Selecting the right HVAC system is an important decision you’ll need to consider when building a custom home. The system you choose will impact your home’s comfort, energy efficiency, and long-term costs. In Boise and the surrounding Treasure Valley, the climate, home size, and energy efficiency all play an important role in determining which HVAC system is best suited for your needs. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting HVAC for new construction to help you make a confident and informed decision for your new home.
Factors to Consider When Selecting HVAC For New Construction
There are many factors to consider when choosing your HVAC for your custom home. Several factors are related to your home’s location and size, while others have to do with the HVAC system itself. These are several of the top things to consider when selecting HVAC for new construction in the Boise and Treasure Valley area. You’ll learn exactly how to choose heating and air conditioning systems for your new home so you stay comfortable year-round.
Climate
The climate of the area your new construction home is located in is a top consideration when choosing HVAC for new construction because the climate will impact your HVAC system needs. If you are in a climate with more extreme temperatures, hot or cold, you’ll have different HVAC needs than if you live in a more temperate climate.
While the USDA plant hardiness zones are typically used for gardening, they give you an idea of what average temperatures you can expect in different seasons. Boise and most of Treasure Valley are located in climate zones 7a and 6b which indicate average low temperatures of -10 to +5 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures average up to 90 degrees, but these hot temperatures typically don’t last long when compared with other areas in the U.S.
Our local climate means that in our area, we don’t need HVAC systems that function in extreme temperatures. Rather, we can use systems that are made for more temperate climates, which can be more affordable.
Home Size & Layout
Your custom home’s size and layout will also have an impact on the HVAC system you need. Larger homes will need a system that can efficiently and effectively heat or cool your entire space. This typically means larger systems are required for homes with greater square footage.
Layout also has an impact on HVAC for new construction. One of the best examples is whether your home has one or two stories. A second story typically has different heating and cooling needs than a single-level home, and it typically makes sense to install a dual-zone system that can handle these requirements.
If your home only has one room on the second level, like our Pacific Crest Plus, Palouse Plus, and Ponderay Plus floor plans, it may make more sense to use a mini split system in your upstairs bonus room for improved HVAC efficiency while maintaining comfortable temperatures throughout your home.
Considering your home’s size and layout is important when it comes to choosing the best HVAC system for new construction homes, so that you don’t end up with a system that is too large for your space or one that doesn’t adequately heat or cool your home.
Energy Efficiency
Installing an energy-efficient HVAC system is one of our top tips for building an energy-efficient home. Along with insulation and windows in a new construction home, your HVAC system is one of the greatest contributors to the overall energy efficiency of your home.
Choosing an energy-efficient HVAC system for a new construction home or custom home build will not only increase the efficiency of your home, but can lower energy costs for you long term.
Look at Ratings: SEER, EER, HSPF & AFUE
When selecting a system, there are a few ratings that can help you determine how efficient the HVAC system is: the SEER, EER, HSPF, and AFUE.
Note: You may see HVAC system ratings of SEER2, EER2, & HSPF2. These ratings measure the same performance, but using slightly different calculations. The scales for these updated rating methods are also slightly different.
SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
The SEER rating, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures the cooling efficiency of an HVAC system. It is used for air conditioners and heat pumps. In Idaho, the minimum SEER rating, set by the U.S. Department of Energy, is currently set at 14, and the scale increases to a rating of 24 at the high end. A more energy-efficient air conditioning system will have a higher SEER rating, meaning a rating of 21 is better and more energy efficient than a rating of 14.
EER – Energy Efficiency Ratio
Another rating you can use to determine the energy efficiency of an air conditioning system is the EER rating. This rating measures the efficiency of the system at a single temperature versus the SEER rating, which measures efficiency over a cooling season with a range of temperatures. As with the SEER rating, a higher EER rating indicates the system is more efficient.
EER ratings typically range from 8 to 15. Currently, a new construction HVAC installation with an EER rating of 12 is considered a highly efficient cooling system for your home.
HSPF – Heating Seasonal Performance Factor
On the opposite end, the HSPF rating, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor rating, measures the efficiency of a heating system, i.e., furnaces and heat pumps, over the heating season. A higher HSPF rating means a heating system is more efficient.
Currently, the minimum HSPF rating, also set by the U.S. Department of Energy, is 8.2. Newer heating system models can have ratings up to 13 or potentially higher. In Treasure Valley, Idaho, heat pumps must have a minimum HSPF rating of 8.8.
