• Furnace:
  • A furnace generates heat by burning fuel (like natural gas, oil, or propane) or using electricity. The furnace heats air, which is then circulated through the home via ducts.
  • Furnaces typically work in colder climates where the outdoor temperature is too low for a heat pump to operate efficiently.
  • Furnaces are often part of a central heating system, and they provide heat by directly warming the air.
• Heat Pump:
  • A heat pump is a device that moves heat rather than generating it by combustion. In the winter, a heat pump extracts heat from the outside air (even in cold temperatures) and moves it indoors to heat your home. In the summer, it can reverse the process, acting as an air conditioner by removing heat from inside the house and releasing it outdoors.
  • Heat pumps are more energy-efficient than furnaces because they don’t generate heat; they only move it, which typically requires less energy.
  • They are particularly effective in mild to moderate climates but may struggle in extremely cold weather where they require supplemental heating.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures the efficiency of an air conditioning system over a cooling season. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the system is at cooling your home for each unit of energy consumed. For example, an AC unit with a SEER rating of 16 will be more energy-efficient than one with a rating of 10, resulting in lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact.

There are several reasons why your AC might blow warm air instead of cool air:

• Low refrigerant levels: If the refrigerant is low, the AC can’t absorb enough heat from inside your home, leading to warm air.
• Dirty air filter: A clogged air filter can restrict airflow, making the AC less effective and causing it to blow warm air.
• Thermostat issues: The thermostat may be malfunctioning or set incorrectly, causing it to misread the temperature.
• Compressor failure: If the compressor is broken, the AC cannot circulate refrigerant properly, and it won’t cool the air effectively.
• Blocked or broken condenser: A malfunction in the condenser unit (outside the house) can prevent proper cooling.

The thermostat is a device that controls the temperature of your HVAC system by regulating the heating or cooling. It senses the air temperature in the room and signals the furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner to turn on or off to maintain the desired temperature. Smart thermostats can also learn your preferences and adjust the temperature automatically to improve comfort and energy efficiency.

• Single-Stage Furnace: A single-stage furnace has only one level of heat output—either fully on or fully off. This type of furnace operates at full capacity every time it runs, which can lead to temperature swings and less energy efficiency.
• Multi-Stage Furnace: A multi-stage furnace can operate at multiple levels of heat output. It adjusts the amount of heat generated based on the demand. For example, it may operate at 60% capacity for mild weather and ramp up to 100% when it’s very cold. This offers more consistent temperature control and greater energy efficiency.