When the temperatures soar, and the heat is at its peak, your home becomes your haven. Stepping out into the sun becomes the last option, and your air conditioner becomes your best friend. If you don’t have an air conditioner, you must be thinking about buying a new one. If your AC is old, you must be thinking about replacing it. However, buying a new AC not as simple as going to the market and buying whatever the store owner recommends. Neither is it as easy as ordering the one that takes your fancy online. There are a few factors that need to be kept in mind when deciding which one to buy. So, we make your task easy and provide you with a few tips for buying a new air conditioning unit in Florida.
Why Are These Tips Important
Buying a new AC and getting it installed is a heavy expense. You would naturally want to get it right in the very first go. Paying attention to our tips will prevent you from making an expensive mistake. Since most of us are not technically oriented, these tips will enhance your knowledge and help you in making the most appropriate decision.
Tips For Buying A New Air Conditioning Unit In Florida
1.Get Your Home Sized To Know Your AC Capacity – The tonnage or the capacity of the AC depends on the size of your home. You cannot randomly pick one because it puts your chances of getting it right 50-50. If you get it right, no harm done. However, if you get it wrong, your house will either not cool effectively, or your electricity bills will increase dramatically. There are online calculators available online, which can help you calculate the size of your AC. As a professional AC company, we still recommend using the services of a professional instead of depending on the online calculator. The professional does this job day in and day out, so he is well versed in how to do it correctly. On the other hand, if you make even a small mistake in measuring your rooms, you could land up with either an over sized or an undersized AC unit.
2.Pay Attention To SEER Rating – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, that’s what SEER stands for. It tells you how efficient your AC is. The more efficient the AC, the lesser is the electricity bill. In short, the higher the SEER rating of your air conditioner, the more energy efficient it turns out to be. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has mandated that the minimum SEER rating has to be at least 13. Most modern home air conditioners have a SEER rating between 13 to 21. If you are purchasing a new AC, it is better to buy one with as high an energy efficiency as possible within your budget.
3.Ask About The Type Of Refrigerant Used – The refrigerant that flows inside the evaporator coils is very important. Due to the negative impact on the environment, some refrigerants are slowly and steadily being phased out. Make sure that your new AC does not use any of these banned refrigerants. Most importantly, it should not use R-22 or “Freon”. Belonging to the group of chlorofluorocarbons, it is extremely harmful to the ozone layer and hence, not being produced anymore. Only recycled R-22 is available in the market and that too at a very steep price.
4.Pay Attention To The Compressor – Compressor is what starts the cooling process. Without the compressor, there will be no cooling. Ideally, there is a choice between two types of compressors. These are – single-stage & two-stage. As is clear from the name itself, a single-stage compressor runs at one speed only, and that is full blast. If the room requires less air to cool, even then it will run with full speed, and that results in high electricity bills. Consequently, for your home, you should look for a two-stage compressor as it cycles from high to low as per the requirement. Typically it runs on low speed only and hence, keeps the electricity bill in check.
5.Consider Buying Direct – Yes, you can buy your new AC direct as well. AC manufacturers do not want the customers to try and install the air conditioner on their own. It is primarily because, as a DIY, it is a dangerous job, and you can land up hurting yourself. When you buy an AC from the HVAC retailer, you can take advantage of substantive cost-saving opportunities. Not only that, but they will also take care of the installation, so you need not worry about getting it delivered and set-up. While buying direct, pay special attention to the fact that you purchase only from a licensed distributor and get it installed by a licensed HVAC contractor only.
6.Ask About Warranty And What Renders It Void – When it comes to warranties, there are many pitfalls. Be sure to ask about all those situations which could render the warrant on your new air conditioner void. Knowing about them beforehand will help you avoid those common situations. Many times we forget to ask about all these concerns. As a customer, you have every right to ask as many questions as come to your mind until you are completely satisfied. In the long run, these questions give you a fair idea of what to expect from your AC and how to take care of its upkeep.
Food For Thought
In spite of all good intentions, we do tend to forget many things. When buying new AC, don’t make any decision within a day. First, speak to your HVAC technician and ask for recommendations. Next, explore all the options available at your disposal. Study the pros and cons of each against your requirements and budget. Finally, make your choice. If possible, discuss your final choice with the technician before actually purchasing your new AC. If you live in Florida and are thinking about buying a new AC, feel free to contact us anytime. We will be glad to help you make this important decision.
