03 Aug Discuss the Price of a New Air Conditioner – Ranges, Brands, Size, Features, and Efficiency

The first step in getting a new air conditioner installed is determining what size you need.  Air conditioning units are measured in tons; this is the amount of heat they can remove from a home in one hour.  For example, a one-ton air conditioner can remove 12,000 British thermal units otherwise known as BTUs.  A three-ton system will remove 36,000.  The size of the unit is determined by both the size and the layout of your home.

A larger home will need more cooling power so a 1,600 square foot home would benefit from a 3 ton unit.  However, the layout of a home is also a factor if a basement is calculated into the square footage because a basement is naturally cooler than floors above ground.

Air conditioning costs depend in large measure on what company you hire, what size system will efficiently work for your home and what additional features, if any, a homeowner is looking to install.

So many improvements have been made to air conditioning units.  For instance, as of 2010, all manufacturers must use a new kind of refrigerant that’s better for the environment and a new system can use half the electricity of older models while working more efficiently and leaving your home cool and comfortable.

If you are trying to determine whether to repair or replace your unit, you may want to consider its energy costs. Up until 2006, 10 SEER was standard. Today, the minimum allowed by federal law is 13 SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, which is the amount of energy needed to provide a specific cooling output. That translates to 30% less electrical consumption and 30% lower cooling bills than equipment installed prior to 2006.

To find out what unit is best for your home, please schedule an appointment with us today.