As a homeowner, you want the best AC system that will upgrade your home and save energy. But you may be confused with the huge selection of models, features and prices.
This article will discuss the most important considerations to help you choose the right AC unit for your home. We’ll cover topics such as size, cooling capacity, and energy efficiency.
Size
When it comes to sizing, bigger is not better in the HVAC world. It is important to find an AC unit that matches the exact cooling needs of your space based on real, scientific computations. Otherwise, you could be left with an uncomfortable indoor climate and sky-high energy bills.
In the HVAC world, AC units are typically rated for both their energy efficiency and their cooling capacity. Energy efficiency is indicated by a SEER rating, while cooling capacity is usually measured in BTUs per hour (BTUh) or tons.
An air conditioner that is too small for your home will struggle to cool it, forcing the unit to run around-the-clock to compensate. This constant on-and-off activity will burn through your energy bill and shorten the lifespan of the unit. A professional HVAC dealer can conduct a manual load calculation to determine the correct AC size for your house. This involves evaluating your square footage, geographic region and environmental circumstances.
Cooling Capacity
How much energy your air conditioner uses to remove heat from your house in one hour is known as its cooling capacity, which is rated in tons. Each ton removes 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat from the home.
Your cooling requirements are dependent on several factors, including the number of people in your house and the use of heat-generating appliances. Moreover, your home’s orientation to sunlight and the presence of shading will affect its ability to retain cool air.
Getting your home professionally assessed is the best way to determine exactly what size AC unit it needs to cool comfortably. An HVAC expert will factor in all the above mentioned variables and provide a precise assessment. This will ensure that your new AC unit is sized appropriately for optimal AC installation Houston, performance, energy efficiency, and comfort. It will also save you money over the years by reducing energy consumption and running costs.
Noise
The amount of noise an AC makes can be a huge factor in whether it will meet the needs of your home. Kids, snoring spouses, barking dogs, lawn mowers and car stereos are just some of the many sources of noise in a typical household that can make even the quietest AC unit sound loud.
One of the ways you can determine if an air conditioning unit is quiet enough is to check its decibel rating. The lower the decibel rating, the quieter the AC is.
Some of the most quiet AC units also have special features that help reduce noise. For example, some have compressor insulation and mounting materials that limit the amount of noise it produces. Others have variable capacity blower fans that operate at different speeds (instead of running at full blast 100% all the time), which cuts energy costs and helps keep your home comfortable without increasing noise levels.