AFUE – Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
If you are considering a gas furnace to heat your home in Idaho, you’ll want to consider the AFUE rating, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This rating measures how efficiently a furnace or boiler converts fuel into energy, or heat output. Thus, it measures how efficiently it can heat your home.
AFUE ratings are expressed in percentages. As an example, an AFUE rating of 85% means that 85% of the fuel is converted into heat for your home, while 15% is not. The higher the rating, the more efficient your furnace or boiler is. Note that the AFUE rating does not include any calculation for energy lost through ducts.
The current standard set by the U.S. Department of Energy for gas furnaces is 80-81%, depending on whether the furnace is weatherized or non-weatherized [Source]. At Pathway Builders, our standard inclusion for furnaces in our custom homes has a rating of 90% to help our clients maximize their HVAC system’s efficiency.
Using these ratings can help you determine the most efficient HVAC system and enable you to make a more informed decision when selecting the right HVAC for new construction.
Energy Star Certification
Now that you know about the energy efficiency ratings, what about Energy Star certification? Does that matter when choosing the best HVAC for new construction homes, or are the ratings all you need to pay attention to?
The Energy Star certification means that the HVAC system, whether a heating or cooling system, meets specific requirements for efficiency, performance, and environmental impact. These requirements are set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Energy Star certification requirements differ depending on the type of HVAC system. For example, in order to be Energy Star certified, a ductless central air conditioning system must have a SEER2 rating of 18.7 and an EER2 of 12.0. [Source: Energy Star]
If you are looking for an HVAC system for new construction that is energy efficient, choosing an Energy Star-certified system will ensure that your system meets high efficiency standards well above minimum requirements.
Properly Sized System
Both an HVAC system that is too large for your home and one that is too small for your home will reduce the efficiency of your system.
During new construction HVAC installation, choosing an HVAC system that is larger than you need might seem like a good idea – less time running should equal greater efficiency, right? However, when your HVAC system is too large for the size of your home, it causes the system to constantly cycle on and off, leading to greater wear and tear and ultimately higher energy needs and costs.
Conversely, when a new construction HVAC installation is too small, your system will be running, unable to meet the demands of your home’s needs. This is not only uncomfortable for you, but it creates greater demand on your system, increasing wear and tear, and adding cost to your energy bills.
Getting a system that is the right size for the home and the climate your home is in is the most energy-efficient option when it comes to HVAC for new construction.
How do you know if an HVAC system is the right fit for your home? Your custom home builder or HVAC contractor can calculate the load required to adequately cool and heat your home. If you are working with a custom home builder in Idaho, like Pathway Builders, who has existing house plans, the standard inclusions will include an HVAC system that is appropriately sized for the floor plan you select.
Consider A Smart Thermostat
One final consideration to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system even further is to install a smart thermostat. Not only will a smart thermostat improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and, in turn, lower your utility bills, but it can also be more convenient for you. A smart thermostat gives you greater control over your home’s temperature and allows you to utilize features like automated scheduling and control your home’s temperature remotely.
HVAC System Type
In addition to the other considerations we’ve discussed here, the type of HVAC system you choose should also be at the top of your list to review. There are many different HVAC system types to choose from, so we won’t go into all your options, but these are a few of the most common HVAC systems used in Boise and throughout Treasure Valley.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is typically a very energy-efficient HVAC option for new construction because it does not generate heat; rather, it transfers heat.
There are different varieties of heat pumps, both air source, using indoor and outdoor air to transfer heat, and geothermal, which uses underground temperatures for heating and cooling. Air source heat pumps are a much more common type of system, and one of the HVAC system options we use at Pathway Builders as a standard inclusion in our house plans.
Heat pumps can be used to heat and cool your home, taking the place of both a traditional air conditioner and a furnace or boiler. Additionally, a heat pump can be around 2 to 3 times more efficient than other more traditional systems. This can equate to considerable energy savings over the lifetime of your system. However, it’s also important to note that heat pumps typically come with higher initial costs. Another downside of a heat pump is that it may be noisier than the traditional air conditioning and furnace combination.
Furnace & Air Conditioner
Another option you have to heat and cool your home is a furnace and air conditioner combination. This is the more traditional HVAC system in use in many older homes. These systems require ductwork to push hot and cold air throughout your home from the furnace or air conditioner to control the temperature in your home.
