HVAC stands for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.” An HVAC system is an integrated system in a home or business that brings together the elements of the boiler or furnace, the cooling apparatus, and the ventilation system. Some may also include an air filtration option. With an HVAC system, all elements can be controlled by a single interface. HVAC systems provide the benefit that none of elements will be working in conflict with one another. An integrated system also has the advantage of running more cost-effectively and energy efficiently than separate systems. Also delivering improved reliability and fewer maintenance requirements.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor, it’s important to learn a bit about the optimal brand and model for your needs and your budget. Here are our top five brand picks among the many available options. We’ve made our recommendations after evaluating these brands in terms of energy efficiency or SEER rating, noise levels, cost, and warranty coverage.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)
When you’re considering purchasing a new HVAC system, you will want to take the SEER rating into account. An air conditioner’s SEER rating is the ratio of the unit’s cooling output over an average season divided by the energy it consumes in watt hours. The higher the SEER rating, the better the unit’s efficiency.
According to the US Department of Energy’s current standards, air conditioners must be produced with a minimum SEER rating of 13, and in the southern states the minimum rating is 14. As technology improves, the maximum number increases and minimum standards may be raised. Remember that the SEER rating expresses the maximum efficiency of the unit. However, actual efficiency depends on the temperature inside and outside of your home, the quality of your ductwork, and other factors.
The Best HVAC Brands
Amana
Amana is an all-around exceptional pick for its excellent energy efficiency and warranty coverage. While it’s certainly not the cheapest option, it’s not the most expensive, either.
Homeowners who are keen to avoid expensive repairs in the future would do well to seriously consider an Amana HVAC system. If you purchase a unit with a SEER rating of 16 or higher, any repairs to the compressor or heat exchanger (the most expensive parts) will be covered by the manufacturer. This is exclusive to home owners. Units with a SEER rating below 16, come with a 10-year warranty on all parts. Amana is widely known to have the best warranty in the industry.
Lennox
Lennox sits close to the top of our list due to its continuous spirit of innovation and its standout SEER ratings. Some reach into the mid-20s, although it does produce several models that have a lower rating. The biggest tradeoff being that they are more budget friendly. Lennox’s higher-end products have multiple speed settings, allowing the units to run at a desired temperature, using the least amount of energy necessary. Control via an app on your smartphone allows you to turn your HVAC off from a remote location, in case you forget.
As you might expect from such a well-engineered product, replacement parts come at a premium. And since the brand does not offer a lifetime warranty, you will be paying out of pocket for repairs after ten years.
Most Lennox products carry the Energy Star seal.
Trane
Trane is one of the most reliable names in heating and cooling systems. Optional air filtration systems remove pollen, dust, and other contaminants for the safest, cleanest indoor air possible. Many models are Energy Star rated.
All units are evaluated for noise pollution levels, so sensitive customers may choose wisely. Ratings are also provided for the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency for gas furnaces. This gives you a precise idea of how much of the fuel you pay for is utilized by your system. Trane produces some models that successfully utilize a minimum of 90% of your fuel expenditure, exceeding the current government minimum standard.
Goodman
Environmentally conscious folks will find Goodman HVACs a standout. They are manufactured to run on a chlorine-free refrigerant, which is easier on the ozone layer. Their specially designed compressor has fewer moving parts than an average compressor, leading to reduced energy consumption.
Goodman’s average SEER rating is above 15—not the highest reviewed here. However it is still above the national minimum of 13. Goodman is the only brand on our list not to offer a model of at least 22 SEER. This may be less of an issue if you live in an area where summers are not excessively hot.
Goodman’s offering of five HVAC units all run fairly quietly. For those who are particularly sensitive to noise or whose units are placed close to decks or patios, there is an optional foam blanket that deadens the sound output even further.
American Standard
American Standard’s strengths are in their variety of options, as well as in their reliability. We tend to receive very few service calls from our American Standard customers. Depending on the model you choose, parts will come with a warranty of 10 to 20 years. This is something to factor in when making your choice.
American Standard’s products are manufactured to be energy, noise, and environmentally conscious. Some models boast a dual-stage compressor that runs at 70 percent most of the time. Increasing power only when needed. According to independent testing, American Standard’s products are the quietest on the market.
