Air Conditioning Shopping Tips

When you are shopping for a new air conditioning system, there are three important considerations: most important is choosing the right size unit for your home, followed by making sure the new unit is energy-efficient and properly installed.

According to the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada, there is only one correct size of air conditioner for your home. Many homes have units that are too large or small to operate efficiently.

A unit that is too large for your home will turn on and off frequently, which will increase fuel consumption and operating costs. It can also result in premature part failure, higher noise levels and reduced comfort, creating hot or cold spots within the home. An undersized air conditioning system will also cause comfort issues in the home.

The contractor should perform a heat loss and heat gain calculation based on professional guidelines to determine the proper size of the heating and cooling equipment required for your home.

In addition, the contractor should not assume the current equipment in your home is the correct size, nor should they recommend a unit based solely on the size of your home. An accurate assessment will take into account existing insulation levels in your home, the number of windows, local climate conditions, the number of occupants and predicted heat exchange levels, as well as square footage.

Finally, the HRAI reminds homeowners to inform the contractor of any major renovation plans. Installing new windows, upgrading insulation levels, finishing the basement, air-sealing or building an addition will all affect the sizing calculation for any new system.

For more information on the types of A/C systems available and what to look for, visit the HRAI website – http://www.hrai.ca/consumer_info_choosing_ac.html.

Courtesy: Homeservice Club