Hi Boox Popular Magazine 2024
Buying a new air conditioner is a hefty investment. That’s why you want to make sure that you’re choosing the unit that best fits your home. One size does not fit all. There are two main types of units that you have to choose: Window air conditioners or central air conditioners. This guide will help you choose the right air conditioner that best fits your needs.
1. Choose The Model
The first decision that you need to make is the model. When it comes to air conditioning, the two basic models are window units and central units. Window units sit inside of a window. Central units are housed outside but connect to a furnace inside of the home.
Window units are great options for those with smaller homes or only want one room, in particular, to have a comfortable temperature. These units can sometimes cool more than one room, but that largely depends on how large the rooms are and how effective the insulation in the home is. You should really only expect the window unit to keep the room it’s located in cool and comfortable.
Central units, on the other hand, are connected with the ductwork in the home. They can make cool air travel through the entire house. This option is great for those with larger homes or those who want to have their entire home cool and comfortable. After you have made the decision between the two different models, you’re ready for the next step.
2. Sizes
Window units are essentially the same size. In particular, you’ll want to look at the capacity instead. Each manufacturer offers units that vary with capacity. The higher the capacity, the better it is at producing cool air. However, the higher the capacity, the more expensive it is. Your budget is something that you need to keep in mind when purchasing air conditioning units. Especially since you also have to factor in the monthly cost of running your unit.
Central units, in particular, have many different capacity sizes. The last thing you want to do is buy a unit that has a small capacity for a large home. It won’t be able to cool the house effectively due to its small capacity size. That means it’s going to keep running all day in order to reach the temperature that you placed on the thermostat.
In turn, that will drive up your energy cost.
On the other side of the spectrum, if you buy too large of a unit, then you could pay a heftier price than you needed to. You may still have a large monthly bill because the unit requires a lot of power to run.
Hiring Red Carpet Air Conditioning contractor can help you receive an accurate idea of the kind of capacity and size that you need. However, a good rule of thumb is to measure 1 ton of capacity per every 600 square feet of living space. For example, if your home is 2,000 square feet, then you may want a unit that has a 3.5-ton system.
3. Energy Efficiency
Another factor to consider about choosing a unit is how efficient it is when it comes to energy. Because units are expensive to run, it’s vital that you find one that is energy efficient. If you’re installing a brand new system, then you’ll want to choose the top-rated energy-efficient unit.
For those who are replacing an older system, then you also want to replace the indoor evaporator that’s attached to the furnace. If you fail to do so, you won’t receive as high of an energy-efficiency rating as you would otherwise.
Window units are also energy-efficient. You simply need to find the right model that offers a high rating. By having an energy-efficient installed, you can save a lot of money on your monthly energy bill.
One method that you should utilize to also help with energy efficiency is to have your units regularly cleaned. Filters should be removed and replaced each season. Otherwise, the unit can have difficulty in running since it’s trying to push air through clogged filters.
You can find how energy-efficient a unit is by looking at its SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. This number is located on the yellow tag on the unit. The higher the number is, the more efficient it is.
4. Use New Refrigerants
Unfortunately, a lot of refrigerants that were you used prior to the 1990s can cause a lot of damage to the ozone layer. Because of this, manufacturers have created new types of refrigerants that are safer for the environment. When buying a new unit, you need to make sure that it is using this new refrigerant.
Otherwise, when your unit needs repair, it may need new parts in order to handle the new kind of refrigerant. This could end up being a costly repair. Instead, it’s better to just ensure that your unit is prepared for the future from the start.
5. Obtaining a Warranty
It’s also important that you receive a warranty with your unit. Warranties can help cover the cost of any repair that the unit needs down the line. If it happens to break or become damaged before the warranty expires, you won’t have to waste your own money on getting it fixed. The warranty will cover it for you.
Just be sure that you read the terms and conditions of the warranty. Sometimes it may have small discrepancies over what it exactly covers in the small print.
Choose The Company
The easiest way to choose a unit is to first hire an HVAC company. Their professionals can help you find the perfect unit for your home and budget. From capacity requirements to energy efficiency, they’ll be able to walk you through every step of choosing a unit. You may discover that all you need is a window unit. For others, a reliable company can help you find a central unit that will keep your entire home comfortably cool.