Drew Green Knows HVAC
Drew Green Heating & Cooling is Illinois’ premier heating and cooling expert. Providing service, installation, repairs, and maintenance work to Lake County, the North Shore, and the northern parts of Chicago. With almost a decade’s worth of experience in the area. Our certified, expert technicians provide around-the-clock service so that we’re there when you need us most.
We are happy to provide our customers with personalized recommendations regarding their best choice in HVAC systems. Whether you are building a new home or need to replace an outdated system. We also provide advice regarding insulation and improving the quality of the air in your home or office.
Contact us today to discuss the best heating and cooling options for you!
Blown insulation in the walls and attic of your home will settle with time. As it does so, its ability to properly insulate your home begins to decrease. If you’ve noticed that your home energy bills (e.g., electricity and natural gas) have been rising steadily over the past few years, that’s a good sign. This means that the blown-in insulation is settling. Another sign is your heating or cooling units working more than normal to just to keep the house at a steady temperature.
If your pipes rarely freeze, that is an excellent sign of good insulation. On the other hand, if the pipes in your walls freeze regularly (even worse, burst) then you can be sure that your home is not well insulated. When exterior walls are properly insulated, they protect the pipes within them from the freezing temperatures outside.
A well-insulated home with have consistent temperature throughout the house. You won’t find one room especially warm while another always seems a bit too chilly. If you find a noticeable temperature differential, there is a good chance that your home is under-insulated. Note that this uneven temperature range can also be caused when blown-in insulation settles over time.
You might also notice that only certain rooms are at a different temperature than the rest. These rooms maybe hotter in the summertime and colder in the wintertime. This especially happens with rooms below the attic or above the garage. Again, the cause most likely lies in the insulation.
If you have water leaks in your attic or around your windows, you could have an insulation issue. Poorly distributed insulation can let not just heat but water into your home. Whereas well-distributed insulation can help protect from both. And keep in mind that these leaks are not something to ignore or procrastinate about addressing.
Another interesting water-related sign that you have insulation problems is if ice dams develop on the roof of your home. If your home is poorly insulated, then heat from the interior rises through the attic to the roof. Once there, it melts the bottom layer of snow on your roof in the winter. That water then begins to slowly trickle down the surface of your roof. Where it naturally ends up in the gutters or dripping off the edge of your roof. The end result is gigantic icicles hanging off the edge of your roof and large chunks of ice in your gutters. This is called “ice damming”. It will damage your roof and can injure an unlucky person who happens to walk under them at the wrong time.
When your home is well-insulated, your energy bills will be lower and the temperature in your home will be far more consistent. The interior floors won’t be icy cold to step on in the morning, and you’ll see fewer rodents and insects making their way in. You’ll reduce the chances of water leaks in the attic and the damage that can result, as well as avoid having to deal with frozen and burst pipes. Ice damming will no longer be a problem.
Contact Drew Green Today!
If you want to know for sure that you’re not throwing money down the drain heating and cooling a poorly insulated home, call the insulation professionals at Drew Grew. Our technicians have the tools and the training to accurately evaluate any insulation issues. If you are ready for lower energy bills, consistent temperatures, and fewer problems with insects or water leaks, call us today at 224-730-0692 for a free estimate. 
The setting of the fan, may affect the temperature of the air your AC is pumping out. This is the mechanism that circulates air through your home. Most AC experts recommend that you set the fan to AUTO rather than to ON. On AUTO, the fan will only come on when the air conditioner itself is activated. In other words, if the air conditioner is not running, neither is the fan. If the fan is set to ON, it will blow warm air through your house when the air conditioner isn’t activated. Make sure the fan is set to AUTO before resorting to a repair call.
Air filters are used to protect your system from contaminants, like pet hair and dust. When the filter gets dirty, it restricts air flow to your unit. One of the results can be the circulation of warm air instead of cool air. Check manufacturer guidelines to find out how often to change (or clean) your filters. If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, experts recommend that you change out the filter before you call a repairman.
During the summer months, plants can grow pretty quickly and begin to cause restrictions in air flow. Preventing your system from properly cooling the air being blowing through your home. Check to make sure that bushes or shrubbery aren’t causing airflow restriction.
