What to Consider When Buying an Air Conditioner (Link Roundup)

Gone are days when air conditioners were a luxury, now they have become a necessary amenity.  As you plan for buying an air conditioner (AC) system for your home, there are a few things you need to consider. It’s also important to consult your HVAC service provider before pouring your money into the project.

1. HVAC Efficiency

It’s recommended you go for AC units with star rated energy efficiency ratings (EER). The higher the EER, the more efficient the AC unit is. US Department of Energy raised the minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to 13-14. The average higher efficiency AC systems will have a SEER of 18.

Higher efficiency AC systems will cost more to buy but cost less to operate, reducing cooling costs by a significant size. Some characteristics can influence the efficiency and performance of the AC.

Here are a few that you should look out for;

• Filter changer light: This feature allows the AC to alert you when it’s time to replace the filters in the AC
• Fan only operation: It’s a setting that will enable you to set the AC to run the fan only without the compressor and other components that consume a lot of energy
• Two-stage compressor: High-efficiency AC has a two-stage compressor that runs at a low-level most of the time and consumes less energy. It only runs at a high level when it’s super hot outside
• Programmable thermostat: The AC automatically increases and decreases depending on the needs of the people in the building. It’s a pre-programmed setting that lower cooling during the day when the people are not around and increase automatically just in time for them to find a serene environment when they come back.

2. AC System Size

Choosing the right size of AC systems is essential. Contact your contractor to come and do a cooling load calculation for your home to determine the amount of cooling needed. The contractor will help you determine which is the right size required.

Size doesn’t necessarily mean the physical size, but the ability for the AC to produce the amount of cooling needed. Buying smaller than required AC will not cool the rooms properly, while larger than required ones will waste energy and, in the process, increase your utility bills.

3. AC Maintenance

To keep AC systems in a proper functioning manner, they need cleaning and repair. It’s essential you contact your HVAC service providers for cleaning and support. You can also ask them if they have maintenance plans and enroll in one. Cleaning and repair will ensure your AC runs at optimal efficiency.