When it comes to choosing an air conditioner, there are so many options! Brands, sizes, features, ratings…how are you supposed to know which one to pick? Check out our tips below for not only how to choose an air conditioner, but choosing the perfect one for you and your home!
No “One Size Fits All”
First, it’s important to know that not all air conditioners are the same. They are sized according to their cooling capacity (which are expressed in BTU per hour), so your first consideration is to match the air conditioner to the room you want to cool. If the unit is too large, it will cool the space so quickly that the thermostat will shut the unit down without lowering the humidity level. If the unit is too small, it will overwork, but won’t cool the space. As a rule of thumb, air conditioners with a 15,000 BTU rating should be able to cool rooms up to approximately 875 sq. ft.
How Do You Know?
How do you know how much cooling capacity your space requires? This is dependent upon square footage, windows, sun exposure, insulation, room use, etc. Most units you’ll see in stores compare the square footage of the room to BTU capacity. However, you can use a simple air conditioning calculator available from The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers to determine the cooling capacity of your space.
Filters
During the cooling season, your AC filter should be replaced every 3-4 weeks. For this reason, you should check the AC units you’re shopping for to see how easy (or hard) it is to replace the filter. If it is hard for you to reach or replace, the less likely you are to do it. Try to find one that simply slides up and down without any screws or other fasteners.
Controls
It may not be the first thing you think about, but control options are important when shopping for an air conditioner. Look for multi speed fans and adjustable thermostats. Both of these will help you achieve maximum comfort and switch to lower settings for a quieter operation. More precise control is offered by digital controls, with features such as preset scheduling and timers to control certain temperatures at certain times. This feature can ultimately save you money and your unit efficiency!
Efficiency
Another consideration should be energy efficiency. Manufacturers are required to list the energy rating directly on the unit, making an easy determination of energy efficiency. The EER, or Energy Efficiency Ratio, is the cooling capacity divided by the electrical power required to run the unit. The higher the number, the better. Any unit with an EER above 10 is extremely efficient. Of course, with a higher EER also comes a higher price tag.
Energy Star
If you have done any research on choosing an air conditioner, or if you’ve even examined one closely, you may have seen the Energy Star logo. What does this mean? The Energy Star program was created by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to award the most efficient appliances on the market. If you see that red logo, that means it is certified to be 15% more efficient than those meeting the minimum federal requirements.
Now’s The Time
At Bosworth, we are happy to be Dave Lennox Premier Dealers. This means we have access to the best Lennox promotions available, and are able to offer our customers significant savings on a qualifying system. Currently, you can save up to $1700 on a Lennox system from now until June 9, 2017. Learn more here or contact us today!
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This past spring, you may remember us asking for your vote in The Midland Reporter-Telegram’s annual Reader’s Choice Award. We are proud to announce that we won GOLD in both plumbing and HVAC services. We also took home SILVER for electrical service and water softener/RO company!
