Hot weather got you thinking of
buying a new air conditioner? Is your current air conditioning system not
cutting it anymore? If you have central air conditioning, it may be time for an
upgrade, or to address some problems with your ventilation system.
Here's how to tell:
Your current fan may be ineffective.
If your air conditioner is more than
10 years old, it is likely working ineffectively and inefficiently, and should
be replaced with a more energy-efficient model. Older air conditioners
typically mean higher energy bills.
If your air conditioner needs
frequent repairs it may not be properly suited for your home. You need a
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) specialist to assess your
current system.
If your cooling bills continue to
rise, your system may be working inefficiently. Some of the cost of a new air
conditioning system will be offset by lower energy bills.
If some of the rooms in your home
are either too hot or too cold, it could be your air conditioning equipment
malfunctioning or functioning inefficiently, or it could be a result of
problems with your ducts or inadequate insulation.
If you have problems with humidity,
your air conditioning equipment may be defective or otherwise performing
inadequately or you may have leaky ductwork, which can be corrected by a
qualified HVAC contractor.
If there is a lot of noise coming
from your air conditioning unit, there may be a problem with its indoor coil,
or your duct system may be too small. For any of these scenarios, contact a
local HVAC specialist for an assessment and recommendations.
For any of these scenarios, contact
a local HVAC specialist for an assessment and recommendations.
A bigger system is not always better
The most important factor when
purchasing a central air conditioning system is that it's the appropriate size.
Bigger is not necessarily better. If your system is too big, it won't be as
effective at dehumidifying, which will make your home feel hotter. Also,
because oversized systems cycle on and off more frequently than they should,
they tend to break down more often, cost more to maintain and wear out faster.
An air conditioning system that's
too small won't be able to cool your house adequately. It will be overworked,
use excessive electricity, run loudly and be prone to premature failure. It may
even freeze over on the warmest days.
Get a professional to assess your
system requirements
A professional installer is trained
to consider various factors that determine the right size of air conditioning
equipment to meet the specific needs of your home - beyond square footage.
Factors such as the age of the house, its size, how many stories it has, how
well it's insulated, the number and quality of windows, and even local energy
rates. They should use industry-standard "Manual J" and "Manual
S" sizing calculations, however their years of experience can be used
modify the results. They may take into account other factors such as the shade
effect of trees or the positioning of the windows on the house, to further
inform their recommendations. For this reason it is best to get more than one
opinion.
Once you know the proper size of air
conditioning unit required for your home, you can compare different models for
energy efficiency, price, warranties offered, quiet operation, etc. To compare
energy efficiency, each system is given a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or
SEER (look for the yellow Energy Guide tag attached to each appliance).
Go for SEER 13 or above
To keep it simple, the higher the
SEER value, the more energy-efficient is the system. Right now, a SEER of 10 is
the lowest rating of air conditioner allowed to be sold by law. However, on
January 26, 2006, the law will change requiring a minimum mandatory SEER rating
of 13. So for now you are still able to purchase SEER 10, 11 and 12 air
conditioners, but it is a good idea to buy at least SEER 13. Aside from its
better energy efficiency (i.e. lower cooling bills) and less damage to the
environment, further down the road you won't have the difficulty and increased
expense of trying to find parts for an outdated system.
Energy Star means energy-efficient
To ensure that you are getting a
system with exceptional energy efficiency, buy a unit with an Energy Star label
affixed. Energy Star is a program developed jointly by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to promote the use of
appliances that reduce energy consumption and have less negative impact on the
environment. According to the EPA, an air conditioner that qualifies for Energy
Star, which is properly sized and installed, with a properly sealed duct
system, will save you 20 percent in energy costs compared to other new,
conventional systems.
Coolaire Consolidated’s Daikin systems
offer the kinds of innovative and unique product features that deliver the
optimum in air conditioned comfort and control. Various sites can range in
size from a few hundred to several thousands of square feet. That’s why we
offer a range of systems with advanced features to meet practically any
challenge: our flexible, reliable, and energy-efficient air conditioning
systems deliver Absolute Comfort to nearly any building, making it the ideal
solution. http://www.coolaireconsolidated.com
