An air conditioner is a crucial investment and a necessity for many households and commercial areas! You don’t make this investment often, which is why you want to spend your money wisely and take time doing research. This ensures that your air conditioner will work for at least ten years, giving you and your family the cool air for comfort and health.
But how can you choose the right air conditioner anyway? Read on as I show you the different factors to consider when doing so:
- Type of Air Conditioner
There are different types of air conditioners to choose from. Central air conditioners can either be packaged or have a split-system.
In split-system units, the condenser and compressor are found outside while the evaporator is inside. This is economical for those with working furnaces in the house.
In packaged units, the condenser, compressor, and evaporator are centrally located outside, typically on one’s roof. This is best used for commercial areas.
There are also ductless air conditioners which are small and contained units that don’t need a duct system for cooling individual rooms. These are more economical and energy-efficient compared to ducted systems, though not the best for larger spaces.
- Power
The capacity of your air conditioner is the measure of the maximum rate it can revoke heat from closed areas. This is expressed in British Thermal Units or BTUs. There are recommended numbers of BTUs for every square footage, depending on the area that needs to be cooled.
For example, in kitchen footage, because of its nature, will need a higher number of BTUs. Look into the purpose and size of the room when measuring BTUs.
Furthermore, you will want your AC unit to run for long periods of time, meaning you will need a lot of power. A powerful AC unit will stay strong and perform well in the long run, decreasing humidity levels and keeping everyone comfortable while improving air quality.
- Energy Efficiency
Air conditioners are known to be such an electricity sucker, which is why many energy bills increase. It’s important to look into the energy efficiency of an air conditioning unit to ensure it doesn’t spend too much electricity but still performs excellently.
You can find more information from the EnerGuide label you can find on all air conditioning units. All units would have a Season Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. The higher the rating is, the less energy the device consumes.
So when choosing between two units, this number can help narrow down your selection. However, note that the energy efficiency of an air conditioning unit MAY affect its power or how much of a room it can cool down at a certain amount of time.
You shouldn’t get the highest SEER rating, though, for your guidance, the federal regulations require you to invest in air conditioners with a minimum value of 13 SEER. With that in mind, I recommend you get units between 14-16 SEER, as they are known to be more reliable, durable, and less costly in terms of price and energy bills.
- Noise Levels
You need to make sure that your air conditioning unit complies with your state and neighborhood regulations. This also includes your unit’s noise levels. Not only can it disrupt neighbors, but it also disturbs everyone’s sleep if it were too loud!
Ensure that the air conditioner you choose has lower noise levels, and while it may be a bit pricier, it’s worth the extra (and necessary) feature.
- The Right Size
It might be tricky selecting the right size of your new air conditioner. As you select the size, you’ll come across the word “tonnage,” which isn’t a weight reference.
Instead, tonnage refers to the measurement of the unit’s cooling power, kind of like the size of your car engine. For instance, a 2-ton air conditioner us more powerful compared to a 1-ton. However, bigger isn’t always better, as you need specifically-sized air conditioner units for your house.
While you can have a technician look into this a good rule of thumb is to get one ton of cooling power for every 200 sq. ft. of living area. However this is only a guideline and you will need to consider other factors, such as the room space and, as mentioned, the nature of the area.
- The Installation Process
One might presume they can install the air conditioner on their own, but it’s much better to have professional Brisbane AirCon Installers do the job for you. That’s why another important factor to consider is selecting the right professional you purchase the unit from AND who will install it.
The professional shouldn’t only be able to recommend a suitable unit for your home and individual room but have the expertise to install it efficiently. Plus, they should have a professional attitude and would be easy to communicate with as they make recommendations on where to install your new unit based on your home’s layout.
Wrapping It Up
Just like purchasing any big appliance, investing in an air conditioner can be quite intimidating. But as long as you have the right knowledge and reputable technician to work with, you won’t have to worry. Just find a balance based on what you need at home, and you can begin enjoying the cool air.
I wish you the best of luck selecting the suitable air conditioner and a professional lot work with!
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