Factors to Consider When Getting a New AC

The most important way you can prepare your air conditioning system for the approaching summer is to arrange for a maintenance inspection and tune-up from our Peak Home Performance team. This service helps an AC run at its highest efficiency while avoiding most repair issues, and it extends the air conditioner’s service life and keeps the warranty valid.

You, however, may be in a situation where your home’s air conditioner needs something bigger than maintenance. It needs to be replaced. That means purchasing a new air conditioner and having our technicians handle an air conditioning installation in Colorado Springs, CO. Getting a new AC is a big job, and you want to make sure you get the right kind for your home’s needs and for your budget. We’ll look at several factors to consider as you think over your purchase.

How important is efficiency?

Energy efficiency for air conditioners has risen rapidly over the last decade. With new regulations in place for the switch to SEER2 for measuring energy efficiency, the baseline for an air conditioner to earn an ENERGY STAR label from the US Department of Energy is even higher. We recommend you only purchase an ENERGY STAR-certified AC. You may wish to go even further and buy a special high-efficiency unit with a SEER2 in the 20s. This is a more expensive upfront purchase, but if energy efficiency is important to you, it will pay off many times in the long run.

Your home’s cooling requirements

Determining how much cooling power your home needs is more complicated than simply calculating your home’s square footage. You have to account for insulation, heat gain through windows, heat from appliances and lights, the number of people in the house, etc. You can use all this information to pick the right size of air conditioner—i.e. right cooling capacity. You don’t want one that’s too small or too large. It’s best to leave these calculations to professionals to ensure you purchase the correct size AC.

Your budget

Higher efficiency air conditioners and ones with special features will mean a higher price tag for the unit upfront. These features can pay you back over time, but you may wish to focus on the features that are most useful for your situation if you are on a budget.

Noise level

Newer air conditioners run at lower noise levels, but if you have people in your home who may be sensitive to the sound of an AC running, look for units that have lower decibel levels.

Heat pump or AC

You may wish to have a heat pump installed instead of an air conditioner. A heat pump works the same way as an AC, except it can switch the direction it operates so it brings heat into the house. Not all homes are suited for a heat pump, so make sure to discuss the viability of this choice with our technicians.

If you’re ready to get a new air conditioning system, reach out to us and we’ll work with you to find the right cooling system.

Just contact the team at Peak Home Performance today to get started