Now that we are officially in the spring season with record high temperatures being reported in Florida, you may need to invest in a new air conditioner to stay cool. Here is some information about the different air conditioners and considerations for purchasing a new system.
Types of Air Conditioners
Here are the many types of air conditioning available. It is recommended that you consult with a local air conditioner expert to find out what system is appropriate for your home and area.
1. Window Air Conditioners
2. Central Air Conditioning or Central Air
3. Portable Air Conditioners
4. Through-the-wall Air Conditioners
5. Ductless Split System Air Conditioners
6. Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners
7. Evaporative or “Swamp” Coolers
8. Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Factors to Consider
While you are deciding on the perfect air conditioning system that is right for you and your family, here are some other factors to consider during the decision-making process.
Cost
Each of the systems described above can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. This is a subject to discuss with your air conditioning expert to determine which system will work with your budget.
BTU output
You will need an experienced HVAC technician to calculate how much energy your new air conditioner puts out, which is measured in BTUs or British Thermal Units. There are square footage BTUs that are required when putting in a new system. While determining the correct BTU, you will also need to consider how many people will be in the room and house, heat from appliances in your home, if a room gets large or small amounts of sunlight, high ceilings, insulation type, and lighting.
Controls
Depending on which system you select, you will have a range of control over the unit. For central air, you will have a thermostat that does the work for you. With a window unit, you will need to change the control manually.
Energy efficiency
Each air conditioner has an EER, Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, rating. The ratios are determined by dividing the cooling output (BTU) by the energy input (in watt-hours). The EER lets you know your air conditioner’s efficiency during the summer. The SEER uses an average of temperatures from different times of the year.
The higher the rating is, the more energy-efficient your system will be while you are using it. The higher EER rated systems can be more expensive but will save you more money on electric bills.
Energy Star labels indicate systems manufactured according to the strict guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Purchasing
To purchase a central air conditioning system in Palmetto, Florida, and the cities surrounding it, such as Apollo Beach, Bradenton, Brandon, Ruskin, Riverview, Sarasota, and Sun City, contact Air Shield Heating & Cooling. We also do air conditioning repair, installation, emergency ac repair, and air duct cleaning and repair.
Maintenance
With any air conditioning system that you select, it will be necessary to schedule regular maintenance to keep your system running efficiently. You will also have fewer problems to come up. At Air Shield Heating & Cooling, we have an energy savings agreement that provides a complete precision tune-up and professional cleaning offered either annually or semi-annually for heating and air conditioning equipment. It reduces costs, saves energy, and will protect your manufacturer’s warranty.
At Air Shield Heating & Cooling, our highly-trained residential HVAC technicians are available 24/7 — 365 days a year to provide service for your home or small business. Call us today at (813) 796-6398 or contact us online.
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