Acker Heating & Cooling

Even with summer drawing to a close, relatively warm temperatures are still to be expected well into the fall months. With that in mind, how would you describe your air conditioning system’s performance and efficiency? If it is still holding up well, then good for you. As long as you keep it in good condition through regular inspections and maintenance, your cooling equipment can provide your home with consistent comfort. 

But what if it has been experiencing occasional breakdowns recently? It could be an indication that repairs are no longer cutting it, and you’ve been calling your trusted residential and commercial HVAC technician more frequently. If that’s the case, it might be time to have your ailing AC unit replaced with a new one.

Purchasing such a big-ticket item is not as simple as it seems. Sure, you might want to go for the latest model, but when it comes to a significant investment like an AC system, you have to cover all bases. Acker Heating & Cooling looks at five things you need to consider when shopping for a replacement AC unit.

1. Proper Sizing

Size is an integral factor that helps determine the capability of cooling and heating systems to provide sufficient comfort. In the context of air conditioners, it pertains to their cooling capacity expressed in British Thermal Units (BTU). It is a unit of measurement that shows the amount of energy the AC unit uses to remove indoor heat from living spaces within an hour.

HVAC technicians look at your home’s square footage and local climate when determining the proper AC size for your home. Ideally, an AC unit needs about 20 BTUs for each square foot of living space it is cooling. However, this is just an approximation. The pros will also have to calculate the height of the ceiling and the size of doorways and windows.

Understanding the BTUs helps you to avoid the disadvantages of getting a new AC system that doesn’t provide the exact kind of comfort for your needs. Too many BTUs for your home’s total square footage might make the unit might wear down faster while wasting more energy because it will run for a shorter period. Too few BTUs, meanwhile, means the unit may also suffer premature wear and tear, but for a completely different reason. Here, the AC will continue to run as it tries to reach the temperature indicated on your thermostat. This leads to insufficient cooling, which creates “hot” and “cold” spots around your home.

2. Energy Efficiency

Today’s cooling and heating systems have features that make them energy-efficient. Compared to standard units, they use less energy and cost less to operate without sacrificing comfort and performance. To compare between products and determine which one provides the best energy efficiency for your needs, you must look at a few things. For AC units, that would be the SEER.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) is used to measure the efficiency of AC systems, calculated by dividing its cooling output in a given cooling season by its energy usage in watt-hour. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit is. It may cost a bit more, of course, but choosing a cooling unit with a higher SEER rating has its benefits, including:

• Significant savings on your cooling budget.
• Fewer breakdowns mean additional savings on your air conditioning repairs and maintenance.
• Longer service life, while observing proper care and maintenance.

3. Features and Functions

It also pays to learn about the many features and functions of the AC system you’re buying. Doing so allows you to get the most out of your investment. Here are some of the essential features to look for:

• Quiet operation. A quick look at the AC unit’s decibel level should tell you how quiet or noisy it will be once it’s on. Those with noise levels below 40 decibels are considered ideal if you want quiet along with consistent indoor comfort. Look for AC systems with “silent mode” – turning it on means reducing the noise levels further as you reduce the speed of the fan.
• Variable-speed capabilities. A variable-speed air conditioning system can run at different speeds depending on what it needs to do to maintain desired indoor temperatures. As a result, it spends less energy trying to overcome fluctuating temperatures in your home. You can also be sure of consistent comfort because of its ability to make minute speed adjustments. The upfront cost might be a turn-off to some, but its superior performance, particularly in terms of climate and humidity control, more than makes up for it.
• Movement sensor technology. This AC feature utilizes electronic tracking to determine the number and location of occupants inside a building and adjusts the temperature settings on the thermostat accordingly. Commonly found in commercial settings, this technology has since been making its way into the residential HVAC market over the past few years.

4. Price

Before settling on the best AC system for your needs, compare available models based on their specifications, performance, customer reviews, and feedback on after-sales service, to name a few. Once you’ve made the proper comparisons, make the final decision, keeping in mind your requirements and budget. Your choice should be from a trusted HVAC manufacturer with all the necessary features to fulfill your cooling needs while also having a reasonable price.

When you need a new AC system, you can rely on Acker Heating & Cooling to help you find the right one for your home. We are an authorized Bryant® installer, and when you choose us for this project, you can be confident that we will complete all work under manufacturer specifications and local code requirements.

You can trust us and the brand Bryant for other residential and commercial HVAC components. This includes smart thermostats, air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, UV lamps, and ventilators. Our team of expert technicians is ready to install any of these products with the same skill and detailed installation as we use with our cooling solutions.

Get started by calling us at (706) 425-8774 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment. Acker Heating & Cooling provides exceptional HVAC services to homeowners and businesses in Athens-Clarke, Elbert, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties.