What are the different features to be considered while buying an air conditioner?

During an age when the truth is just a few clicks away, many HVAC companies trade transparency for smoke and mirrors. Focused on the upsell, these heating and cooling contractors rarely take time to explain your options, consider your budget and make the recommendation that’s best for you. At ABC Home & Commercial Services, we take a different approach. Leading the industry by example, we educate customers about what they can expect from our products and services—then provide straightforward pricing without gimmicks and fine print. It’s this honest transparency that separates us from the pack, and it’s the reason so many of our customers stick with us for years. So, where do you begin when it’s time to replace your air conditioning system? It’s a confusing process, but we’ll walk you through it. There are many different Size The size of your new AC equipment is determined by the size and construction of your home (think three-ton versus a four-ton system, for example). However, bigger is not always better, since an oversized air conditioner may cycle too often, inflating energy bills and putting stress on the equipment. To optimize your air conditioner’s performance, contact an experienced technician to evaluate your home’s layout and square footage and customize your system size to your unique comfort requirements. Energy Efficiency You might ask yourself: Building Codes & Regulations Your air conditioner must meet building code requirements, as well as state and federal ...

As the weather heats up, countless homeowners and apartment-dwellers will pull their air conditioners out from wherever they’ve been stored over the winter, and perform the bi-annual rite of wrestling them into a window. But, when you finally plug it in, waiting for that nice gust of cold air…nothing happens. (You might also want to check out our guide on If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner this summer, it’s tempting to simply go out and buy the cheapest model your budget will allow. (You’ll want to check out our listing of the best air conditioner deals along the way). But before you make your choice, there are 3 things you should look for first. We’ll explain what each means, and why they’re important. BTU rating BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and is used to measure the amount of heat that’s needed to raise or lower one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The term is used for all sorts of appliances; if you’re buying a gas range, you’ll find BTU ratings for the burners, for instance. Basically, the higher the BTU number, the more powerful it is. A stove with a 10,000-BTU rating is going to be able to heat up a pot of water faster than a stove with a 1,000-BTU rating. When buying an air conditioner, it’s important to get one with a BTU rating that best matches the space you’re trying to cool. If you purchase an air conditioner with too low a BTU number, it’s going to spend much more time and energy trying to cool your room, which wastes electricit...

Early spring is a good time to think about replacing your central air conditioner—or installing a whole new system. It can be a huge expense, so you’ll want to get it right. In this guide, we’ll help you choose the right AC system for your home—and then maintain it, so you can get the unit’s longest life and the best performance possible. We’ll also share some tips on how to find a good heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician to do the work. Consumer Reports members can see our ratings for the most reliable ducted AC brands, based on survey data we’ve collected on more than 18,000 AC units in real-world use, bought and installed between 2007 and 2022. Based on what we’ve found in our survey, we predict that about 25 percent of central AC systems will encounter problems in the first eight years of ownership, so it can pay to pick a brand that’s more reliable. (Through our survey, we also learned which brands owners tend to be most satisfied with, the costs of repairs, and which parts break most often.) We don’t have performance ratings for central air conditioning systems. It’s not practical for Consumer Reports to test them because there are so many variables, including a home’s size and design, how the system is installed, and the construction of the ductwork. If you’re buying a new central AC for the first time in a while (most AC units last at least a decade), you’ll find that today’s models are more energy-efficient, which means they cost less to r...

S ummer might be fun when you hit the pool and go on exotic vacations with loved ones, but for the biggest part of it, you are either stuck at home or the office. While in these enclosed spaces, the torrid heat that accompanies this season won’t seem as pleasant. Needless to say, humidity levels tend to rise alarmingly during hot weather. Indoor air quality suffers a major flop because of this, and comfort levels reach their lowest point. To make these problems go away, you need an air conditioning system installed ASAP. But what should you buy exactly? What AC unit type caters best to your needs? For that matter, are there many features and options that could make your experience when using it all the more enjoyable? Learn the answers to these questions and much more in the following, this comprehensive buying guide coming to your aid to ensure you make an informed decision regarding a new AC unit. What Are the Different Types of Cooling Systems? Do you need to cool off a specific room, say your home office, or the bedroom? Or do you want to lower temperatures in different rooms yet you don’t want to compromise with a whole-house air cooling system, so you would rather opt for a portable solution? What if you do prefer a whole-house system, what specific type is best for your situation then? These are questions you will find the answers to quite quickly by simply diving with us a bit further into the topic of AC unit types and their uses. To make your decision easier, we ...

