Think of your air conditioner and furnace as part of a total system. That system will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. By the same token, a mismatched system—one that mixes old technology with new—could decrease system performance and overall comfort.

For example, your new air conditioner will be capable of reaching a certain SEER efficiency rating. Because SEER is determined by a complete system combination, if your existing furnace and indoor coil are older or don't match in efficiency and capacity, you might not get the efficiency level you paid for or be able to receive accurate information on what your rating actually is. Plus, an older indoor coil may even be dirty and clogged with particles, meaning more energy will be required to push air through the system.

Rating numbers indicate the efficiency of heating and air conditioning equipment and are directly related to the amount of energy a specific model uses. The higher the rating, the more efficient the product, and the lower your heating and cooling bills can be. The federal government establishes rating guidelines and sets minimum efficiency levels. For cooling, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). For heat pumps, the rating is HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Gas furnaces are rated with AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).

We spend about 90 percent of our time every day indoors. Today's efficient, airtight homes are excellent at conserving energy, but that also makes them better at trapping potentially irritating particles inside the home. With the rising number of people who suffer from allergies and asthma, indoor air quality has become more and more important to our general health and well-being.

For people who suffer from allergies, we recommend the American Standard AccuClean™ Whole-Home Air Filtration System. It can clean up to an astonishing 99.98 percent of allergens from the filtered air that your family breathes. With AccuClean™, the majority of irritating particles, like dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease, and even bacteria, will be removed from the filtered air. In fact, AccuClean™ removes 100 times more allergens than the standard 1 inch throwaway filters that come with most systems.

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One of the first things Caldwell will do is conduct a complete energy analysis of your home. By measuring windows and checking insulation, ductwork and building materials, and reviewing a variety of other factors, we can determine the right size system and equipment for your home. We'll even ask you questions about your existing comfort challenges, and make recommendations.

There are many factors that must be considered when calculating the cost of a new home comfort system. These include:

• The efficiency of the equipment
• The size of your home
• Is the ductwork installed and in good condition?
• Do you need a thermostat or electronic air cleaner?

In most cases, replacing your whole system, including both indoor and outdoor components, will result in a more efficient, longer-lasting system but will also cost a little more. Contact us today and we will gladly find a service option that is right you.