5 Air Conditioner Buying Tips

While buying a new central air conditioner doesn’t really seem like a challenging task, but without professional knowledge about cooling systems, their sizes, and types, you just might buy the wrong unit.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your leading HVAC company in Woodbury MN that offers a range of energy-efficient air conditioners made by one of the best names in the industry: Lennox.

Overview

Not all air conditioners are built the same. They come in different sizes and shapes, so, in order to pick the right one, you need first to evaluate your needs. Where are you going to install the unit? How many people occupy the home? What’s the size of your house? How many windows do you have and where are they facing? What is the quality of your home’s insulation? These are just some of the questions that need to be addressed when selecting the right air conditioner for your home.

Efficiency Rating

Some people might think that the air conditioner having the highest seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating is the best air conditioner. That is not entirely true. SEER is how the efficiency of an AC is evaluated. While a higher SEER rating means that it’s more efficient than one that has a lower SEER rating, but the other factors like region, size and built of the house should also be taken into consideration.

The government requires a minimum SEER rating of 13 for all newly installed air conditioners. These systems are likely more efficient than the old one you have. In years past, old models were rated at about 6 SEER.

The ENERGY STAR Factor

Regardless of the equipment you’re buying, consider looking for something that has the ENERGY STAR label, which means that it has been approved by the government as an energy-efficient system.

This trusted government-endorsed symbol for energy efficiency makes it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without compromising performance, features, and comfort. ENERGY STAR-approved air conditioners lower greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy. The systems meet or exceed EPA guidelines for energy efficiency. With such systems, you are saving on energy consumption while helping the environment in the process.

Building Materials

You may not realize it, but the materials used in your home can also affect the efficiency of your air conditioner. For instance, older brick homes are more likely to absorb heat and maintain hot air than modern homes with special chemical compounds in the walls and paint that is designed to reflect heat. It is important that you perform a thorough investigation of your home’s building materials before investing in a cooling system and how your home influences your AC plans. You can look for an HVAC company that offers complimentary home inspections that take many different factors into account when trying to determine the best air conditioner for you.

The Sun Factor

The location of your home and its surroundings also play an important part in choosing the right air conditioner for you. Is your home directly heated by the sun or are there tall trees that shield you from that heat? Are there mountains or hills nearby that go down past at a certain time every day? How is the humidity in your area? Too high or too low humidity levels need to be corrected to create a totally comfortable home environment. All of these things need to be considered during the planning stage in order to avoid potential problems related to these factors.

The Quality of Installation

Choosing the right company is as important as the first four factors we just discussed. To make sure you are working with the right company, look for someone who has the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification. NATE-certified technicians undergo rigid training and education for industry contractors. They possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform a proper AC installation.

Trust the Certified AC Pros

Four Seasons Air Specialists has teams of qualified and certified air conditioning technicians. We can assure you that your brand new air conditioner will be properly installed and will work according to the manufacturer’s specifications. We are your dependable Vadnais Heights AC installation contractor.