Choosing a new central air conditioner is often a task that waits until there is an immediate need - your air conditioning system goes out on a hot day in the middle of the summer. At that time, you may not think about the best central air conditioner, you just want something that works, quick.
But finding the best central air conditioner will help your home stay cooler and save you money over the long run. Taking time to do a little research even before you call a repair service will give you a head start on making a good decision on an appliance that should last for many years.
If you're not in an emergency situation right now, then remembering to maintain the system you have can help extend the life and increase the efficiency of your current system.
Replace the filters frequently. Once a month is recommended during peak season to maintain the best central air conditioner life and efficiency. Having an air professional look at the system annually for cleaning and monitoring is another way to keep things functioning well.
If you are planning to replace your system, instead of just the air filters, there are several things to keep in mind.
You need a system that is properly sized for your home. If the system is too large, it can lead to unnecessary costs as well as moisture problems later on. If it is too small, it will wear out faster because it is running all of the time, and it will not keep your home as comfortable.
Be sure that the manufacturer you choose used the Manual J load calculation process to determine the correct size of the system. This includes calculations about the windows, insulation, lighting and kitchen appliances.
A SEER rating is an important item to look for when deciding on the best central air conditioner for your home. SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. It reflects how much cooling power is produced with one unit of electrical or gas power. In other words, higher SEER ratings mean higher efficiency in the unit.
In past decades, a SEER rating of 6 or 7 was common, but now, there are units with much higher efficiency.
Remember, however, that simply buying a highly efficient unit does not compensate for a poorly sized unit. Be sure to have the proper load analysis done first, and then look at the different efficiencies.
The high efficiency category air conditioners have a 16 to 23 SEER rating. These units are more expensive initially, but cycle less frequently and are least expensive to run over time. They make sense for a long-term investment, especially where power rates are high.
Mid Range efficiency describes units with a 14.5 to 17 SEER rating. These units are still very efficient, but not as inexpensive to run as the high efficiency units. However, they will have a $500 to $1000 lower initial investment than the high efficiency units.
They will likely not have such features as two stage cooling, but will use the new standard of R-410A refrigerant for better ozone protection and operate much more quietly than old units.
Photo Credits: thewamphyri
Originally posted 2009-06-05 05:54:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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