With hot temperature days here to stay in the Louisville area, cooling and reliable air conditioning systems are more important than ever. If you’re faced with buying an air conditioner this summer, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options you must consider. A new air conditioning system is a big investment, and you want to make sure the new cooling unit you select is right for your home and budget.
Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing helps take the mystery and confusion out of the air conditioning installation process. Read our guide to buying a new air conditioner and learn the options you have, the features to look for, and how financing can help you with this important purchase.
There are many different types of cooling systems, even though they’re all often lumped in under the term “air conditioner.” The truth of the matter is, air conditioners are just one type of cooling equipment and others are available.
Before we talk about your equipment options, let’s first go over the types of equipment configurations that can be installed in your home.
Most homes in the Midwest have central cooling and heating, which provides conditioned air to the entire home from one central location at the indoor unit. Room air conditioners are another option that can be installed to provide cooling in specific areas only.
When buying a new cooling unit, air conditioners aren’t your only option. For whole home cooling, your options include:
When buying an air conditioner, heat pump, or ductless system, you need to consider what is right for your home. Climate is an important factor, characteristics of your home will impact installation, and sizing is critical.
Humidity can be a challenge in Louisville area homes over the summer months. Some types of cooling systems help remove humidity, while others rely on moisture for cooling. In Louisville, central air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless systems are good choices as their air conditioning process removes some moisture from the air. Other cooling systems like evaporative coolers need moisture, making them only suitable for use in dry areas of the country.
When you buy an air conditioner, you also pay for installation to have the new unit set up in your home. Certain characteristics about your home can make installation simpler, or more complicated, affecting the cost of installation.
When it comes to air conditioner sizing, it’s not the physical size of the unit we are talking about. Sizing refers to the unit’s capacity to remove heat, or how much heat it can remove. You’ll hear it referred to as tons, which doesn’t mean weight, it means tons of heat removed in BTUs (British thermal units).
Sizing your new cooling unit is very important when buying an air conditioner. It’s critical your air conditioner be the right fit for your home because if it is too large or small, it won’t cool your home correctly. Units that are too big or too small waste energy and deliver subpar comfort. To ensure your new cooling unit is the correct size for your home, have your contractor perform Manual J cooling load calculations to determine the exact sizing necessary to efficiently cool your home.
The energy efficiency ratings of new air conditioners vary. The efficiency of a unit is something you need to consider when buying an air conditioner, as it will affect the costs of operation over the years.
Air conditioner installation isn’t a cheap project. It can cost several thousands of dollars to install a new air conditioner, and the price varies based on the type of unit you select and the installation work that is necessary to set the new unit up to operate in your home.
Many HVAC contractors offer financing programs to help homeowners with the purchase of new air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless systems. There are low-interest rates and flexible repayment options that will help you buy your new unit now and pay it off over time. If you’re worried about the cost of a new air conditioner, be sure to talk about financing options with your contractor.
Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing helps Louisville homeowners breeze through the air conditioner buying process. Our Comfort Consultants introduce various equipment types and models, helping you understand the features and qualities so you can select the best new unit for your home. Our NATE-certified installation team places your new air conditioner into service with your 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Request an estimate for air conditioning installation today!