Knowing how to choose a central air conditioner for your home is key to surviving the searing summer heat. If you live in a place with higher temperatures, having an air conditioner is nearly as paramount as food to survive.
As a homeowner, your choice matters most regarding your abode. That decision you will make will determine your household’s temperature. We know that purchasing your HVAC unit is not easy, especially for a first-timer. With various brands and features in the market, you might feel lost in the sea. Pressure builds, as one wrong choice could affect your comfort and power bills.
Knowing what central air conditioner suits your household is vital before making that purchase. It helps you get the best for your residence and prevents encounters with the most common AC problems. Do you want to know which one fits your home best? Below, we compiled the questions you need to ask yourself before spending that cash.
Question #1: How efficient is it?
How to choose a central air conditioner that is right for your home? Go ahead and take a look at its efficiency rating or SEER.
The first question to ask yourself in choosing your air conditioning buddy is if it’s efficient. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) helps you know this. The SEER rating guides the buyer in determining the most efficient unit available. The higher the SEER, the higher the efficiency of an HVAC unit is. Of course, the savings you acquire with SEER varies. It typically depends on several other external factors, such as your climate and consumption.
Units with higher SEER ratings are typically higher in costs than those with standard ratings. Not because it has a higher SEER, you can be comfortable enough in not considering your usage. Everything depends on balance. Even if your unit has a higher SEER than others, it is still affected by external factors such as the operation hours. Make sure you still look into this so you won’t be surprised by a high power bill.
Question #2: What is its size?
One should consider the size in knowing how to choose a central air conditioner.
Size is an essential factor in choosing your HVAC unit at home. It directly impacts your energy bills and the amount of cool air within your space. Selecting the appropriate unit size isn’t as easy as 1, 2, and 3. There are a lot of variables to look into to make sure you get the best fit. Air conditioning units have tons as their measurements for their cooling capacity. You can always approximate your home’s square foot to the AC’s cooling capacity for a rough estimate of the size you need.
The amount of your space is not the sole variable you should consider in sizing. To know more about this, you can read articles to guide you further. Note that installing the wrong unit size could lead to higher electrical bill costs or inadequate home cooling.
Question #3: What is its type?
Types can be confusing in knowing how to choose a central air conditioner. Learning about the different units available is crucial to understanding what suits your home’s needs.
The first type that we have are the variable speed condensers. They have the highest energy efficiency rating among the three types available but are also the priciest ones. When installing a variable speed AC, you must ensure a matched system. It means that all system components must be coming from the same manufacturer to guarantee functionality.
The next type is called single-stage condensers. Single-stage condensers are a beginner-friendly option in the market. However, this is not for you if you are looking for a high-efficiency rating. You can then opt for the following type called dual-stage condensers.
Dual-stage condensers have dual-stage units. Their operations are typically dependent on the temperature, which helps you save more money in the long run. Choose the best one by knowing what your home needs most.
Question #4: What are its Energy Saving Features?
Energy-saving is a vital factor in determining how to choose a central air conditioner for your home. It contributes to securing you some bucks and aids in environmental healing too.
We all can contribute to environmental energy-saving with a few steps to note. The first one is increasing our thermostat temperature during summer and lowering it during winter by a degree.
When checking that AC out, make sure that one of its features is a large coil. Larger coils make it easier to transfer heat, shortening the AC’s operation time. The indicator light for the filter is also a key component to check. It signals to let you know that your air filters now need replacement. Finally, a variable-speed blower is also a must on the checklist. It allows your HVAC unit to function in a quieter mode since it doesn’t need to run at a higher speed. Higher speeds mean higher consumption of energy, by the way.
Final Question
Do you now know how to choose a central air conditioner for your home? What choice did you come up with in your final verdict?
Knowing what central air conditioning unit is suited for your household might be an uphill task. It is a one-time choice that can directly impact your life in a lot of ways. Consider asking for the warranty and repair coverage. Ask brief questions such as how long it is under warranty and what could potentially void that. Some consider the warranty voided once another provider services the air conditioning unit.
Before you hop on that decision, make sure you get your air conditioner from a trusted provider. There are a lot of cons out there, so make sure you don’t settle for less than your money’s value. Check if your installer has a valid license as an air conditioning professional. It is easy to ask them for it and countercheck online. A little bit of research won’t hurt.
If you have further questions and need more guidance, your trusted HVAC professional will always be ready to help.
