As stated by the United States Department of Energy, a home’s Heating Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) system accounts for around 48% of its energy consumption. However, the system type that one chooses to install in their house can have a major impact on the size of your winter and summer bills. Selecting the correct HVAC system for the size of your house, how it is constructed, and the weather in your location is critically important. In this post, we will go through the six typical systems that there are to choose from. Bear in mind we are talking about central HVAC systems here, and not their portable AC counterparts.

Types of HVAC systems for residential use

AC and Furnace Split System

These can also be called “forced air systems”, this system is one that has been used for many years. It features a blower inside of the furnace that pulls in “untreated air”, cools or heats it, and blows it through ductwork in a house. Typically, the furnace is powered by natural gas, however if a home does not have natural gas, propane can also be used.

These forced air systems can be popular in mild climates around the country, where there isn’t the demand for central AC. They generally have a furnace for the cold winter months and experience naturally cool weather during summertime, giving them the opportunity to just open their windows. Furthermore, modern gas furnaces are now more than 90% efficient, which saves that planet and on bills!

Heat Pump and Air Handler Split System

Another frequently used system is the heat pump and air handler split system. This setup gives a home both air conditioning and heating. Refrigerant is circulated around the system from a compressor, and a blower pushes cold air through ductwork and feeds cool air to the living spaces of the home. This creates a comfortable climate during the hot summers, and the opposite happens during winter where warm air is fed through the home and pushes the cold air out to maintain the appropriate temperature.

This system is popular due to the relatively low cost of the equipment and low running costs. They are cheaper to run than gas or electric furnaces, and boiler systems, and generally have decent energy efficiency. Similar to the AC and furnace split system, it requires ductwork to distribute the air and also this type of system is not as efficient as other options when heating in sub-zero situations.

Boiler with Radiant Heat System and AC

In this type of system, the boiler provides heat and an extra air conditioning unit provides the cooling during the summer. The boiler has water inside, which is heated to a extremely hot temperature, and it then feeds this hot water through pipes around the house to radiators etc. There are many different types of these systems that can use propane, natural gas, or electricity to power them. Steam boilers were used frequently in the past, but not as much today because of concerns around their safety.

Experts say that air that is radiantly heated is the most suited for home living, as it is not very humid or dry. There are also combi-boilers, which use the heated water used for heating for the domestic hot water as well. So the central heating, showers, taps are all being heated from the same water source. Warmed floors are also another bonus you get from the hot water pipes running below the floor.

Mini-Split Heat Pump System

The mini-split heat pump system is another HVAC option to contemplate for any home that needs heating and cooling. This is similar to the typical heat pump system, however there are many units located in various rooms throughout the house, instead of one bigger unit. Different homes will require various numbers of units, ranging from two all the way up to eight and higher!

Mini-split systems are growing fast in popularity due to their increased efficiency and low cost. They are, in fact, the most efficient system for HVAC, outside of a geothermal heat pump system. Ductwork is not needed for this type of system as well, which makes it a brilliant choice for a system that is being retro-fitted to an existing house. One of the downsides is that the up-front cost of installing mini-split systems is a little higher than some of the other options.

Geothermal Heat Pump System

Geothermal heat pump systems are the most efficient HVAC system that you can install in a house. It is made up of pipes running underground that carry water underground where it’s cooled down in summer and warmed up in winter. This is how it achieves its impressive efficiency, by utilizing the natural heating and cooling effect of the Earth to supplement the heating and cooling processes.

Geothermal systems are naturally popular with those who are conscious about their impact on the environment and their carbon footprint. These “green” systems are by far the most efficient systems available, and are reliable as well, with most systems running for up to 25 years before requiring replacement or serious repairs.

Electric Furnace and AC Split System

Sometimes, a split system consisting of an electric furnace and an AC is the most appropriate option. This system is pretty much the exact same to the previously mentioned forced air system on this list, but the furnace is powered by electricity instead of propane or natural gas.

To break it down, these systems are basically big space heaters that have fans attached to blow the air through ductwork installed around the house. These systems are generally used where there is little need for heating all year round, with winters in some areas only lasting about two to three weeks. The big downside is that they are not close to being as efficient as the other options, and you could face some whopping electricity bills if you’re not careful!

So, what do you think is the best HVAC system for residential use? Do you have any of these systems installed in your house? We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!