Buying a new air conditioning system can be a substantial investment to make and a large effort to undertake. There are many factors to understand when considering which system to buy and the abundance of information may seem overwhelming. However, many HVAC professionals regard these 3 issues to be of great significance for homeowners who want to install a new air conditioning system.
Upfront costs versus lifetime costs
The decision to purchase a new air conditioning system isn’t one that a homeowner should have to make very often. Upfront costs for a new AC unit and all its associated pieces can come as quite a shock to someone who hasn’t had to make this sort of purchase in the past. However, resist the urge to take the lower-priced alternative until you’ve had a chance to evaluate the full lifetime cost of the system. The lifetime cost takes into account energy efficiency, frequency of maintenance, and probability of repairs. A well-manufactured and properly installed system with a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) will be pricier, but the lifetime cost of the system will be much lower than its cheaper counterpart. Inefficient and poorly-made systems place a strain on energy bills and often require frequent visits from HVAC professionals to address their many issues.
Efficiency ratings
Advancing air conditioning technology has allowed homeowners to maintain comfortable temperatures without breaking their utility budgets. Today’s systems offer higher efficiency features such as variable speed air handlers that operate continuously at reduced speeds in order to obtain lower energy consumption. Higher SEERs mean that newer AC units will produce an increased rate of cooling capacity with the energy it consumes. Realizing the impact of this technology, EPA regulations often set minimum SEER requirements for air conditioning systems. As of January 1st, 2015, all new manufactured air conditioners were required to have a minimum of a 14 SEER.
Service call frequency
A system utilizing higher grade components and operating at higher levels of efficiency will often require less maintenance given that there will be less stress on the unit’s moving parts. If properly installed and maintained, today’s air conditioning systems may only require an annual service call and inspection.
The purchase of a new air conditioning system is no easy feat. If you have questions regarding the installation of a new system, please contact our team of HVAC experts to address any concerns you may have. American Air Conditioning and Heating understands each piece needed to get your new system up and running. Call us today.
