My electric and gas bills are high. Can a new furnace and air conditioner lower my bills?
Yes.  A new 13 SEER air conditioner or heat pump could save you as much as 50% on your operating cost (13 SEER is just the minimum efficiency standard allowed by law).   ThomasTico offers 15 SEER, 17 SEER , or even 21 SEER.  Depending on your current operating costs, higher efficiency systems could save you even more.  Newer gas furnaces are 30-40% more efficient than some older models.  With rising energy prices, this could mean big savings.

What is SEER?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  SEER is how much energy the equipment uses to do the work.  Newer units use less energy to do the same work than old units.
To help consumers make informed choices, the US government requires an efficiency rating of all air conditioning and heating equipment.  The rating is meant to reflect the percentage of energy used efficiently.  A high rating indicates high efficiency.  There various names for the efficiency ratings of varying types of equipment.  Air conditioning equipment is rated by SEER.  Heat pump equipment is rated by Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF).  Gas furnaces are rated according to their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).  AFUE is the amount of heat delivered to your house and the amount of heat that escapes through the exhaust with combustion gases.  For example, a furnace rating 80% AFUE means 80% stays inside your house and 20% is lost.
The size of an air conditioner is rated in BTUs (British Thermal Units) or tons.  A BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.  One ton is 12,000 BTUs.  For example, a window air conditioner that you find in stores might be rated as 10,000 BTUs, which means that the air conditioner has the ability to cool 10,000 pounds of water (approximately 1,200 gallons) one degree in one hour.

What is heat pump?
During the summer, a heat pump an air conditioner unit operates in the same (they cool your house by collecting the heat inside your house and sending the heat to outside).  In the winter, a heat pump operates in reverse (they heat your house by collecting the heat from outside).  Heat pumps need auxiliary heat (electric resistance heat or gas furnace) to help them when it is really cold or when the thermostat is moved more than 2 to 3 degrees at a time. 
The initial investment for a heat pump is higher than for and air conditioner and the ductwork must be exactly right for proper operation.  Heat pumps will reduce the winter heating bills.  If you use electricity to heat you house, consider installing an energy efficient heat pump.

My home has a forced air furnace, but no air conditioner. 
Can I add central air?
Yes.  You may be able to add an air conditioner into existing ducts, depending on their size and your home's relative heating and cooling loads.  The type and size of air conditioner you need also depends on your climate.  Air conditioners require more air flow than furnaces; therefore, it may be necessary to add more ductwork or upgrade the electric panel, run a new electric wire for the condenser unit, etc.  A good HVAC contractor can do the calculations for you.

Does ThomasTico determine what size of furnace an air conditioner to install?
Yes.  ThomasTico LLC will measure your home to perform a complete load calculation (calculation based on window size and direction, walls, ceiling, floor, appliances, insulation, etc.) in order to determine the proper size of the equipment that is needed.  The type and size of air conditioner you need depends on your climate and cooling loads.  Proper size and installation are key elements in determining air conditioner efficiency. Too large a unit will not adequately remove humidity. Too small a unit will not be able to maintain a comfortable temperature on the hottest days. In addition, improper unit location, lack of duct insulation, improper duct sealing, and incorrect refrigerant charge can greatly diminish efficiency

I want a big air conditioner.  What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Proper size and installation are key elements in determining air conditioner efficiency.  The air conditioner must be big enough to cool your house, but too big is just as bad.

• An ‘oversized’ (too large a unit) will not adequately remove humidity from your house.
• Too large a unit will use more electricity; therefore, it will increase your utility bills.
• If your ductwork is not big enough for the ‘oversized’ air conditioner unit, the coil may freeze and then the air conditioner won’t wok at all.
• An air conditioner that's too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit.
• High-efficiency air conditioner units save money on your utility bills.

Some rooms in or house do not get enough heat (or cooling). Can this be fixed?
Yes.  There are a variety of causes for airflow problems.  Sometimes the problems are due to a dirty filter, coil and /or blower which results in the right amount of air not passing through the air handler and causing it to die off in the duct system.  From time to time the duct work comes loose and a minor repair can solve the problem.  In many cases, there may be duct design issues.  In these cases, a professional should be called in to troubleshoot the situation.  Solutions can range from some simple balancing to replacement of ducts to advanced climate control(zoning) systems such Arzel.

Should I run the blower continuously, or use the auto position on the thermostat?
Try both thermostat settings.  When the thermostat is set to “auto” position or “on”, the fan operates only when the temperature requires it.  This is the most use setting.
There are advantages using the “on” setting as follows:

• The home is usually more comfortable.
• The temperature is more even throughout the home.
• The air is cleaner because it is filtered more.
• The motors generally last longer because they are not starting and stopping.
• Some of the new furnaces have the ability to use a slow blower speed for continuous operation, and a faster speed when the furnace or air conditioner is running.

However; the “on” position will result in higher humidity since air is being blown over wet coils after the condenser shuts off.