When summer weather is coming, homeowners turn to thoughts of air conditioner maintenance. If this is the year you'll be buying a new air conditioner, make sure you enter the process wisely. Here are some tips to help you find the right air conditioner.
Purchase the Proper Size
Sizing the air conditioner properly for your home is going to be crucial as you seek to properly and efficiently cool your home. If the new air conditioner is too large for your space, you will struggle with high humidity levels. If it is too small, it will work too hard and struggle to keep up on extremely hot days.
Check Efficiency Ratings
If your air conditioner is 10 or more years old, chances are it is less efficient than newer options. Purchasing a highly efficient air conditioner will help lower energy bills. To find an efficient air conditioner, look for labels from the federal Energy Star program and SEER ratings. The higher the SEER rating on the air conditioner, the more efficient it is. Currently, a 13 SEER rating is the minimum requirement, and 16 or above is considered highly efficient.
Properly Match the Indoor and Outdoor Unit
If you are only replacing one part of your air conditioning system, you will need to ensure that the indoor unit and outdoor compressor are properly matched. Recent refrigeration changes mean that not all systems will match properly. Your HVAC professional will be able to help with this.
Remember to Check for Rebates
Rebates for high efficiency air conditioners are common, on both the federal and state levels. Find out what rebates are available, and take advantage of them. Keep in mind that you may be able to offset the cost of a new air conditioner with a higher efficiency rating using a rebate, so research rebates before you buy.
If you are looking for more advice about choosing the ideal air conditioner for your Broken Arrow home, consider consulting with an HVAC professional. Air Assurance has a team of dedicated professionals who are ready to help you. Contact them today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “GSPhotography/Shutterstock”