Equipment is probably the first consideration when deciding what system is best for you.  We recommend Trane.  In our opinion, they offer the best quality and value of all the heating and air conditioning manufacturers.  Trane is the top rated manufacturer in consumer reports publications. Their equipment is reliable, quiet, and durable. They also offer the most features of any manufacturer.                             

 Another brand that we stand by is Rheem. This may  be the brand we recommend, especially when you have space issues ( the equipment is generally smaller ). They offer a good product and  we have had good success with them. One of the biggest advancements in HVAC systems in the past few years has been variable-speed blowers. A variable-speed blower uses as much electricity as a 60-watt light bulb when it is in fan only mode. These blowers gently cycle the air in your home and will eliminate temperature swings, drafty rooms, and problem areas in your home (basement too cold, upstairs too hot).                                                           

Other pieces of equipment to consider include: Evaporative Coils, Attic Fans, Humidifiers, Electronic Air Cleaners, Digital Programmable Thermostats, and UV Lights. 

Humidifiers are particularly nice on cold winter days.  The air feels warm and moist in your home.  A humidifier will get rid of static electricity, which causes shocks when you walk on your carpeting and touch anything metal.  It will also help cut down on sinus problems and sickness due to allergies, depending on which type of unit you purchase.   

Another benefit is they can actually lower your heating bill, since putting moisture in the air will make you feel more comfortable at a lower thermostat setting!  And then there is the fact that your furniture will like the added moisture.  With today’s tight construction, homes never get enough air from the outdoors (called infiltration)  and are literally as dry as the desert during the winter.  This is because the same air is heated over and over again without adding any fresh outdoor air.  Dry air aggravates upper respiratory problems, dry skin, and cracked nasal membranes.  Humidifiers will help to alleviate these problems. 

Electronic or Media Air Cleaners will filter up to 94% of particles .5 microns in size.  They will filter pollens, pet dander, plant spores, fungi, and bacteria.  A standard 1" fiberglass filter will filter just 1% of particles .5 microns in size.  Electronic air cleaners are particularly nice for those of us who suffer from allergies.  Electronic air cleaners operate by putting a high voltage charge across electronic cells, which are built with metal plates.  When dust, pet dander, or any minute particle travels through the ductwork and goes through this cell, it gets zapped with around 14,000 volts, but at low amperage.  This zapped particle then is burnt and remains on the cell where it can’t go back into the building's air stream.    

Digital Programmable Thermostats provide more control than ever for your comfort system.  They can be programmed to a certain temperature at a specific time of day.  They are especially great in the winter.  I personally program the furnace in my home to turn on about one-half hour before I wake up.  It makes getting out of bed easier on a cold winter morning!  

UV Lights are mounted in your ductwork and continuously emit ultraviolet energy that kills a high percentage of airborne bacteria and mold passing by the light.  By treating the air that passes through the HVAC system with ultraviolet light, you can effectively reduce or eliminate airborne contaminants called bio aerosols.  UV Cleansers have been used for decades.   They have been tested and implemented by companies such as General Electric and Westinghouse.  UV technology is used in hospitals, laboratories, clean rooms, medical offices, commercial buildings, food processing plants... any place a concern for clean air exists.  Now this exceptional technology is available to you: The Homeowner.  

EFFICIENCY (FURNACE)  The more efficient a furnace, obviously, the lower your energy bill for heating.  Calculating a furnace’s energy costs requires considering both the gas it burns and the electricity it consumes to run its blowers and controls.  How efficiently a furnace converts gas into heating energy is reflected in its annual fuel-utilization-efficiency (AFUE) rating, which is measured as a percentage.  The higher that percentage, the more heat the furnace can wring from each BTU of gas and the lower the environmental impact of it emissions.   

Furnaces have generally become more energy-efficient over the years.  A typical gas furnace made in the early 1980s has a AFUE of about 60 percent.  Today, the efficiency allowed by law for new gas furnaces is 78%, and the most efficient models have and AFUE of about 97 percent or near total perfect efficiency.  Any 90%+ efficient furnace installed this year will qualify for a $300.00 rebate from Questar. Take advantage of these incentives if you can, because they are unprecedented and won't last long.  

EFFICIENCY (CENTRAL AIR) Efficiency is expressed as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating or Seer.  At present, a SEER of 10 denotes a low-efficiency unit; medium efficiency is 11 to 14; high efficiency is above 14.  New federal regulations that took effect in 2006 set the minimum SEER for a central air conditioner at 13.