Comparison: Air Conditioners Vs. Heat Pumps in Arizona

Finding the best value on a replacement cooling system in Arizona can be tricky with the multiple options available to home and business owners. From debating whether an air conditioning unit is best for your house to wondering about the effectiveness of heat pumps in Arizona – the bottom line is that every consumer wants to get the best option that provides them the best value and comfort. Two of the most popular cooling systems sold in the Scottsdale area include air conditioning systems and heat pumps.

In order to simplify the famous argument and debate of heat pumps vs air conditioner efficiency, here are some facts for you to look into that will help you pick the right system for your individual needs.

Facts About Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Question #1 – What is the Difference Between a Heat Pump versus Air Conditioner?

Basically, a heat pump system is designed to keep your home at a consistent temperature all year long. It’s designed to draw ‘heat’ from the ground below a home in order to either ‘cool’ or ‘heat’ the air inside your home. This is done by either removing the heat (during the summer) or removing the chill (in winter). Some of the best heat pump systems are made and sold to Arizona residential units – as opposed to commercial buildings.

An air conditioning system is different than a heat pump in that it’s designed to do one job – and that’s to cool the air inside your home. Air conditioning systems circulate the warm air from your home, into the cooling unit, and use ‘coolant’ and fans to remove the heat source from the hot air, and circulate cooler air back into your home.

The main difference between a heat pump and the traditional AC system is that a heat pump is an all-in-one unit – meaning it’s designed to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Question #2 – Which Type of Unit Provides the Best Value?

If you’re looking for the best return on investment or best value for a replacement cooling system, the heat pump traditionally is the best choice. When you look into heat pump cost, the truth is that these systems will be more expensive than an air conditioning unit. However, when you examine the overall cost of installing a new heating unit and ac system vs. buying one heat pump unit – the price can be lower.

Another benefit to buying a heat pump unit in Arizona is the cost of operation. Typically a heat pump will consume less energy than an AC system and a heater. This will offset and reduce your monthly expenses – further adding to the value of buying a new heat pump for your home.

Question #3 – Are Heat Pump Systems Energy Efficient?

In a word – yes. Heat pumps are very energy efficient units. One of the ways that a home owner can examine this is to search for the units SEER ratings. Which leads us to another obvious question – how do you determine SEER rating of a heat pump? The best way to get this valuable information is to examine the heat pump reviews written online by reliable third-party consumer groups. You can also check out manufacturers websites – just to get the facts about heat pumps that they sell.

It’s also a good idea to contact a local HVAC company in Scottsdale that sell, service and installs heat pumps in Arizona. You’ll quickly discover that heat pumps are very affordable, full-service heating and cooling solutions that provide home owners with value and comfort for several years.

Work with Scottsdale’s most experienced and professional HVAC companies, Scottsdale Air Heating  & Cooling. Proudly serving the valley since 1947! Call 480-359-7141.

Read more articles about energy efficient HVAC units:

• Which Lennox HVAC Model Numbers Perform the Best in Scottsdale Arizona?


• Why It Is Important To Understand Your HVAC System Design?


• 3 Facts About Air Conditioning Load Calculation In Scottsdale

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/air-conditioners-vs-heat-pumps-in-arizona/

[New Post] Air Conditioner Depreciation And Rental Unit Owners Concerns published on scottsdaleair

One of the biggest advantages of owning a rental property is the tax benefits and deductions available to the owner. Whenever you replace or fix a major appliance inside a rental property, a major consideration is the taxes potentially paid or deducted. And when you have to replace the AC system, you might want to consider air conditioner depreciation as a cost efficient method to spread your tax savings and investment over a long-term period – up to 27.5 years.

Air Conditioning Depreciation And Its Impact On Rental Unit Owners

Fact #1 – What is Air Conditioner Depreciation?

In general, when you replace or repair an item inside a rental unit, you have two options:

• First, if you repair an item like an AC unit, you can deduct the total cost of the repair on that individual year taxes. That’s known as a single deduction.


• Second, if you replace the unit, you have the option to depreciate that cost and spread it out over a period of a few years. Based on recent IRS regulations it is up to 27.5 years.

When you repair an item, you’re returning the value of the home to status quo. However, when you replace an item, you are making an improvement, increasing the value of the property. So how does that impact you financially? Here is an example:

Let’s say that you decide to make a repair to your home AC system that costs you a total of $1,000. The licensed HVAC contractor arrives and makes the repairs, you pay them and everybody is happy. At the end of the year, when you file taxes for that property, you’ll have to deduct that repair cost during that individual year. However, if you replace the unit, and the cost is $3,000, you’ll have to depreciate this cost over a period of 27.5 years. So instead of having $1,000 tax deduction, you’ll only have about $105 deduction each year.

That’s a huge difference. But you’ll get that same deduction every year you file taxes and own that rental property. So you’ll have to determine what is best for your individual needs.

Fact #2 – How Does The IRS Classify Repairs Vs. Improvement

Began January 1^st, 2014, the IRS classified a property improvement under three different sections:

• Betterment of a property


• Adaptation of the property


• Restoration of the property

The easiest way to remember this is under the acronym BAR. All three equate to an improvement of the property and qualify the large expense as depreciation – not a deduction.

What Is Betterment?

You can create air conditioner depreciation under the betterment classification if:

• The improvement ameliorates a material condition or defect in the property that existed before you acquired the rental property. This means if you add a new air conditioner that increases the size of the property in some way (this is not typical). However, one that is common is if the addition of the new AC unit creates a material increase, which increases the productivity, quality, capacity or strength of the property.

What Are Adaptations?

This is typically used for room additions or adapting the space to create greater value. Not typically used in AC depreciation.

