Are you considering an upgrade for your home HVAC system? As a homeowner, comfort for you and your family is important, and so is convenience, reliability, and energy efficiency. The equipment used to heat and cool your home is constantly changing and upgrading. Here’s the latest and greatest in the market today, so you can shop smarter.
What is an HVAC system?
An HVAC system is your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. It’s composed of many equipment parts that all share the same goal: maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home.
Parts involved in your HVAC system include air conditioning units, furnaces, heat pumps, ducts, vents, and more. Not only does your HVAC system control the temperature, but it also contributes to your indoor air quality and the humidity of your home.
More recent innovations in the HVAC space
1. Geothermal
Geothermal pumps, also known as ground-source heat pumps, are gaining popularity. The technology involves tapping into the ground’s stable temperatures to provide more efficient cooling and heating. By using a constant temperature a few feet below the ground, typically between 10-16 degrees Celsius for the majority of the year, the system can produce a more consistent temperature.
When the weather is exceptionally hot, geothermal units remove heat from your home and dissipate it into the ground, where it’s cooled. In very cold weather, the geothermal system extracts heat from the earth and transfers it to the home’s interior. What makes geothermal units so energy efficient is that instead of using energy to generate the heat, it is simply moved and transferred.
2. Advanced air purification
Air purification is important, particularly in the current era of growing global health concerns. Air purification systems have stepped up their game by introducing improved HEPA filters, UV-C sterilization, and more.
Not only does air purification equipment improve the air in your home, but it also helps maintain the cleanliness of your coils and filters. Clean components enhance the effectiveness and longevity of your system, resulting in energy savings.
3. Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats are among the most innovative advancements in the HVAC space over the last decade. They learn your heating and cooling preferences, integrate with your other home automation systems, and adjust automatically with changing weather conditions.
Homeowners with smart thermostats can enjoy automated HVAC adjustments based on occupancy, schedule, weather changes, or any other preferences they may have. Users can also enjoy remote control from anywhere inside or outside the home via the app instead of manually programming their system on the wall.
4. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems
VRF systems are also increasing in popularity because they offer convenient zoned cooling and heating. This makes them more energy efficient, as users only heat or cool the areas they’re occupying. It can also provide heating and cooling simultaneously in different areas. Does your front room get too much sun, but the back of the house stays too cold until late in the day? It’s not a problem with your VRF system.
Having the VRF system rarely (or never!) operating at full capacity means your system lasts longer, runs more effectively, and puts energy bill money back in your pocket.
Where HVAC technology is headed
These are just a few examples of recent innovations in the HVAC space. But what can we expect to see trending in the future? Here’s where home heating and cooling is headed.
- More home automation: HVAC systems are becoming increasingly integrated into a broader home automation system. HVAC automation, integrated with lighting, security, music, and other home devices, is the next step in making home comfort as convenient as possible.
- More sustainable energy sources: We anticipate an increase in solar-powered systems in the future. This technology harnesses energy from the sun to heat water, which can then be utilized for domestic hot water or space heating purposes.
- AI and machine learning maintenance: Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to analyze data from HVAC sensors, sense potential heating and cooling issues, and optimize AC and heat pump performance. It makes heating and cooling more efficient, effective, and eco-friendly.
Looking to upgrade? Call the experts
At Allard & Émond , we’re ready to step in with the latest and greatest in HVAC tech. Whether you need a minor repair, maintenance visit, or complete replacement, we’ll work with you to get the job done right.
We’ve been trusted by homeowners in the Montreal area for over 40 years. Contact the team for a quote today.