If your family wants to be comfortable this summer, you need a quality air conditioning unit. But one size does not fit all when it comes to AC units and systems. There are several factors to consider when selecting a suitable home unit.
Know Your Needs
As with any big purchase, it’s essential to know your needs. Whether looking for an air conditioning unit for a new house or replacing an old one, selecting a suitable one can save money and increase your comfort levels. To understand your specific cooling requirements, evaluate your personal and home layouts. You’ll want to consider things like your climate, the number of occupants, and the layout of your home’s duct system. You’ll also need to consider how ample your space is, its ceiling height, and the presence of heat-generating appliances (like kitchens). The manufacturer’s label lists an AC unit’s energy efficiency and cooling capacity in BTUh or tons. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model.
Know Your Budget
Buying a new air conditioning unit is no small investment. However, there are plenty of ways to save on energy costs, so consider these options carefully before making final decisions. If you want to save on energy, consider choosing a unit with an efficient SEER rating of 14 or higher. This will help to minimize your electricity consumption while providing a high level of cooling comfort. It’s also essential to choose the right-sized air conditioner for your home. A unit that is too small won’t be able to cool your home effectively, while one that is too large will cycle on and off frequently, causing it to wear out faster. It’s best to let a professional perform a Manual J calculation before you buy.
Look for Energy-Efficient Models
A suitable air conditioning installation can help you do more than cool your home. It can also save you energy and lower your electricity costs. This is particularly true of models with a high SEER rating. Choosing an air conditioner that is the right size for your home will also improve your energy efficiency. An AC that is too small won’t adequately cool the room, while an air conditioner that is too large wastes energy by cooling the space too quickly. The best options include intelligent features, such as a remote or Wifi-enabled thermostat and an energy-saving setting. These allow you to set the temperature to a few degrees warmer when no one is home and cool down again before anyone arrives.
Take a Look at Your Home’s Layout
When people think about the ideal home, they often focus on location and the number of bedrooms. However, a home’s layout can also significantly impact how the house feels and functions. For example, the way a room is laid out influences how many occupants can comfortably fit in it and how easy it will be to move from one area of the home to another. Rooms that are used together are typically grouped. Groupings may include living areas, workspaces, and private zones. The way a home is laid out can also influence what size AC unit is needed. Square footage is a reasonable thumbnail estimate, but other factors can affect the recommended BTUs (British thermal units), such as how much sun the home gets and the amount of insulation.
Check for Convenience Features
Whether replacing an old air conditioning unit or adding it to your home for the first time, choosing a new cooling system can be confusing. Especially since there are so many different types and features to choose from, air conditioners are rated with BTUs (British thermal units), which indicate how effectively they cool a space. It’s essential to match the size of your air conditioner with the size of the room you’re trying to cool. If you pick a unit that’s too small, it will simply be unable to cool the room properly. Convenience features to look for include a programmable timer that allows you to schedule cooling cycles according to your schedule. Also, consider a fan-only mode that can circulate lingering cooler air overnight without using the compressor.