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The Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina has a usually mild cold season. Even in the middle of winter, temperatures tend to remain in the 60s and 70s. However, the temperature can climb to 90 or higher during the hot summer months. That is why you want the best AC unit for your home. At Custom Air Inc., we hear from clients who made mistakes in choosing a new unit that cost a lot to solve. Learn from them by reading about the top mistakes you do not want to make.
1. Putting an Emphasis on Price
We know that cost is on your mind, but you should never let that be the only factor when picking a new AC unit. Some homeowners buy the cheapest air conditioners they can find without thinking about the overall costs they may face. A quality cooling system should have a useful lifespan of about 20 years when properly maintained. Generic brands tend to break down much faster than that due to inferior components. Cheaper units also often need frequent repairs. Choosing a unit based on an attractive price tag can cost you more overall in the long run than your initial investment in a high-quality system would have been.
2. Choosing the Wrong Size
Bigger is not necessarily better, especially when it comes to air conditioning. You should compare your home’s square footage to the unit’s size. A 1.5-ton unit is suitable for smaller houses with up to 1,000 square feet inside. For a home of up to 2,000 square feet, you need a 3-ton unit. The biggest units on the market are 5 tons, and they are suitable for homes of up to 3,000 square feet.
If the AC unit is too small, it needs to run almost all day, every day. It will not keep your home as cool as you would like and can lead to a sharp increase in your electric bills. An AC unit that is too big for your residence can short cycle. Short cycling is when the system turns on and then off quickly because it cools the space too fast, which does not give the air conditioner time to remove humidity properly. Your house will be humid and uncomfortable as a result.
3. Ignoring the SEER Rating
Every AC unit has a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Also called the SEER, this number shows how efficiently the unit runs. SEER ratings are issued by Energy Star, a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that encourages energy efficiency. The lowest rating possible is a SEER 13. A rating of 15 or less tells you that the AC unit may add some money to your power bills. Units with ratings of 16 and higher are more expensive, but homeowners will pay less in electricity bills over time.
4. Not Getting the Extended Warranty
An AC unit is a significant expense, which means that you should never skip the extended warranty. For a system like central air conditioning that is used daily and prone to repairs, it is far easier to budget for a warranty than a replacement product. Small monthly fees are much more manageable than a lump sum.
5. Hiring the Wrong Company
We wanted to briefly mention the mistake that some made of hiring the wrong person for the job. Installing an AC unit takes time, hard work, and professional expertise. The installer needs to know how to connect the unit to your electrical and HVAC systems and take the time to ensure that it works right.
The Bottom Line
Learning from the mistakes other homeowners have made when buying a new AC unit is a great way to make sure you get one that works the way you expect it to. Those mistakes include buying the wrong size unit, focusing too much on price, and ignoring the SEER rating.
At Custom Air Inc., we have been serving the residents of Browns Summit, and Greensboro, NC. since 1998. We install, maintain, and repair cooling and heating systems. In addition, our experts can help if you have concerns about your indoor air quality. If you are shopping for a new AC unit, we are happy to consult with you about the best product for your house and family’s needs. Contact Custom Air Inc. today to set up an appointment.
