Most homeowners know that it can be quite expensive to replace their central air conditioner, but it is common to be confused as to why the prices between different units can vary so much. If you are in the market for a new central air conditioner, educating yourself about AC units can save you a substantial amount of money and ensure that you purchase the appropriate air conditioner for your home. Continue reading to learn more about about the factors that affect the cost of a new central air conditioner:
Energy Efficiency
Going green is something that many household strive for, so buying a high efficiency central air conditioner may be a priority. In addition to being better for the environment, energy efficient units can save you a lot of money each year on your cooling bills, especially if you live in a hot environment where you use your air conditioner for many months of the year. To understand how energy efficient a central air conditioner unit is, you have to understand SEER ratings. It is now mandated that new central air conditioner units must have a SEER rating of at least 13; the higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the unit will be, which results in a higher price tag. While you may be tempted to get the least expensive air conditioner possible, take the time to do some calculations to see if a more expensive unit will actually pay for itself in the long run due to reductions in your energy bill.
Air Conditioner Size
The size of a central air conditioner is directly tied to its cooling capacity. The size is typically measured in either British thermal units per hour (Btu/hr) or tons. For reference, when it comes to air conditioner units a ton is equal to 12,000 Btu/hr. It is important to buy a central air conditioner that is the proper size for your home if you want to ensure that it cools properly. In general, the more square feet of living space the bigger the air conditioner. If you have a large home, you can expect to pay more for a replacement air conditioner. It can be very difficult to figure out what size air conditioner you need by yourself-- it is in your best interests to hire an air conditioning professional like HomeSmart From Xcel Energy to examine your home and tell you exactly what size unit will work best.
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