The evaporator coil on your air conditioning unit can freeze into what is essentially a solid block of ice. This blocks the cool air from flowing to the vents and into your home, so your air conditioner will blow warm air. The evaporator coil is supposed to form cold condensation to cool down the air that flows over it on the way to the vents in your home. If the air blowing over the coil is cooler than the freezing point of water (which can happen on hot days if you set the system temperature below 70°F), then the condensation will freeze and form ice. More ice forms until air can no longer flow over the evaporator coils. Causing the unit to blow warm air.
A quick fix is to turn your air conditioning unit off for a few hours to allow the ice to thaw. Your air conditioning system should work properly after that. If it freezes up again, it’s time to call a technician to have your system evaluated.
There is a chance that very hot air from your attic is being pulled into the ducts. This is a strong possibility if there are leaks in your ductwork. Causing the air exiting your vents to be warmer than it should be. Technicians can track down the source of leaks using a smoke-like substance. Then repair them fairly easily.
We know that outside air can be filled with pollutants, but so can indoor air. Modern buildings are far more “air tight” than older ones, which means that pollutants in our homes and offices are more likely to become trapped inside. In addition, people are spending more time indoors than ever before. As a result of these trends, people are far more sensitive to indoor air than in the past – and the quality of our indoor air may be far worse than that of the outdoors. We know that poor air quality can have a major impact on health and in extreme cases can even lead to death. So what measures can be taken to improve the quality of air inside homes and offices?
General Approaches to Improving Indoor Quality
According to the 
The most cost-efficient way of improving indoor air quality is to eliminate or control the sources of contamination. That could mean removing lead paint, eliminating the use of VOCs, or treating occurrences of moisture related problems such as mold and mildew. Gas stoves should be replaced with electric stoves, fireplaces could be replaced with a more environmentally friendly heater, and pressed wood products can be removed. However, this approach is not always feasible.
Using floor mats at entrances and exits can trap particles, bacteria, fungi, pesticides, and other unpleasant material that may be riding in on the soles of shoes, thus limiting the particles’ ability to mix with the indoor air. And never be ashamed to ask visitors to remove their shoes when entering your home so pollutants aren’t further tracked in. Using vacuums with a HEPA filter can trap dust, mites, and dander.
VOCs can often enter our homes through via our cleaning supplies. Look for more natural solutions to cleansers and deodorizers, such as vinegar, citrus juice, or baking soda. When cleaning with powerful chemicals, renovating, or working on a hobby that introduces pollutants to your home, make sure to properly ventilate.
Air cleaners focus on the removal of particulate matter, such as dust, pet dander, smoke, or pollen. Because their applicability is limited, they are not considered to be a stand-alone solution to indoor air quality issues. However, for individuals who are sensitive to certain pollutants in particulate form, they can make an enormous difference. In fact, for those who suffer from allergies they are vital. Note that there are a wide variety of air cleaners available, and they can be added to your current air conditioning setup by a trained professional.
Your windows are the source of much of the heat that invades your home during the summer months. Even the highest quality windows can’t completely insulate your home from the extreme temperatures outside, but older windows are especially problematic.
If you are having trouble keeping your home cool, try closing the blinds during the hottest part of the day. If you are still having problems, you might want to install blackout curtains, which work well to block out both light and heat. If you’re interested in a more permanent solution that allows you to enjoy the sunlight, then you might want to invest in some double or triple pane windows that provide much improved insulation.
The evaporator coils and condenser coils on your outdoor unit need plenty of airflow around them in order to do their job properly. That’s why, as a general rule, you need to keep all plants, shrubbery, and flowers at least a few feet away from all sides of your unit.
Dust, dirt, leaves, and pollen can build up on these coils, which is why it’s a good idea to either have a technician clean them off during your seasonal tune-up or occasionally rinse the outdoor unit off yourself with a gentle flow of water.
Sometimes it’s not that there is anything wrong with your system. In extreme cases, it might be that your system is just not powerful enough to cool your home efficiently—or, as they say in the AC industry, “undersized.” Other times it’s unusually hot (much higher than the average temperature) and your AC system was simply never meant to deal with that much heat.
