3 Numbers That Should Help You Select A New Air Conditioner

If you live in an area where temperatures climb during the summer months, chances are you rely heavily on your air conditioner during the warm season.

A functioning air conditioner can help you keep your home's interior comfortable. An air conditioner that is starting to malfunction should be replaced to prevent a total failure that would leave you without access to cool air.

There are a lot of factors to consider when looking at new air conditioner units. Fortunately, there are three numbers that you can use to help identify the air conditioner that will work best in your home.

1. Cooling Capacity

Modern air conditioners come in a wide range of sizes. Each of these models is capable of generating a different amount of cool air on a regular basis.

An AC unit's cooling capacity is measured in BTUs. You will want to pay close attention to the number of BTUs on each unit.

Depending on the size of your home and the average outdoor temperature in your area, the BTU rating and cooling capacity will let you know if a particular air conditioner is equipped to meet your cooling needs.

2. Load Calculation

A load calculation should be performed by a licensed HVAC technician before you invest in a new air conditioner. The load calculation is designed to assess the unique cooling needs of your home.

Multiple factors are taken into consideration when a load calculation is completed. Some of these factors include the material of your roof, the number of appliances in your home, and the direction your home is facing on your lot.

The primary goal of a load calculation is to determine the minimum size of AC unit you should be looking at for your home. Without a proper load calculation, you will simply have to guess at the BTU rating that will work best for your home.

3. Cost

Cost is perhaps one of the most important numbers a homeowner will evaluate when investing in a new AC unit. The cost of an air conditioner can vary. Cost is typically determined by evaluating the quality of the unit itself and the energy efficiency rating of the air conditioner.

A SEER rating, which is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, is listed on every AC unit for sale today. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the air conditioner will be.

Use the SEER rating to help you strike the right balance between the initial cost of an AC unit and the energy costs you will pay to operate the unit over time. 

For more information about air conditioning unit installation, contact a local HVAC company.