So you’ve suffered through using that old and broken air conditioner for another season, and have finally decided to bite the bullet and get a new unit. When selecting a new air conditioning unit for your home, you want to make sure that you have the right model for the size and purpose of the room, the perfect energy efficiency for your budget, and that the air conditioner you choose has been built to the highest possible manufacturing standard. Air conditioning units are not just a one-off expense, and they need to be treated as part of your ongoing energy spending in your home. Make sure you are investing in your future by selecting a unit that meets your needs. Here’s how you can choose the best air conditioner for your home.
What Makes A Good Air Conditioning Unit?
You’ve probably started looking at air conditioning units and are checking the price tag across the different models available to you. While price is a consideration, make sure that you check more than just the number on the tag. The best air conditioning units are not only well priced, but they are also well manufactured by a trusted brand and are energy efficient enough to keep your ongoing utility costs down. Good air conditioning units also balance the need for performance when you need it most with quiet operation, for when you need to rest, relax or sleep. Make sure you choose a good warranty and service plan along with your air conditioning unit – aftercare is extremely important, as a well maintained air conditioning unit will last longer and provide better results than a neglected unit.
Choosing the Right Unit: Size Matters
If you are at the point where your house feels like a sauna, you might be ready to buy the biggest, most impressive looking air conditioning unit money can buy; anything to escape the oppressive heat filling your home. What many people don’t realise is that bigger is not always better when it comes to air conditioning units. Sure, we can all guess that installing a unit that is much too small for the room it’s placed in will fail to cool the area – it simply won’t have the power required to cool down every nook and cranny of the space it inhabits. While large units have more power and will be able to cool a room quickly, they often fall short when removing humidity from the room and may leave you feeling damp, wet and underwhelmed by their performance. Oversized air conditioning units will cycle through functions all too quickly and will waste energy, making for an expensive power bill from here on out. A unit that is too big will also overwork the compressor and will bring maintenance bills onto your expense list sooner rather than later. Finally, choosing an air conditioning unit that is the right size for the room will remove humidity and make the room drier as it performs its main function: keeping you cool.
If you’re not sure what size unit will be best for the room where the air conditioner will be installed, talk to your retailer or installation contractor – they can help you determine the best unit size for your needs.
Choosing the Right Unit: Type of Room
The specifications of your home – and in particular the room where you would like the air conditioner installed – are also factors that need to be taken into consideration when installing an air conditioning unit. For example, if the room you want to cool down gets a lot of sun, you will need to increase the size of the unit that is installed, and conversely, a shady room will need a smaller unit.
Does the room you’re installing the unit in always have a lot of people in it? You likely will once it is nicely cooled! If you plan on having more than two people in the room most of the time, you will need a more powerful air conditioning unit to cool down the room full of living, breathing, heat-emitting humans. Using this logic, it’s easy to see why a kitchen will need an even more powerful unit to make up for the heat and steam that ovens, microwaves, fridges and other heat-producing appliances create.
If you have any questions about the size or function of the room you’re planning to install an air conditioning unit in, talk to a contractor. They should be able to assess the size and climate of the room, along with the purpose of the room, to determine what kind and size of air conditioner is required.
Cut Your Costs with an Energy Efficient Model
An energy efficient air conditioner means more money in your pocket when the electricity bill arrives. If you have been suffering with an old, inefficient air conditioner for years, fearing that the cost of a new unit is beyond what you can afford, you should know that your old air conditioner is costing you money every month. Upgrading to something more energy efficient now will save you a lot of money on your monthly utility bill.
What Components Need to be Well Manufactured?
Obviously, the better quality an entire air conditioning unit is, the better. However, if you are wondering which specific components make for a good air conditioner, start with the compressor. The compressor is the part of the air conditioner that does most of the heavy lifting – it pushes the refrigerant through the unit. That means your air conditioner’s compressor will need to be durable enough to withstand years of use. You should also look into getting a unit that has a quiet fan – a loud fan is very distracting, and it may prevent you from falling asleep. Some machines are built with grills that soften the noise of the fan – look into machines that can muffle the fan’s noise when the unit is on.
There are several factors to pay attention to when choosing a new air conditioner. You will want to select an air conditioning unit that is quiet, well manufactured and powerful enough to effectively cool your home. Energy efficiency is also a vital consideration. There are many different air conditioning units on the market, which is why it’s important to do your research. Contact a local heating and cooling specialist for a home assessment or consultation – a home heating and cooling expert will be able to recommend the air conditioning solution that works for your home, allowing you to rest easy in cool comfort.
