Central air conditioners have defined the standard in air conditioning today. Aside from keeping you cool on hot and humid days, central air conditioners also dehumidify and filter the air surrounding you. This is especially advantageous if you have allergies or respiratory problems such as asthma.
Central air conditioners are great for huge homes, office spaces, factories, laboratories and other large industries. If you are thinking of buying a central air conditioner, it is important to know the size of the air conditioner that you will need. This, of course, depends on the size of the space that requires cooling. A contractor can help you determine the right size of central air conditioner for you with the use of the ‘manual j’ calculation technique.
There are several factors to consider when buying an air conditioner. And when it comes to central air conditioners in particular, cost is just a part of the equation. You also need to know technical details such as tonnage, power consumption as well as its mechanical features.
When looking to buy central air conditioners, you may find that they come with different Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings, otherwise known as SEER. These ratings enable you to determine the efficiency of air conditioners. Newer central air conditioners, or other types of air conditioning units for that matter, may not have a SEER rating that is less than 13. Some older air conditioners that are still being used may probably have a seer rating lower than 7.
Moreover, replacing your old central air conditioner for a newer one can actually help you save a substantial amount off your electricity bills. In fact, it has been estimated that fine tuning your central air conditioner with a SEER of 11.5 to one having a SEER of 13 just might save you for up to $500 on your electric consumption every year.
Other than making sure that you choose the right size for your air conditioning unit, another thing to consider if you want to get maximum results out of a central air conditioner is to know where it should be set up. Keep in mind that the placement of your central air conditioner can affect its performance. A unit that is enclosed by too much vegetation may limit air from flowing freely enough where you really need it.
You may also want to give your dealer other details of your room such as the size and number of windows, number of appliances, direction where your room faces, insulation, shade, roofing, thickness of walls, etc. This way, your dealer will be able to advise you on the appropriate tonnage and number of central air conditioners to be setup.
