Replacing or upgrading your heating and cooling system not only raises the value of your home, it can save you money and make your home more comfortable. Find helpful tips here.

It’s a home comfort emergency. Your air conditioning system breaks down in the middle of a heat wave, or your current heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system sounds and feels like it’s on its last legs. When you need to replace your system quickly, what should you do? Consider these tips from American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning:

Choose the right HVAC dealer. The most important step is finding someone you can trust to provide expert advice and properly install your new system. When selecting the best professional dealer, ask friends and neighbors for a recommendation; check credentials through the Better Business Bureau; and learn about the dealer’s services.

Get an in-home assessment. The dealer should conduct an in-home assessment to determine the right system that will deliver the greatest comfort and energy efficiency for your home. This includes asking questions about your lifestyle and comfort requirements; checking your insulation, ductwork and building materials; and measuring your windows and rooms.

Ask about a matched system. A matched system is where indoor and outdoor units are integrated to give you the best comfort and efficiency. Matched systems are quieter, more reliable, more efficient and last longer to make the most of your investment.

Add an air filtration system. If you have family members with allergies or asthma or if you want to improve the indoor air quality in your home, consider adding an air filtration system to your furnace or air handler. A whole-home air cleaner, like the American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning AccuClean, removes up to 99.98 percent of dust, pollen, bacteria and pet dander from your filtered air – making it 100 times more effective than a standard throwaway filter.

Plan ahead. If your furnace, air handler, air conditioner or heat pump is eight years or older, it may make sense to replace them with more up-to-date models – before they break down.

Click here for our online tool that can help you make the best choices for replacing or upgrade your system.