You rely on your air conditioner for indoor comfort when outdoor temperatures rise during the summer months. However, the more you use it, the more it becomes strained and susceptible to breaking down. This is especially true if it is nearing the end of its life span. Before this happens, you’ll want to invest in a replacement as soon as possible.
It’s worth noting that tackling an air conditioning replacement project is no easy feat. Since it is an investment, you’ll want all bases covered to ensure its success. To help you choose the best cooling system for your needs, you have to look at several factors. Air Products & Services shares some of the most important considerations when buying a new AC for your home.
Proper Sizing
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to AC systems. An oversized, high-capacity unit would be too efficient, plus it will cool your home too fast that it would stop and start frequently. This can hinder its long-term performance, resulting in its early failure and increasing your home’s energy consumption. An undersized and underpowered unit is also problematic. Running at capacity for long periods to meet your home’s minimal cooling requirements wreaks havoc on the system.
The right AC system for your home should be the proper size for your home’s square footage. Its capacity is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units), which means that if the AC unit has 12,000 BTUs, it is capable of absorbing that amount of heat each hour and moving it outside so your indoor air environment feels comfortable. Apart from the home’s living spaces, your air conditioning replacement technician will also take other factors into account, including:
- Shading around your home (i.e. surrounding trees near or on your property)
- Your home’s orientation relative to the sun
- Amount of insulation in your home
- The size and number of windows and the direction in which they are facing
- Future renovation plans (i.e. skylight or window installation, home addition).
Noise Levels
Indoor comfort is one factor you should take seriously when buying a new air conditioner. You want to feel comfortable with it and not left disturbed every time it is in operation. As it turns out, the older your AC, the noisier it gets. The decibel levels may go up as inefficient cooling systems suffer extensive wear and tear. Fortunately, newer ones are manufactured with noise reduction in mind.
When buying a new AC system, check its decibel rating indicated on the label. As a trusted AC troubleshooting system contractor in the area, we recommend getting a unit with a noise level of below 40 decibels, which translates to a low humming sound that won’t disrupt one’s sleep. Many AC units on the market nowadays are designed to be quiet, utilizing methods such as super low fan speed and quiet modes to help achieve acceptable levels of noise reduction.
Ductwork
If your home has existing ductwork, make sure it is still in good working condition before you install a central AC system. However, the air ducts may have to be inspected first to see if some of them need cleaning or sealing. The joints and seams might have cracks or openings that may let conditioned air escape.
Depending on the extent of the damage to the ductworks, the pros may have to replace them in conjunction with the new AC installation. At Air Products & Services, we can be relied upon to clean, seal or replace your air ducts. For quieter and better operation, our team of AC repair technicians will evaluate, resize or replace your ductwork to ensure long-lasting comfort.
But what if you’re renovating your home, or your home’s current configuration doesn’t allow for ductwork installation? The best system for your home would be the ductless mini-split type. It has an indoor and outdoor unit, just like the central AC. However, installing it is easy because the indoor unit can be mounted on the wall, especially high up near the ceiling, while the other unit can be installed on a concrete slab in your backyard or mounted on your exterior wall. Both are connected by electrical wiring and refrigerant tubing to facilitate the cooling process, which is basically the same as the conventional central system ones.
Energy Efficiency
As with most home appliances, your new air conditioning system should be energy-efficient. To compare between products and determine the one that provides energy efficiency the best, check out the SEER, or the seasonal energy efficiency rating. It is a ratio of the cooling output of an AC unit over a typical cooling season, divided by the energy it uses in watt-hours. AC repair and replacement technicians recommend going for a higher SEER rating, as this indicates a higher efficiency system, which means lower utility costs for you.
Investing in an AC system with a high SEER rating has its benefits. For one, units with a SEER rating of 20 and above tend to have two important components – a variable-speed blower and a compressor. With these parts present, you can expect the perfect amount of cooling possible to maintain your thermostat setting, as well as excellent humidity control, superior efficiency, and quiet operation. A higher SEER rating also indicates the extent of wear and tear to which it is susceptible. The better its energy efficiency, the better its performance will be, allowing it to withstand the elements over its life span.
Turn to Air Products & Services for Top-Tier AC Services
At Air Products & Services, we take pride in providing our customers with a wide range of air conditioning services. You can count on our AC troubleshooting system professionals to diagnose the problem and implement the best possible solution, but if we determine that your cooling system is beyond saving, we’ll provide you with the tools to select the most suitable replacement for your home.
With no guesswork involved in our processes, you will receive exceptional results quickly and efficiently. Let’s get started – give us a call today at (818) 989-2030, or fill out our contact form to schedule a service appointment. We serve clients in and around Tarzana, CA, and the rest of Los Angeles County.
