Buying a new AC unit can be a daunting task, fraught with decisions to be made about BTUs and SEER ratings. To make it easier on yourself, contact the Brandon air conditioning service professionals at All Temp AC and Refrigeration. We can help you calculate your needs, choose the unit that is best for you, install it, and provide a service agreement to keep it running at peak efficiency for many years. In the meantime, here is a checklist for buying an AC Unit:
- Consider Investment Costs: Look at the short versus long term costs of your system. Those with higher efficiencies cost more up front, but save you money over the years.
- Check the SEER: All AC units have a SEER rating that indicates its cooling efficiency. Make sure what you buy has a rating of at least 13. The law requires it. You might want to go a little better into the mid-range of 14 and a half to 17.
- Compare New Technology to Old: If you have an old AC unit, chances are good that even if you buy the cheapest unit you can find, it will be much more efficient that what you have now, cutting your energy use dramatically.
- Consider a Split System: If your house doesn’t have AC ducts installed, you can still get a unit that sits outside. This is called a split system because the compressor is outside while the evaporator and blowers are inside. It’s a cheaper alternative to installing ductwork.
- When to go Portable: If you are renting or have a very small house, you probably ought to buy a portable window unit. In some cases, it might be your only option.
- Size Matters: Don’t be fooled into thinking that the bigger the unit, the better. Consider the size of your house. If the unit is too big, you run the risk of cooling the house before it has a chance to dehumidify. Base your decision on BTUs and a chart.
- Inverter Versus Fixed-Motor: Decide before you start shopping whether you want a unit with a fixed-speed motor or an inverter; the former allows for adjusting motor speed for greater efficiency, the latter does not, but it costs less.
- Make sure its R407c or R410a: Older AC units were based on using R22 coolant, the new ones use R407c or R410a.
Buying an AC unit, regardless of size and type, doesn’t have to be stressful. Contact Brandon air conditioning service providers All Temp AC and Refrigeration at (813) 630-9400. We will make the process of choosing a new AC unit an easy one for you.