Before selecting an air conditioner for your home, learn more about the various types in order to find the unit or comprehensive air conditioning system that best suits your needs and budget. This guide provides a detailed overview of the most common types of air conditioners, including cost, installation, and efficiency considerations. bgwalker / Getty Images Central Air Conditioner One of the most common types of air conditioners is the central air conditioner. This system is designed to cool the entire home by forcing cool air through the ducts of the home and out through vents, similar to the way a furnace pushes heated air through ducts and out through vents to heat the home during colder months. Central air conditioners are typically controlled by a thermostat and can even be designed with smart capabilities, allowing the user to adjust the temperature, set cooling cycles, or simply turn it on or off. On average, you can expect to pay about $4,000 to $8,000 for the purchase and installation of a central air conditioner. Window Air Conditioner If the high price of a central air conditioner is a deterrent, window air conditioners are a cost-effective option that ranges from around $100 to $1,100 for purchase and installation. These smaller devices are designed to sit in a window with the front indoors and the back outdoors. This allows the air conditioner to release condensation and heat outside while using a built-in fan to push cool air into the home. Window air cond...

In the changing era of technology and increased global temperature, Air conditioning is one of the most essential appliances that every household should have. But how do you decide which Aircon is best for you? For a buyer, this is the most difficult thing to decide. If not decided wisely, you may regret purchasing the air condition soon. Making this simple, #Important factors to be considered while purchasing Air Conditioner 1. Types of Air conditioners Brainstorming and knowing about your requirements is the first thing that should be done before purchasing an Aircon. There are several types of Aircon available in the market. All have different requirements and features. You should be aware of it, so that you may not get confused about which one to buy at the store. Below is most used Aircon types listed: • Window Aircon: If you have a room with a window, you may think about installing the window Air conditioning system. However, it is a good idea but there are some pre-requirements you should know before finalizing your decision. Window Aircons needs more space to fit. Your installation officer may ask for your permission to make windows large for installation. At present Most of the household use window Ac. It will be more efficient if your window is in the middle of the wall. This will help air to go unanimously on both sides. • Split Aircon: Those rooms who have no window should go with split AC’s. Split Ac will be installed on the top of your wall. This requires les...

ⓘ What Are the Types of Room Air Conditioners? While most people think of Window room air conditioners Douglas Sacha/Getty Images Portable room air conditioners These freestanding units are self-contained and easy to install, but They work by pulling hot air, cooling it and returning it to the space. The warm air and moisture from the space is vented through a window or hole in a wall. SasinParaksa/Getty Images Wall- and floor-mounted room air conditioners Also known as The Note that floor-mounted units are placed near the floor, not on it. That way you can easily check and replace the filters, making floor-mounted units a great choice for people with respiratory issues. Many models can also heat rooms for year-round comfort. SasinParaksa/Getty Images Ceiling recessed room air conditioners Also known as a cassette, a mini-split recessed into the ceiling is ideal for a large room or open floor plans. It sends the air in four directions at once. A ceiling recessed unit requires 10 inches of clearance for the housing to fit out of sight. However, it still needs to be vented to the outside. How To Choose a Room Air Conditioner When deciding what type of Btu rating The To determine what Btu rating to look for, Hughes says to take the square footage of the space you want to cool and multiply it by 20. This is the rough Btu value you will need to cool that area. If you live in a heavily shaded area, subtract 10 percent. If your area receives a lot of sunlight, add 10 percent. Ven...