How to Select an Air Conditioning System
Running air conditioning in your home is expensive - no doubt about it. The costs need not be outrageous though – assuming that you understand at least a bit, of what you are doing.
There are two main areas to controlling air conditioning costs. The process begins before you make your installation, and ends upon selection of your air conditioning system. This sounds simple, but is very important to note right up front, because after making your selection – there is little more that you can do to manage the cost of operation.
Listen up now – while we give you the basics for installing an air conditioner that you can actually afford to use. Then keep your eyes open for future posts that will review some AC systems that just might be a good fit for your life.
Our first important step is to understand what the energy rating efficiency of your air conditioner means, and how to use this information. It is very important to understand how cost fits in here. A more expensive unit may cost more in the short run, but may save you TON’s of money (on your electric bill) over a few years – after which – it begins paying for itself!
Alternatively, buying a more expensive unit rated so low that it cannot get the job done means wasting your money now – and forever into the future. Whenever the hot weather sets in, it will cost a fortune to cool your home.
What you want then, is to be able to relate your purchase to the size of the area it needs to keep cool. You could ask your contractor for advice, if you think you can trust him. Tread carefully though. I mean, just who is going to sell you that air conditioner anyway?
To cool smaller areas with a window air conditioning unit, you can use this chart to determine the right rating. Skimping on cost in this situation is a bad idea. The goal is to spend a bit of money here, but to do it wisely. Buy a quality unit with good customer reviews that is large enough to cool the room efficiently.
Room Size (Sq Ft.) Required AC Size
- 100 – 150 5,000 BTU
- 150 – 250 6,000 BTU
- 250 – 300 7,000 BTU
- 300 – 350 8,000 BTU
- 350 – 400 9,000 BTU
- 400 – 450 10,000 BTU
- 450 – 550 12,000 BTU
- 550 – 700 14,000 BTU
- 700 – 1,000 18,000 BTU
- 1,000 – 1,400 24,000 BTU
To cool larger areas, it is best to install central air conditioning. This is expensive, and complicated, so you are going to need to work with someone who you can trust. Watch how he goes about his work. Here are some things to keep in mind.
- Did your contractor inspect your house thoroughly before offering you a solution?
- What do customer reviews for this contractor look like?
- Take some time to research his recommendation. If you can find it at amazon so that there are customer reviews, so much the better. Does your research agree with what you hear from your contractor?
- Ducting, air intakes and the like are usually in place already, but if not, you can be sure that you contractor has done his homework work by having him show you the data. If the ducting is already in place, make sure that your contractor understands what the limitations are by making a complete inspection of your home and reviewing her findings with you. Ask about bad ducting and air volume requirements to make sure that whoever installed your air conditioning system digs in, and does a proper job.
- Understand the SEER rating for your air conditioning unit. The higher the SEER, the more efficient and less costly your unit will be to operate. Do not go looking for a powerhouse AC system in this regard. Work with your trusted contractor to find an air conditioning system with a rating in the middle, as opposed to units with higher ratios and thereby higher prices.
- Understanding a central air conditioning system will always be over your head, but you should not be entirely ignorant on the subject. Information on SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is available at any reputable site that installs air conditioning units, along with all you need to make a unit selection. Such information usually will not include the specifics required for installation to your home, but the more that you understand, the better off you will be.
- When shopping for a new AC system, be sure it has an Energy Star label. There likely is little reason to replace your older system just to install an Energy Star product, but for new systems, this is necessary. Energy Star air conditioning systems are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, and are about 20 percent more efficient than other air conditioning systems.
- Price is not everything. Now that your trusted contractor has steered you to the perfect AC system for your home, why not go off and buy it cheaper? If the trusted contractor with whom you are working can arrange this lower price – fine. Otherwise, work with your trusted contractor – even if it means paying a little more. This person has won your confidence – and probably has already earned her pay already, just by virtue of this fact – assuming that you followed the steps outlined above. It is vital that you work with someone whom you can trust.
That about covers what you need to understand, beyond what your trusted contractor will tell you. Just remember to check any preliminary information given you by your contractor – and if any of it proves fuzzy – move on. You have the wrong contractor. If the information proves valid, then it is safe to move on into the complicated stuff without worry.
You are looking for someone who takes the time to understand your home thoroughly before making any suggestion for purchasing an AC unit. A quick walk thru your home just will not cut it. If, for example, your original AC installer installed too small an intake port for your newly proposed system, you need to know. Your contractor has to demonstrate that he cares how this job will turn out.
All of this care might seem like overkill, but if you go into this project ignorant, then you will almost certainly lose a lot of money, and likely end up with an inappropriate AC system in the end. People are what they are, so don’t fight it. You must KNOW whom you are working with – and you will be fine.
To learn more about air conditioning systems in general, you might contact the contact the Department of Energy (DOE) at this link: http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/central-air-conditioning
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DOE Link to Air Conditioners: http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/central-air-conditioning
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