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We get this question quite frequently from our customers in Morrow and the surrounding Ohio area. Since furnaces and air conditioners each have a long lifespan (often more than 10 years), many homeowners find themselves in situations where they need to replace one system but the other still works fine.
While it is recommended to buy the same brand for your HVAC systems, a furnace and an air conditioner manufactured by two different companies can usually still work together.
Buying Two Different Brands
As long as the coils and blowers are the proper size, both your HVAC systems should be able to work with your current system and ductwork. To see if this is the case, you will need to schedule an in-person visit from a local HVAC technician. They can recommend the best model to install with your current working heating or cooling system. They can also ensure that all installation steps can be completed correctly with the two different manufacturers.
Downside to Installing Two Different Brands
While it may be cheaper to buy one brand air conditioner over an air conditioner from your current furnace’s brand (or vice versa), you should weigh the cost of that decision. Two different manufacturers’ systems may functionally work together to heat and cool your home, but you may experience some loss of efficiency and capacity. This can cause your heating and cooling bills to increase from normal.
To maximize energy efficiency, it is recommended that the evaporator coil be replaced at the same time as your AC.
Benefits of Having the Same Brand Manufacturer
Installing a furnace and air conditioner that are from the same manufacturer has many benefits—the main benefit being increased energy efficiency. Manufacturers test and produce their systems to work as efficiently as possible together. So in production, most models are only tested against heating or cooling units of the same brand.
Energy efficiency can determine how fast your home warms up or cools down, how consistent and even the heating or cooling is, and how much your monthly energy bills are. Two models from different manufacturers may need to work harder to keep your home the desired temperature in the winter or summer, which can cause your utility bill to rise.
Who to Call for Ohio HVAC Service?
If you need your furnace or air conditioner replaced in the Ohio area—including Cincinnati, Morrow, and more—contact the HVAC specialists at Rick’s Heating & Cooling. Our licensed technicians can help you select and install the best choice for a new heating or cooling system. Call us today!
