As a leading expert in furnace and air conditioner services in Calgary, I have been working in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry for quite a long time, and people always seem to ask the same question: do furnaces sell more like hot cakes in this town, or are they air conditioners? Well, today we are going to take a look at all the facts to find out which companies dominate the HVAC market in Calgary. Let us get started.
The Case for Furnaces
WINTER WARRIORS
I mean, let us face it: Calgary winters are the real deal. Twenty-degree-below-zero temperatures are not uncommon, as is snow that lasts well into May. Furnaces, it goes without saying, are a hot commodity (pun very much intended!). I will stop myself before this turns into an episode of Monty Python’s Philosophers’ Football.
LONGER HEATING SEASON
We have a heating season from about October to April, or, at times, even May. So in seven to eight months, a furnace is not such a luxury; it is a matter of life and death.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Are you worried about spending a fortune on furnace and air conditioner services in Calgary every year? For the uninitiated, modern high-efficiency furnaces convert as much as a whopping ninety-eight percent of their fuel into heat. For a city dweller mindful of energy costs, that is a big selling point when deciding to pay a lower amount on the utility bill.
The Air Conditioner Argument
CHANGING CLIMATE
At the same time that Calgary has been becoming more wintery, its summers have been getting hotter. The warmest previous July had been three weeks long and reached a toasty average of seventeen decimal eight degrees Celsius. The twenty-sixteen went for four weeks and topped twenty degrees. Air conditioners are quietly creeping up.
DUAL-PURPOSE SYSTEMS
Other Calgary inhabitants have opted for heat pumps—systems that work either way—or setups that employ heat pumps for heating with dual-function pumps that deliver both heating and cooling, seemingly a real plus for anyone who prefers to avoid the presence of multiple units with multiple different looks.
QUALITY OF LIFE
In association with the warmer summers, more and more residents start to care about how they stay cool during those hot months. As a consequence, people’s quality of life is becoming relatively more dependent on having air conditioning.
The Numbers Game
Then what sells more, the vacuum or the drink? The answer is that it is close, and it changes from one year to the next, depending on—well, you know.
WEATHER PATTERNS
An unusually harsh winter or scorching summer can tip the scales.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
During economic downturns, furnace replacements often take priority over air conditioner installations.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
The largest influx of new homes leads to increased sales because most new homes use heating and cooling systems.
RETROFIT MARKET
And the number has been jumped by the model homes getting air conditioning for the very first time—several older homes.
Historically, furnaces have had a much higher market share in Calgary. but that is quickly changing. In my humble opinion, furnaces still have the edge in total sales, but it is coming down to a very close race.
What is clear is that Calgary residents like to be comfortable, no matter the season, and results are pointing to more and more technologically efficient integrated systems to help keep us that way year-round. Call AJ Furnance now to learn about its furnace and air conditioner services in Calgary!