Upgrading? Tips for Choosing a Central Air Conditioning System

Air conditioning is important in Southwest Florida, and if you’re getting ready to upgrade your system, it’s critical to find one that both falls within your budget and that is efficient enough to keep you comfortable without making your utility bills skyrocket. Here are a few tips for choosing a central air conditioning system that will meet you needs:

Consider Both Short and Long-Term Costs

When you’re choosing a central air conditioning system, it’s important to consider both the initial costs of buying and installing the system, and the long-terms costs of operating and maintaining it. An air conditioning system is a large investment, and while it may be tempting to choose a model with a lower initial price, chances are that its lower efficiency and reliability may wind up costing you more over the life of the system.

By upgrading to a more reliable and efficient system and paying a bit more up front, you can enjoy long-term energy savings, reduced maintenance and lower utility bills. Typical models have an energy efficiency rating of 13 or 14 SEER, while the most efficient models have SEER ratings of over 20 and can reduce your energy costs by up to 40 percent.

Size the System Properly

In the past, air conditioning systems were often sized by rough estimates and installers tended to oversize systems to improve comfort, leading to maintenance problems and reduced efficiency. For a system that both performs efficiently and cools effectively, it must be properly sized by an HVAC professional, using the appropriate Manual J procedures. This method takes into account more than just the size of the home, including the layout of the house, the number of rooms, the materials used, occupancy and other important factors.

Prepare Your Home

Another key to an efficient air conditioning system is the condition of your home. Have an energy audit performed to make sure your home and air ducts are properly sealed and insulated.

For more tips on choosing a central air conditioning system, talk to our HVAC professionals at Conditioned Air today.