Buyers Guide

This buyer's guide was assembled to assist you in the purchase of your new heating and air conditioning system. Since this system purchase represents the largest expenditure you will make for a home appliance it is important that you understand as much as you can before you buy. In this guide we will cover areas important for you to understand prior to evaluating system proposals. In the last section, "Buyer Beware", we review many misleading and negligent practices that may cost you money and aggravation.



Types of Systems

There are five basic types of central air conditioning systems available:

1)  Air Conditioner and Furnace - this system contains an air conditioner, a heater and a cooling coil.

2)  Heat Pump and Air Handler - A heat pump is basically an air conditioner that reverses operation to produce heat in winter. Most heat pumps have supplemental electric heat for operation when outside temperatures are below 40 degrees.


3)  Air Conditioner and Air Handler - an air handler is a cooling coil, an electric heat element and a blower fan. Expensive to operate in cooler climates, this configuration is frequently used in the New Orleans area.

4)  Packaged Air Conditioning System -
  
This system has the condenser, evaporator coil, heater and blower in a single package located outside the home.  Ducts run inside the house from this remote location.

5)  Geothermal or Water Source Heat Pump -


This system uses the constant temperature of the earth or underground water to heat and cool the home.  Instead of an outside condenser that uses a fan to cool refrigerant, a geothermal unit uses water piped inside to transfer heat.
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