Affect You

Posted on: 30 December 2015

As a homeowner, the replacement and repair of your HVAC system can often seem daunting at times, particularly with regard to various marketplace trends. HVAC trends can both negatively and positively impact homeowners such as yourself. With a couple of new trends heating up the new year, it is important that you understand what those trends are and how they will affect your heating and cooling system.

Changes to the SEER Rating

The SEER value of an HVAC unit refers to its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Systems with a higher SEER value use less electricity to perform than those with a lower SEER rating. In 1992, the government determined that systems had to have a minimum of 10 SEER. The minimum SEER value was then raised to 13 SEER in January 2006.

The Department of Energy once again raised the minimum value to 14 SEER as of January 2015. The new mandate has been a leading cause of shifting HVAC trends for homeowners and HVAC specialists alike. Ways in which the trend will impact you is that you may be looking at an entire systems replacement for both indoor and outdoor units.

The increased SEER value could potentially raise some compatibility issues that could make HVAC repairs a challenge for many specialists and homeowners. The increased SEER value namely affects certain geographical areas of the United States, such as those living in south and southwest states. However, homeowners can still opt for the purchase of a unit with a 13 SEER value if they have the unit installed before July 1, 2016.

Opting for the purchase of a new system with a higher SEER value could put a dent in your wallet. However, depending on where you live, the energy savings you will experience could be financially beneficial. Therefore, if you have the funds and are looking to provide your home with increased energy efficiency, the new SEER value could prove beneficial. If you would rather stick to cheaper models with a lower SEER value, take advantage of your purchase before July 2016.

Changes Caused by Smart Home Trends

Smart home trends have commonly had an impact on HVAC systems. Generation Y, which consists of Millennials, are far more interested in smart home technology than homeowners over the age of 45. Approximately 79% of Millennials show an interest in smart home technology. Smart homes consist of an interconnectivity between objects and devices that allow them to communicate with one another.

Interconnectivity between objects and devices can help make your life far simpler. For example, a smart home may feature a lighting system that activates on its own based on your day-to-day preferences. Your home learns your daily behaviors and adapts to accommodate you in various ways. That adaptability can work to include your HVAC system.

In a smart home, the HVAC system is connected in such a way that you almost never have to manually adjust your temperature settings. Smart home technology goes above and beyond the capabilities of a programmable thermostat. The smart system can lower the temperature when you are at work or when you are sleeping. It can raise the temperature during certain times of the day or night based on your activity and the temperature outside your home.

Another way smart home technology can impact your HVAC system is the cost of installation. You may require the installation of a very specific system that is compatible with smart home technology. Therefore, be prepared to spend money in order to keep up with smart home trends and technologies. Although the initial investment may prove expensive, the cost saving benefits overall can prove beneficial.

If you are concerned regarding the ways in which HVAC trends can impact you, speak with an HVAC specialist from a company like Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. The specialist can help you find ways to make trends work in a way that is beneficial for you, your home, and your wallet.

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