The basic difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner is that heat pumps can both cool and heat your home. An air conditioner is slightly more efficient at cooling, but if you live in an area where the temperature doesn't drop below 40 degrees – a heat pump may be the best choice for you.

Of course there are those rare occasions when the weather does get unusually cold – even here in Sarasota. For example, back in 1983 the temperature actually dropped to 20 degrees. But normally there are few days in the winter when you'll need to turn the heat on, and a heat pump will be more than sufficient for this task.

Yes you can – but it has to be the right system for your home, and it has to be installed correctly.

Air conditioning systems have come a long way in the last 10 years. In fact the most energy efficient unit sold 10 years ago probably wouldn't meet the minimum standards set today. Homeowners can save up to 55% on their utility bills after buying a new system.

Over the years, Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. has built a superior reputation when it comes to sales and service of quality Air Conditioning and Heating products for both homeowners and businesses in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Many factors go into choosing the right system for a home or business and Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. takes pride in working closely with clients and educating them so they can make the best decision and choose the system that is most efficient for their needs.

Although we can service and repair all makes and models of Air conditioning and heating equipment – we have certain brands we recommend for a number of reasons. Among the things we look for in a good AC System are:

When considering the purchase of a new air conditioning system, you should always shop for quality first and price second. But the most important thing is to have the right contractor install the system. If you choose the wrong contractor, you could face many years of headaches, frustration and high energy bills.

All Contractors are not the same.

There is a huge variation in competence and ethics. You've probably seen the undercover reports that expose dishonest contractors. Even though only a small percentage of HVAC companies are blatantly dishonest, the Better Business Bureau ranks heating and cooling as one of the highest complaint generating industries.

If a contractor is unlicensed, there is a very good chance that he does not have liability insurance or workers compensation insurance. Most homeowner policies require that work must be done by a licensed contractor and provide no coverage for work that is not.

Unlicensed contractors will often underbid licensed professionals.

It can vary, depending on how much the system is used and how regularly it is checked or serviced. Generally, the average life of cooling units built in the 1970s and '80s is about 15 years, but individual units may last longer, depending on use and how well they are maintained. Heat pumps have about the same life span. Newer units are expected to last even longer.

This depends largely on individual circumstances - how large the area to be air conditioned is, how large the family is, what temperatures are required, how well the house is insulated, where the house is located, etc. In most cases, if more than three large rooms need air conditioning, it is best to consider central air conditioning.

It could be as simple as a fuse that has blown or a circuit breaker that has to be reset. If an electrical problem is not the cause, and the system still runs but does not cool properly, the cause may be low refrigerant.

If the problem involves a major part, such as the compressor, you will most likely hear strange noises similar to those heard in any mechanical equipment that is not running correctly, or the unit might not run at all.

In most cases, the answer is no. Cooling systems today are too complicated to service and usually require expert attention in order to comply with federal regulations.

An EPA-certified air-conditioning contractor or service technician should be called at the first sign of trouble. Remember, anyone working on air conditioning units must be licensed.

If your house is going to be empty for more than about four hours, it is a good idea to turn your thermostat up to about 82 degrees instead of 78, which is usually recommended.

When you come home, do not set the thermostat any lower than the temperature you actually desire. Your air-conditioning system will not cool any faster and can easily waste money by cooling your home more than is needed.

The most economical operation of your system comes from setting the thermostat properly. Set the thermostat at the highest summer setting or the lowest winter setting at which you are comfortable. Typical settings are 78 degrees for summer cooling and 70 degrees for winter heating. When cooling, your operating costs increase from 3% to 8% for each degree your thermostat is lowered.

Turn on the system and listen for unusual sounds, simultaneously feel how cool and how strong the air flow is from the vents.

Go outside and listen to the condensing unit as well. The best way to be certain there are no problems, however, is to hire a contractor to inspect the system. It is a small expense, and it can save you a lot of money in unanticipated future repairs.

When the thermostat is set to "auto," the fan operates only when the temperature requires it. This is the most used setting. However, there are advantages to using the "on" setting. First of all, the air in the house is constantly filtered through the unit's air filter. Secondly, the constantly circulating air results in an even temperature throughout the house.

Yes. However, we recommend that plants be no closer than 18 inches from the unit. This allows plenty of room for air circulation in and out of the unit. Without this room for air circulation, the unit could overheat, resulting in a premature need for service. Do not build sheds or roofs over the air-conditioner.

It is a good idea to replace the entire system when a part of the system fails to operate correctly. That is because air conditioning and heating units are designed to operate as a complete, matched system.

The efficiency rating is based on the entire system. To gain the maximum benefit of new, highly efficient technology, the entire system should be replaced together. This ensures the system is reliable and efficient.

Which system is best for a particular application is best determined by your local Air Conditioning dealer. There are many variables to be considered, such as square feet in the house, climate at the location, the number and type of windows, insulation of the house, number of people in the house, et cetera. The dealer will consider all the factors in making a recommendation.

The efficiency of central air conditioning systems is rated using SEER ratios.

Your equipment should be checked once a year. The A/C unit should be checked in the spring and your heating unit in the fall.

Typically, filters should be cleaned or replaced once a month. However, if you have inside pets you need to check your filter more frequently. Restricted air flow will reduce the amount of cooling capacity from your unit.

Heat pump equipment in the heating mode is rated by the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. The higher the HSPF rating, the more efficient the unit.

There are special names for the efficiency ratings of various types of equipment. Gas furnaces are rated according to their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the unit.

SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) measures how efficiently a residential central cooling system (air conditioner or heat pump) will operate over an entire cooling season, as opposed to a single outdoor temperature.

As with EER, a higher SEER reflects a more efficient cooling system. SEER is calculated based on the total amount of cooling (in Btu) the system will provide over the entire season divided by the total number of watt-hours it will consume:By federal law, every central split cooling system manufactured or sold in the U.S. today must have a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of at least 10.0.

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a measure of how efficiently a cooling system will operate when the outdoor temperature is at a specific level (95oF).

In technical terms, EER is the steady-state rate of heat energy removal (i.e. cooling capacity) by the product measured in Btuh divided by the steady-state rate of energy input to the product measured in watts. This ratio is expressed in Btuh/watt. The higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner.

Newer Air Conditioning Systems can be as much as 60% more efficient than older systems.

If you are facing a costly repair you may want to seriously consider replacing your system. Not only will you dramatically lower your energy bill, but you will also be able to take advantage of new features such as zoned cooling.