Professional installing central air conditioner
If you have brazing, electrical, plumbing and framing training, and got some experience in it. Then you can install central air conditioner by yourself. In all other cases, you need to call a professional. In other words, there are great chances for making mistakes, and instead of new air conditioning system you end up with a damaged one that will need costly repair to operate. There is a great risk of breaking AC unit, causing it impractical – not talking about getting injured yourself.
You might also need an EPA certificate to complete installation, because the refrigerant is used in a system. At the end, to complete an installation you will need to do some rewiring and anchoring the AC unit to a solid pad. All in all, trust to professionals when it comes to installing the complicated system such as AC. They have the necessary training and expertise required to ensure that central air conditioner is installed properly and securely.
Find most trustworthy local air conditioning contractors
To make a right choice among central air conditioner contractors in the area you will need to dig some information to see who is the most trustworthy. The best HVAC installers always have good feedbacks. That are mentioned in online customer reviews on Yelp, Google, Homeadvisor and other sites. Don’t choose the low-priced or the nearest contractor. Installing new AC unit is a great investment in your house. So invest your time and spend few more dollars to get the best possible service.
Some Alternatives to Central Air Conditioning
Hot and dry air might be uncomfortable for living, so consider a swamp cooler that adds moisture to the air while cooling it down. If air conditioner dries the air, this one works the opposite. Usually the Swamp coolers are cheaper, because to operate they don’t need additional equipment such as ducting.
However, swamp coolers have some disadvantages. First, they are not as effective as central air conditioners when talking about cooling the house. Second, you have to constantly control the water supply to the cooler. In addition, if anyone in your family has breathing problems such as asthma, you don’t want to have a swamp cooler in your house. Because it blows outside microbes into your house. And lastly, heavy humidity can produce mold in your home.
Another good alternative to a central air conditioner is a heat pump. If central AC only cools the air, a heat pump cools the house in the summer and then heats the house up in winter. In the summer months, there is practically no difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner. They keep the air cool in your home, however, if you live in the area with extreme summer heat. The air conditioners will fit you better as they cool air more efficiently. The difference can be felt during cold months.
You need to know that the heat pumps are best alternative for the area with a mild climate, since they can’t operate in extremely cold temperatures. If it gets very cold during winter time, you will have to use a furnace. A furnace reduces the main advantage of the heat pump – to both cool and warm the air.
Central Air Conditioners: What is a SEER Rating?
The possible SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, for every unit is determined by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. The number will tells you amount of energy needed for cooling. For most central air conditioners, the higher the SEER number, the better the unit is and the more efficient it operates. Older air conditioners had SEER ratings of 5 or 6, but new modern units ratings run in 20s. The U.S. Department of Energy sets the minimum SEER of 13 or 14 for central air conditioners, depending on the climate you live. Most units in our stock well exceed that, and the highest SEER is 26. However, the higher SEER ratings the higher the price tags. So before you invest in new air conditioner unit consider how long it will take to see a return in savings on lower energy bill.
Choosing the right new air conditioner is time consuming and stressful. Especially if your old unit breaks in the middle of the summer. The newest models exceed in performance their predecessors, though, and we have the best of the best for energy efficiency, noise control, overall design and warranties. So you can be sure you found what you were looking for.