6 Smart Strategies to Use When Buying a New AC System

 One of the most exorbitant investments you will ever make for your home is an AC- whether you are availing of the existing air conditioning replacement in California or opting for a new system at your office. 

 

Once your AC is functional, it could be a decade or more before the urgency to replace it. As you have to live with it for a long time, you must choose judiciously. 

If done properly, a new air-conditioner will generate more comfort year-round, lesser energy bills, and superior air quality, especially due to the latest developments in cooling equipment technology and installation processes. 

The basic strategies to remember are as follows: 

 

1. Choose a reliable contractor 

 

If you have never been in the HVAC domain like AC repair in Riverside, you may not completely understand all the configurations of air-conditioning. No non-technical person can. This leads to a situation where you might be exploited for which you must proceed cautiously. 

Zero in on a contractor based on suggestions from friends, neighbors, or a trusted referral network. Don't believe one after being convinced by a telemarketer or as someone knocked at your door to make a solicitation. Beware of mailings offering phenomenal cut-rate discounts. 

Verify how long the contractor has been in the trade. Someone with experience of at least five years is committed to the job and can ideally be called up for air conditioning maintenance in California if you face problems. 

HVAC contractors must register with the District Registrar of Contractors. Authenticate the license number under "contractor info & searches." 

Verify if a contractor had any negative feedback against his/her name. Seek from each contractor you interview for previous customers' names and call a few. Check whether the contractor does what was promised? Has he/she returned to fix problems post-installation? How do the customers enjoy the air-conditioner they chose? How did it impact their utility bills? 

 

2. Listen to the contractor's suggestion  

 

Researching online or probing from others who have bought air-conditioners is always great. However, be careful about insisting on a certain brand or size of air-conditioner, particularly if endorsed by someone living in another state. 

After you select an installer, you have faith in, seek suggestions. The contractor may be aware of options that complement your home better than what you had conceptualized. A reputable contractor is aware that which manufacturers offer the best warranty. 

 

3. Purchase an AC that suits your home 

 

The contractor must research your house, the microclimate you stay in, and the condition and position of your air ducts. That way, he or she can ascertain how much air-conditioning you require and if you have to repair or realign ducts to enhance your cooling efficiency. 

Be alert when a salesperson offers a proposal without visiting your attic to see your furnace and air handler or without verifying the AC in the yard or on the roof, he or she is not doing the essential homework. 

 

4. Bigger isn’t always better  

 

AC experts find that there are too many "over-toned" houses due to installations of air-conditioners too large for the size of the house. 

A quick explanation begins with a few definitions: The cooling capacity of air-conditioners is often described as "tons of refrigeration." A ton of refrigeration is almost the same as the cooling capacity of a ton (2,000 pounds) of ice melting in 24 hours. Residential central-AC systems are normally from 1 to 5 tons in power. 

The industry used to suggest installing 1 ton of refrigeration for every 400 square feet of floor space at your home. However, with the changing times, and energy efficiency has progressed. You can avail of 20 percent less tonnage than earlier. You can go down almost half a ton in your AC without even observing it. 

Be alert regarding contractors who suggest increasing tons due to warmer areas in your house. That cannot be solved by enhancing the power of your air-conditioner. 

An oversize AC stops and starts more frequently; that costs more kilowatt-hours and may cause mechanical breakdowns. Oversize air-conditioners do not run long enough to scorch the air. A smaller unit can run longer and perform more effectively. 

Your contractor should conduct a heat-load calculation before concluding what size of AC you require. That calculation should consider the size, shape, and location of your house, insulation, window area, air infiltration, and climate, as well as the number of residents in the house and their comfort preferences. 

 

5. Replace your total HVAC system 

 

If you change the outside AC unit only, with a condenser and compressor without changing the furnace and air handler, you might not be satisfied with your comfort level or energy bills. 

Those separate units are developed to collaborate and must match in capacity and efficiency. Else, you might not avail of the benefits of the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) assured by the equipment you purchase. 

 

6. Comprehend the SEER rating 

 

While purchasing a new AC, be sure it has an Energy Star label. Energy Star products, guaranteed by the Environmental Protection Agency, are a minimum 20 percent more effective than air-conditioners that are applicable for minimum federal standards. 

An Energy Star AC will feature a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ranging from 13 to 21. The higher the SEER, the more efficient and more inexpensive your unit will be to operate. An AC with a rating in the middle may work best and pay for itself faster than units with the highest ratios and prices. 

These above-mentioned strategies are time-tested for purchasing a new AC system. Hope you decide judiciously.