Temperatures will be heating up soon in the Hampton Roads area, which means it’s almost time to crank up the air conditioning. If you’re in need of a new air conditioner for summer, keep the following tips in mind while shopping around. Air conditioners are an expensive investment for your home, so it’s important to make sure you choose wisely.
Pay Attention to SEER Ratings
Air conditioners come with seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) ratings that can help you determine how much money you’ll save on cooling your home. Look for SEER ratings of 15 or higher, which indicates high efficiency. Having a new air conditioner with a higher SEER rating installed will lower your energy bills significantly.
Focus on Value
Don’t choose an air conditioner based on cost alone. Systems that have the lowest prices don’t necessarily provide good value for your money. Look for air conditioners that are high quality and high efficiency in order to get the most for your money. Keep in mind that high-efficiency air conditioners typically cost more to install, but you end up saving money over time with lower energy bills.
Check the Refrigerant Type
Avoid buying air conditioners that use R-22 refrigerant, which is harmful to the environment. Newer air conditioners made after 2009 should have R-410A or another more eco-friendly type of refrigerant.
Get the Right Size
The air conditioner you choose should be the appropriate size for your home’s cooling needs. Getting an air conditioner that’s too big can result in uncomfortable humidity levels in your home, while air conditioners that are too small won’t be able to keep your home cool enough. If you’re not sure how to determine the right size air conditioner for your home, get help from a professional HVAC company.
If your home needs a new air conditioner, contact Russell’s Heating & Cooling. We offer dependable HVAC services for homeowners in the Hampton Roads area of Southeast Virginia.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioner shopping and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 757-750-1831.
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