Furnace, Boiler, AC replacement
Heating and cooling can account for more than 60% of your home's energy costs. When equipment is not sized or installed correctly, this percentage can be even higher. Improper installation can also increase the short-cycling of the equipment, which can compromise comfort and increase wear and tear.
We understand there is a big difference between new construction and Replacement work. New construction work is where most heating contractors make their living. And most are very good at it. New construction is more like production work however. It's what I would call "behind the scenes work." The work gets done but no one pays much attention to it until it's finished.
Replacement work is totally different. From the moment Midland employees arrive at your home to final clean-up, we know we are working where you live. We must be very careful to protect your home and furnishings. What we do before we're finished is just as important as the finished product. We are residential specialist and have set up many procedures just for the challenges of replacement work. We are in and out generally the same day. We are clean neat and efficient. That makes our customers very happy.
How to choose a Furnace / Boiler / Air Conditioner
Heating or cooling equipment is not a stand alone appliance, like a refrigerator or washing machine, which can be operated and tested in a laboratory setting. You cannot simply plug them into an electrical outlet and record how they operate. Heating and cooling equipment is part of a system, and it is that system, right or wrong, which will determine how well the heating or cooling equipment will run and also how long it will last.
Famous name brands are meaningless if the installer does not know what he or she is doing. The manufacturers can advertise all they want, but their product’s function depends on the installer, not the name brand. Granted, some brands of equipment are manufactured better than others, but the best manufactured equipment in the worst installation is not better than the worst equipment in the best installation. Heating and cooling equipment needs proper ducting and venting to work properly, it cannot work well on its own.
Consumer guides cannot compare heating and cooling equipment because each installation must also be compared, and this is impossible. The AFUE or efficiency may be compared, the height and weight and costs may be compared, but how well the equipment works is completely dependent on the installation.
How Large of a Furnace / Boiler / Air Conditioner
When it comes to heating and cooling equipment, size counts—a lot. A furnace, boiler, or air conditioner that's too small won't keep the house comfortable during extreme heat/cold. Partly to avoid that possibility, most installed heating and cooling equipment is too large for the home they're installed in. Cost is only one of the problems with such a unit. Compared with a correctly sized equipment, a furnace, boiler, or air conditioner that's too large will cycle on and off more frequently. That puts more wear on its components, wastes energy, and may cause the temperature to vary uncomfortably. Also, upgrading to larger equipment may require the installation of bigger ducts to accommodate the increased airflow. Without proper duct sizing, the airflow can be noisy.To be sure of correct sizing, choose a contractor who agrees to take the time to calculate heating/cooling needs using an industry-standard calculation, such as found in the Air Conditioning Contractors of America's Manual J. Such calculations take into account the climate, along with the house's size, design, and construction.
IN CONCLUSION
Choosing a furnace is not the homeowner’s concern, it is the contractor’s concern. Choosing a contractor is the homeowner’s job. Choose an honest reputable contractor, and most likely, his experience has taught him which furnaces to use and which ones to avoid.
