Even if you live in an area where the climate is relatively moderate throughout the year, you still need an air conditioning unit. This is because, thanks to an air conditioner, you get to effectively regulate your home’s temperature to ensure it’s comfortable for your loved ones. This equipment also helps filter out dangerous airborne toxins, lower humidity, and improve air circulation.
Therefore, it’s clear that having an air conditioner is, no doubt, necessary. However, the issue comes when trying to find a new and reliable air conditioner to buy. You must never rush to make this decision as the AC unit is often expensive, so it’s best to get a quality one that can last for around 15 to 20 years. And, to help you out, here’s an overview of the factors you need to have in mind when searching for a new air conditioner:
Proper Installation
You want to get optimal efficiency from your new air conditioner, and the only way to guarantee this is by having it installed by a professional contractor. Therefore, you should take your time and research the different companies or contractors in your area. There are various ways you can gauge the reliability of an HVAC contractor, including checking their BBB rating or asking your friends and family for recommendations.
Having a reliable HVAC contractor, such as those working at DM Select Services Ashburn, you’ll be guided on your air conditioning needs. With this in mind, you’ll know what’s the best A/C unit you should buy.
The Conditioner’s Cooling Capacity
Before buying an A/C unit, you need to first know the room’s size where it’s intended to be used. This is crucial because the capacity of your air conditioner should match the room’s size. The heating and cooling capacity of an AC unit is measured in kilowatts (kW). The required capacity is 6kW or more for a large room, while 2.5kW is enough for smaller spaces.
You must choose an AC unit of proper cooling capacity to avoid potential issues down the line. If the AC’s capacity is bigger than a room’s size, it causes it not to dehumidify your home properly and increases your energy expense. An AC with a larger capacity than the available space also keeps switching on and off. In contrast, a smaller capacity means the AC unit won’t effectively cool your home, as well as it increases your power usage as it needs to run constantly.
To make sure your AC unit has the correct cooling capacity, you need to look at different things in addition to a room’s size, such as;
- The type of room
- The local climate
- The room’s traffic
- The ceiling’s height, because it means more space that needs cooling
- Whether the ceiling, walls, and floors are insulated
- If the windows have curtains and shading
- The orientation and size of the glass doors and windows
When you consider all these elements, you’ll be able to choose an AC unit that can effectively cool and dehumidify your home.
The Air Conditioner’s Features
You need to consider a few extra features when deciding whether to go ahead and invest in a particular HVAC unit. Some of the features include;
- Programmable thermostat: Having a programmable thermostat is beneficial for the central air conditioning as it helps you save money by personalizing the AC unit with your routine.
- Energy-saver switch: The fans to an AC unit run continuously, even when the compressor is switched off. However, thanks to the energy-saving switch, the fans are switched off automatically when the compressor is turned off, hence, helping you save money.
- Remote control: This is an excellent feature as it gives you control over the HVAC unit without adjusting the thermostat settings manually. It’s beneficial late into the night when temperatures drop and your body needs extra heat.
- Check filter light: This notifies you whenever the filter needs cleaning.
Ideally, you should opt for an AC unit with such handy features as this means using it becomes a breeze.
Efficiency
It would be best if you bought an air conditioner that runs efficiently in the heating and cooling of your home. This way, you avoid energy wastage and, also, save money in the process. To know how efficient an air conditioner really is, you should look at its energy efficiency rating (EER), which is regulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). This is a requirement of every AC unit on the market, and you should preferably go for one that doesn’t use a lot of power to cool your home as this will be a lot cheaper.
Takeaway
Buying an air conditioner isn’t a low-cost investment, so it’s paramount that you don’t rush into the decision of buying one. As a homeowner, this is often overwhelming, and this increases the chance of making a costly mistake when choosing which air conditioner to buy. However, this guide has helped address this matter by taking you through the essential things to consider to guide you in searching for a quality air conditioner.
