People buy air conditioners because they want to upgrade to a more energy-efficient model or because their current one is on the last leg of its useful product life. No matter what the reason, purchasing a new air conditioner is always a big decision. One that has lasting repercussions not just financially but also comfort-wise. Therefore, something as significant as this should not be taken lightly. One careless decision will soon become the bane of your existence. To make things easier, today, we shall talk about the 3 main features that you must always take into consideration when buying a new air conditioner. With these in mind, you can never go wrong.
3 Features To Look For When Buying A New Air Conditioner
There are 3 things that you must always look for when buying a new air conditioner. These three are the very basis that will determine whether you will be happy or dissatisfied with your new cooling equipment.
1. Size Of The AC – The size of the AC depends on the size of your home. Just because your older unit was of a specific size does not mean it was appropriate for the house. Even if it was, renovations to the house could have now rendered it small. Before buying a new AC, get your home assessed by an HVAC technician to find out the size of the AC that will cool your home optimally. Both undersized and oversized units are problems. A small or undersized unit will not cool your home properly. The AC will run long hours, and you will still find the cooling lacking. On the other hand, an oversized unit will cool your home faster, but it will also make a big dent in your energy bills. Faster cooling comes at the price of poor energy-efficiency. Another drawback of undersized and oversized units is that they demand frequent repairs and have a relatively short life span. Only a perfectly sized unit will give you the best of both the worlds. It will cool your home as per expectation and keep your power bills manageable.
2. SEER Rating – SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is a rating system that helps you determine the energy efficiency of the air conditioner. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the unit. It means the more the SEER value, the lesser power it will consume, and so you will save more on the cooling cost. According to the U.S. EPA or the United States Environmental Protection Agency, all AC’s manufactured during and after 2015 should have a minimum SEER rating of 14 or more. You can figure out your air conditioner’s SEER value by locating its EnergyGuideⓇ sticker. When buying a new air conditioner, there are two things that you should keep in mind:
1. First, different states have different minimum SEER requirements. So, it would be best to first find out what the law demands in your state.
2. Second, it would be good to buy a better SEER rating AC than your current one. However, buying the next SEER will not render as many savings as you would get if you skip at least one level.
3. Variable Speed Motor – Traditionally, the AC motor had just one speed. The drawback of this was that energy consumption was constant. The newer models of AC’s have either a two-stage or variable speed motor. A two-stage motor, as the name itself suggests, has twin settings for more control overcooling. A variable-speed motor, on the other hand, allows the user to make incremental adjustments to the running speed, thereby meeting your comfort standards more completely. Though the systems having variable speed run more, that happens only at a low setting, providing maximum relief from the humidity. Air conditioning units that cycle on and off frequently tend to consume more power. In comparison, the variable speed motor runs continually, yet it uses less energy. When you are out to buy a new air conditioner, look for one that has a variable speed or two-stage motor. It will make for a much comfortable environment inside the house.
Other Factors To Consider When Buying A New Air Conditioner
Though the above 3 features are those that one must always research, there are a couple more things to consider.
1. There are so many types of air conditioners that you may become confused. Understand your home to know which type suits it the most. Figuring out whether a mini-split system, a ductless AC, or a heat pump serves the purpose may seem complicated. Nevertheless, with the help of an AC technician, you can get the answer.
2. When buying an AC, many people do not consider the ancillary costs associated with it. They fail to take into account its installation cost, maintenance needs, and cleaning demands. All of which costs money.
3. Another important consideration is the air conditioners’ compatibility with a smart or programmable thermostat. If you don’t wish to fiddle with the thermostat settings every time you come and go, it should support a programmable thermostat.
Summing Up
An investment as big as buying a new air conditioner must be made just right. Living with a faulty decision will mean a financial loss. If one considers the AC tonnage, along with its SEER rating and motor speed at the time of purchasing, there is no way you could go wrong. If you still find the groundwork too confusing, asking for help from your local HVAC contractor is the best.
The residents of West Palm Beach, Florida, have nothing to worry about. With Aztil Air Conditioning as your HVAC contractor, you will always be on the right track. Ours is a family-owned business running successfully for the past several years. Our technicians are the best that one could ask for to look after their heating and cooling system. They are trained air experts with years of experience to fuel their knowledge and expertise. We are open 24/7, so you can contact us anytime. To book an appointment for installation, repairs, or maintenance, call +1-888-729-8452.