What Is Restoration?

This one is pretty simple to consider. If the addition or replacement of the new air conditioner restores the property value, this is when you’d use this classification.

As you can see, there are some new restrictions that the IRS has made in 2014 that actually help allocate tax deductions over a larger period. For more information about air conditioner depreciation and how to best use this deduction for your individual rental property, always defer to legal or accountant advice.

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Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/air-conditioner-depreciation-and-rental-unit-owners-concerns/

[New Post] Tips for Finding Factual Lennox HVAC Reviews Online published on scottsdaleair

It’s often been said that if it’s posted on the Internet, it must be true. But when it comes to finding reliable product reviews about HVAC systems it’s becoming more difficult to find factual information that isn’t packed with marketing fluff. However, there are a few tricks you can use to not only search for good Lennox HVAC reviews posted on the Internet, but also read between the lines to get accurate information you need in order to make a well-informed decision on which HVAC system you should choose.

3 Tips to Finding Truthful Lennox HVAC Reviews

Tip #1 – Search for Third Party Reviews

The first way to simplify the process of finding solid Lennox HVAC system product reviews is to consider the source of the posting. And the best sources of any product reviews are third party review companies like Consumer Reports. For years Consumer Reports has been the go-to source for consumers to find factual information about major appliances: from heating units and AC systems to refrigerators and more. Consumers depend on fair and balanced product reviews, which is what keeps many of these third party review companies in business.

So when you’re searching for good information about Lennox HVAC systems, always consider the source that is posting the online review before you take time to review the content.

Tip #2 – Look for Scientific Data

Another sure fire way to read beyond the marketing spin posted in many product reviews is to consider the hard scientific facts. In the world of HVAC systems, this often means looking into the energy ratings and capacity of the product. Regardless of the manufacturer, there are three particular items that you should be concerned with regarding the quality of any HVAC system:

• The SEER Rating


• The size and capacity of the system


• Whether it is Energy Star^® rated or not

These three elements will often tell you all you need to know about any HVAC system. However, the most important part of finding the right unit to power your individual home goes much further than simply looking for ratings.

Tip #3 – Work with a Professional HVAC Contractor to Determine the Right Sized Unit

Reading product reviews online is a great initial source of information about the different brands, makes and models of HVAC systems. However, the most important step when it comes to picking the right HVAC unit is working with a professional HVAC contractor. In order to find the right ‘fit’ for your home, a load calculation is required, which the contractor will prepare. This method of determining the right sized system for a home or office space has been used for decades and considers many individual factors including:

• The overall square footage of the property


• The amount of floors, windows and doors


• The direction of windows, the insulation used and other important factors

By working with a licensed HVAC contracting company you are able to narrow down your search to particular models and sizes of HVAC systems, which will save you a ton of time in searching online for good Lennox HVAC reviews. Once you have a good idea as to the size of system you need, finding good information about a specific HVAC unit online will be much easier. From that point your can narrow your search to HVAC companies that install Lennox systems and are Lennox Dealers.

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/tips-for-finding-factual-lennox-hvac-reviews-online/

[New Post] Save Money On Your Air Conditioning Installation In Scottsdale published on scottsdaleair

It has become common in many households these days to find smart ways to save on purchases. With gas prices still hovering around $3.50 per gallon, and the price of groceries increasing each month, finding clever and effective ways of saving money on major expenses such as air conditioning installation in Scottsdale is just as important.

Tips To Save Cash When Hiring AC Installation Company

Tip # 1 – Have A Load Calculation Completed Before You Install

The best way to save money on any major appliance purchase and installation is to always ensure you buy the right sized unit for your home. This is especially critical for replacement AC units. A professional HVAC contractor will always insist on having a load calculation completed before they sell you any new AC unit. However, this should be something that a conscious consumer requests. A load calculation is a detailed measurement that considers several factors, from how many floors a home has, to the square footage and even the direction of windows and doors to determine how big of an AC unit is right for the home.

A load calculation also considers energy efficiency as well as comfort. Since energy consumption rates are not lowering anytime soon, a great way to save money is to begin with a highly energy efficient new Air Conditioning Unit.

Tip #2 – Compare and Contrast Consumer Brands

After having a load calculation completed, the next step in saving money for a new AC installation service in Scottsdale is to compare the brand name units. Some systems are better than others. For example:

• Some brands tend to last last longer than most other brands; you want to stay focused on highly energy efficient systems look for the Energy Star® rating.


• From time to time different manufactures will offer rebates and incentives to purchase their products. But make sure you check the fine print in these ‘deals’ before you buy anything.


• Check with the AC installation company to verify that they are ‘specialists’ for the brand of unit you are purchasing. If the HVAC installation experts have been highly trained by the manufacture to install their systems, you’ll be surprised on how efficiently the job will be completed.

Tip #3 – Have Your Ductwork Inspected and Repaired Before Installation

Another great way to save money on installation of a new AC system in Scottsdale is to have your home’s ductwork inspected and repaired if needed before the new unit is actually installed. A new AC unit is just one piece in the complete home AC system. And if the ductwork inside your home is dirty, leaking or broken in any way, it will significantly impact the performance of your AC system. Plus, a broken or dirty ductwork system can also lead to premature wear and tear of your new system leading to expensive repairs.

If you’re in the market for a brand new air conditioning unit and are searching for the best ways to save money on air conditioning installation in Scottsdale, simply follow these three important tips. You’ll be surprised how much money you’ll save when you buy and install the proper sized and brand of AC system.

Read the full story at: http://www.scottsdaleair.com/save-money-on-your-air-conditioning-installation-in-scottsdale/