Follow These 3 Tips When Buying a New Air Conditioner

Are you considering a new air conditioner for your Orange Beach, Alabama, home? This is a major upgrade that requires plenty of thought and consideration. Research your options carefully to make sure you understand your needs and can choose the best air conditioner possible.

Schedule a Manual J Calculation

It’s important to choose an air conditioner that’s properly sized for your home. If the unit is too large, it will cycle on and off often, sucking up too much energy. An air conditioner that’s too small may run continuously without ever delivering the cooling you really want. Both situations create excessive wear on your system.

To determine the best size for your new unit, you need to determine your home’s cooling load. Don’t trust a contractor who uses “rule of thumb” calculations that rely solely on square footage. Instead, ask about Manual J calculations. These provide you with a more accurate load calculation so you can choose the right system for your home.

Check SEER Ratings

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, rating on an air conditioner tells you how efficient the unit is. The higher the SEER rating, the less energy it will use. Today’s systems must have a SEER of at least 13. Look for the highest SEER rating you can fit into your budget.

Consider Your Comfort Needs

A new air conditioner is just one of many appliances you can turn to for enhanced home comfort. While you’re upgrading your AC unit, you may want to consider other products as well. A whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier fits in your central HVAC system to help you manage humidity levels as easily as you manage the temperature. An air cleaner offers advanced filtration. There are many indoor air quality products you can add to your system.

If you’re looking for a new air conditioning system, we can help. Call Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. at 251-476-3610 to learn more about the best AC units on the market for your needs.