Buying an air conditioner may not be a pleasant experience as choosing the best cooling system for your home may be challenging. Nevertheless, no other component in your house comes in handy in the hot summer months than an air conditioning system. Choosing the right air conditioning system will determine if you have a sticky, hot summer or a comfortable one.
You should purchase your air conditioner based on output and size so that your home remains comfortable and cool. This guide will help you understand more about air conditioners and how to choose the best air conditioning system for your home. If your air conditioner is not cooling well, you can contact Thomas from https://stalwartmech.com/.
Types of Air Conditioners
There are six different kinds of air conditioners that are built for a different reason or space.
Central Air conditioners
A central air conditioner comprises a single unit that combines the compressor, condenser, and evaporator placed on your roofing or a concrete slab near your home’s foundation. Air ducts run from the unit through your roofing or outside wall to draw air from your home and replace it with cooled air. This type of AC unit can be combined with a gas furnace or set of heating coils.
They are usually the most expensive type of air conditioners. However, they have the most energy efficiency meaning they will save you money in power bills.
Ductless, Mini-Split AC
This is suitable for homes that don’t have ductwork. This air conditioning system has two units: an indoor air-handling unit and an outdoor condenser and compressor. These units are fixed on your walls while connected to blowers. Tubes link the outdoor and indoor units and facilitate the flow of the refrigerant between the two units.
Every room in your house will have a single unit that only regulates that particular room’s temperature. These ACs enable each room to have their temperature independently regulated from the room and can be mounted without damaging walls.
Window Units
These are the most common air conditioners for single rooms. A window unit is made up of a single unit and sits on a window sill or wall where it pumps cool air indoors and pumps hot air outdoors. This type of air conditioner is cheaper than central air conditioners, but they are not as energy-efficient.
Portable Units
This is an air conditioner that can be moved from one room to another. They have a flexible air duct that has to be fixed to a window to pump out hot air. They are not as efficient as other forms of air conditioning, but they are a suitable option if you don’t wish to cool your entire home or have limited space.
They also have a stylish look so that they won’t interfere with your décor as much as window units.
Hybrid Air Conditioners
This type of air conditioner switches between using power and burning fossil fuels to save energy and money when heating and cooling your home. They function normally in the summer, pumping hot air from your home and distributing it outside. During winter, the system operates in reverse, pumping hot air from outside and distributing it indoors to warm your home.
Selecting the Right Air Conditioner Size
One of the most vital considerations when buying an air conditioner is selecting the right size. This does not imply the physical size; instead, the output for your house. AC systems are categorized by the ton. The general principle is that every 600 square feet of your house need one ton. Therefore, if you want to cool an entire 3600 square feet home, you need a 6-ton air conditioning unit.
Consider consulting with an air conditioning expert to get professional advice on the right air conditioner size for your space.
Energy Efficiency
Once you have settled on the size of the air conditioner you want, it’s time to consider energy efficiency. Every air conditioner has a SEER score from the United States Department of Energy. Old and less efficient cooling units have low SEER ratings. If you want to save money and energy, go for a cooling unit that has a SEER rating that ranges from 15 to 17, they are the most energy-efficient.
Air Conditioning Features to Consider
Not all air conditioners are designed equally. Newer cooling units are packed with lots of unique features that will save you money and make you cool your house conveniently. Here are some of the features:
Fan Speeds
The fan of the cooling unit circulates warm or cooled air around your home. You should search for an air conditioner with a wide range of air circulation and several fan speeds: high fan speeds cool your home quickly, while low fan speeds ensure your cooling unit is not producing noise.
Smart Thermostats
When you buy an air conditioner with a smart thermostat, you may end up saving money. This feature senses whether an individual is in a room for it to keep operating. Some cooling units can even direct the airflow towards the detected individual. When the unit does not sense anybody around the room, it turns off, thus minimizing power consumption.
Wi-Fi and application control
Many new cooling units have Wi-Fi connectivity meaning you can control the cooling system through an app on your phone. This is useful, especially when you are away from home and want to switch it one before getting there or you are in the house, but you have lost the remote.
Self Cleaning
Air conditioners usually have complex filtration systems to eliminate dust, bacteria, odors, and allergens from the air. Newer models have a self-cleaning feature that keeps the inside dry and minimizes the accumulation of dust and mold growth, thus ensuring your air conditioner works efficiently.
Sleep Mode
This feature regulates the temperature in steps to a relaxed setting for sleeping, so the unit doesn’t operate hard and nosily while you’re sleeping.
Auto delay Switch
There is usually cool air confined in your cooling unit when you turn it on. In older cooling units, the cool air scatters. Newer cooling units have an auto delay switch that pushes out all the cooled air once you have turned the air conditioner off. This means there is no wastage of cooled air, thus saving you money.
Americans spend close to $11 billion to power their air conditioners. Thus an air conditioner is a substantial investment to your house and budget; therefore, you want value for your money. With this article, you will be able to buy the best air conditioner for your home, family, and budget.