With air conditioners finding their way into many more homes these days, it's important to know how to choose the best air conditioner for your home.
Air conditioners have been developed by heating and cooling companies all over the world in order to keep the temperature in indoor spaces comfortable. However, air conditioning units are now available with a variety of different features which can make choosing the right one extremely complicated - especially if you're not sure what you should be looking for.
If this is something you've found yourself thinking about recently or want a refresher on a product you already own, then read on.
What Is An Air Conditioner?
Air conditioners are devices that are used to control the air temperature in a home or office. The air conditioner regulates air humidity and air circulation, making it possible to remain comfortable 24 hours a day. Even though they can be costly, air conditioning units bring a number of different advantages to your home. For instance, they can help control odors and airborne pollutants.
Additionally, air conditioners help protect your health and well-being by improving your indoor air quality. The units can also save you money on your energy bills as they provide a way to regulate the air temperature in a room or an entire home with just one unit.
Why Should You Buy an A/C Unit
The most common reason homeowners purchase a/c units is to provide heating and cooling for their homes. There is nothing better than being in your home and having the temperature adjusted to suit your liking. Another reason is that you can remove airborne allergens if you install a UV light in your HVAC unit. Get the comfort and heating and cooling you need by installing an a/c unit in your home.
Factors to Keep in Mind When Choosing an Air Conditioning Unit
If you're thinking about buying air conditioning units for your home or office, it's important to consider several factors before making your purchase.
Size of the room: Air conditioning systems are characterized by the cubic feet they can cool per minute. The best ones should be dictated by the size of the room you want to heat or cool, with larger rooms requiring greater airflow rates than smaller rooms. Air conditioners are rated by BTU, which stands for British Thermal Units. The higher the BTU rating, the more air an a/c can move across a room or your entire home. Therefore, it's important to choose a unit with a high enough BTU rating in order to cool air effectively in a room or your whole home.
Available space: Before buying an air conditioner, it is important to measure your available space and compare it to the dimensions of the air conditioner you want in order to ensure that it will fit on your windowsill or wherever you intend on placing it without taking up too much room. In general, standard a/c units have a cooling capacity of between 5,000 and 24,000,000 BTUs while central air conditioning systems can provide airflow of up to 50,000 BTUs or more.
The number of air cycles required: If you live in a hot climate all year round, more than one air cycle machine may be required for optimal air conditioning.
Power points: Although air conditioners come with a cord, it is important to consider if you have enough power points in your room for the unit you want to install. In addition, air conditioners can be noisy, so it may be worth taking this into consideration when choosing an air conditioning unit.
Cost of air conditioning units: The cost of air conditioning units varies from one model to another, usually determined by the size and other factors such as energy efficiency or how often filters need to be changed. For example, a 12,000 BTU unit will cost more than an 8,000 BTU system.
Maintenance costs: Air conditioning systems are machines that require regular maintenance throughout their lifetime so it is important for consumers to factor in these additional running costs when choosing an air conditioner. Seek the advice of the HVAC technicians at Wright’s AC & Heat to make an informed decision and choose the right unit.
Understand how a/c units work: Air conditioners help regulate air temperature in a room by cooling air with cold coils and warming air with hot coils. It is important to note that air conditioners only work when air is flowing through them. You can choose air conditioning units for whole-house air circulation or you could opt for a spot air conditioning unit that cools specific rooms using an air distribution system. Your choice depends on the cooling power and convenience you need.
Choose the correct placement: You'll want to choose a place for your air conditioner where it can remain unobstructed by furniture and where airflow won't be interrupted by people moving around throughout the day.
Choose a unit with the features you need: Air conditioners are available with different features so it's important to choose one with features that meet your personal needs and requirements. For instance, some can have remote controls or timers which can be used according to daily schedules.
Types Of Air Conditioners & HVAC Systems
There are different types of air conditioners available for purchase - window air conditioners, wall-mounted and portable air conditioners, central air conditioning systems, ductless mini-split air conditioning systems, and split systems.
Window/Wall Units: This type of air conditioning unit is suitable for cooling one room at a time. They can be attached to the wall or window opening depending on your needs and preferences. Although they do contain air filters, air-borne pollutants are not filtered out efficiently without additional filters and air filtration systems.
Central Air Conditioning Systems: These systems are connected to air ducts that have been fitted throughout the house. If you already have air ducts in your home, this type of air conditioner is likely to be the most cost-effective for you. Central air conditioning systems were considered the best air conditioners available because it is extremely difficult for air-borne pollution or any other impurities to get into your system when using this kind of air conditioner. Now, they are not frequently recommended because of the increased risk of air waste and lack of energy efficiency.
Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioning System: This type of air conditioner consists of two components - an indoor unit placed on a wall that is connected via refrigerant tubing to an outdoor compressor/condenser unit installed somewhere directly outside the building. This air conditioning system is extremely energy-efficient and ideal for air-conditioned areas that are hard to reach with air ducts, such as a second floor or attic spaces.
The air conditioner market is vast and air conditioning units come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and power ratings. In addition, air conditioners can be purchased as standalone air conditioning units or as central air conditioning systems which control all airflow throughout the home or office. While there are many factors to consider before purchasing an air conditioning unit for your home or office, keeping these basic tips in mind will help ensure that you choose an air conditioner that meets your personal needs and requirements.
Call the a/c experts at Wright’s AC & Heat on 512-847-3191 for the best a/c installation, repair, and maintenance services in Austin. Our team is ready to help make your home comfortable.