While these units may not be as efficient as heat pumps or ductless mini splits because of the energy lost during transfer from the central system through the ducts, they do tend to be more effective at heating and cooling in more extreme climates.
Choosing this type of HVAC for new construction also means faster and more even heat distribution throughout your home versus the other system types. Furnaces and air conditioning systems also tend to last a little longer than heat pumps before they need to be replaced.
One other downside to consider is that these systems use fossil fuels to heat and cool your home, making them less climate-friendly than the heat pump alternative.
Ductless Mini Splits
A ductless mini split is a system that doesn’t require running ductwork throughout your home to connect to the central heating and cooling system; instead, a ductless mini split hvac system consists of an indoor and outdoor unit that are connected to each other to heat or cool a specific area or room in the home. In a ductless mini split system, one outdoor unit can connect to up to nine indoor units.
These systems help to reduce energy costs and consumption because of their flexible zoning capabilities. There is also reduced energy loss versus a central air HVAC system because there is less distance from the temperature control to the room it is controlling.
Although these systems are more energy efficient, they do have a few downsides. One is that they can be more expensive to install and maintain depending on how many systems you need. They are also less effective at heating large areas than a central air system.
Duct vs Ductless HVAC System
Both central air duct systems and ductless systems have their pros and cons. If you choose to use a furnace and air conditioning system, you’ll have a central air duct system. A heat pump can use ducts or be a ductless system. Benefits of the duct system are that you can distribute air evenly and include customizable zones in your home, which can be set to different temperatures. This is particularly great if you have a two-story home or are building a multigenerational home where family members may appreciate being able to control their thermostat temperatures.
A few downsides of the duct system are reduced energy efficiency, as energy is lost as air moves through the ducts. Additionally, a duct system may have a higher initial cost than a ductless system because of all the ductwork required, particularly if you have a large home.
With a ductless system, there is greater flexibility in where and how you set up your HVAC system. You’ll also benefit from greater energy efficiency as there is less energy lost from your temperature source and the room where the air is transferred. You’ll also have the ability to create more individual temperature zones, depending on your system setup. This is one reason we’ve opted to include a ductless mini split standard in our floor plans with a single bonus room on the second story. The upstairs temperature will differ from the rest of the home on the first story, but with only one room to heat and cool, the ductless mini split is more efficient.
Depending on the size of your home, a ductless system may require more maintenance and higher upfront costs than a central air duct system. This is particularly true in larger homes and spaces where multiple ductless units may be required. Another potential downside is that these systems are more vulnerable to damage from the elements as they are located outside. In addition, some homeowners prefer the aesthetics of the duct system vents versus the indoor units of ductless systems.
Hybrid HVAC Systems
Hybrid systems can help combine the best of multiple systems based on your home’s unique needs. They can also work well for spaces that are further away from the central unit, eliminating the additional ductwork and energy loss. Combining multiple types of HVAC systems can also create more flexible heating and cooling zones based on your family’s temperature control needs and the layout of your home.
As we mentioned, a hybrid HVAC system is standard in many of our two-story home plans because they provide greater flexibility, energy efficiency, and create additional value for our customers. When it comes to hybrid systems, you can consult with your custom home builder or HVAC contractor to determine the right setup for your home.
Ultimately, the size and configuration of your home, along with your home’s energy requirements, budget, and your personal preference, will help you to choose the type of HVAC system that works best for you.
Cost Of HVAC For New Construction
Last, but not least, cost is always an important consideration for any HVAC for new construction or a custom home decision. When looking at your costs, be sure to consider both the initial cost of the system and the long-term operating costs you can expect. In some cases, you may find that the higher initial cost will be offset by the savings of your energy bill over the expected lifetime of your system.
To help with your cost considerations, Hvac.com has a sample HVAC savings calculator that may help you determine whether or not a higher initial cost would outweigh the energy savings over the lifetime of your system.
There are many factors to consider when choosing HVAC for new construction. These factors can be overwhelming, but you can, and should, consult with a professional in your area, either your home builder or your HVAC contractor, to help you determine the best system based on your home’s size and layout, the climate you live in, your budget, and your preferences. A local professional can offer additional insight and answer any questions you may have about your options.
If you are interested in building a custom home in Treasure Valley, we’d love to talk with you. Contact us to set up a time for a free consultation.
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