A buyer’s guide to home air-conditioning systems
Few experiences provide as much relief as walking into a cool room on a hot summer day. Air-conditioning systems make such experiences possible, and homeowners’ decisions about the systems they install are significant.
Individuals may not know where to begin in regard to finding the right air-conditioning systems for their homes. According to the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, the best systems provide steady, dependable performance for many years when sized correctly for a home. Correct installation and routine maintenance can also ensure that homeowners’ air-conditioning systems withstand the test of time.
Sizing
When shopping for new air-conditioning systems, consumers must consider a host of factors to ensure that they find an appropriate unit. According to the AHRI, a home’s age, number and quality of windows, quality of insulation, number of stories and square footage are among the factors to consider when buying a new air-conditioning system.
Homeowners can benefit from working with trained technicians who can investigate each of these factors and recommend the correct system. The AHRI recommends that homeowners ask technicians to perform a Manual J analysis, a standardized formula that can help homeowners find the appropriate systems for their homes.
Efficiency
Energy efficiency is an important consideration when purchasing a new air conditioner for a home. Energy rates vary, depending on a person’s location, but rates remain pretty high across the board. The Energy Information Association found that residential electricity rates increased throughout the United States by about 15 percent between 2009 and 2019.
An energy-efficient unit can help homeowners save considerable amounts of money, so consumers can ask their technicians to recommend energy-efficient units that suit particular homes. A unit that adequately cools a home without consuming a lot of costly electricity should be every homeowner’s goal.
The U.S. Department of Energy employs the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating to inform consumers about the efficiency of each air conditioner. This rating is noted on the Energy Guide label on each unit, and the higher the number, the more efficient the unit.
Home air-conditioning systems can be costly, but the right choice of unit can keep homes cool without costing homeowners a fortune in energy bills.