05 October 2015

Things to Consider When Purchasing an Air-Conditioning Unit

While it may be hard to believe, there are still a lot of homes that do not have air conditioning. In most cases, these are older homes or homes that have been designed to cool themselves using a natural breeze. However, as temperatures around the world continue to rise, and as people become less tolerant of the heat, more and more homeowners are seeing the benefits of installing air-conditioning. However, before calling an air conditioning service Tampa to install air-conditioning, there are a few things that homeowners should consider.

What Type of Heating System Is Already in the Home?

If a home already has a forced air heating system, installing an air-conditioning system is relatively inexpensive. All that needs to be done is to install the coil for the air-conditioning system and run the necessary electrical components. If a home has a boiler heater, this maybe a little bit more of a challenge.

Of course, it does not mean that it is impossible. Every single home has its own unique requirements, and homeowners will have to speak with their HVAC contractor to understand what those requirements are for their home.

Determining the Best Air-Conditioning System for the Home

When it comes to finding the right air-conditioning system for the home, there are a number of factors that homeowners should take into consideration. Usually, the first thing to consider is energy efficiency since this will affect the amount of money a homeowner will spend every month on energy.

Quite often, the more efficient the unit is and the higher SEER it has, the higher the upfront cost for the homeowner. However, over the life of the unit, the homeowner is going to recoup their initial investment. Another factor to take into consideration is the number of months the air-conditioning unit is going to run throughout the year. If a person lives in a climate where the air conditioner is going to be run nine months out of the year, the quicker they are going to recoup the money they spend on their initial investment by means of reduced energy costs.

Will the Existing Circuit Breaker Support the Additional Electricity?

One of the biggest challenges homeowners find when installing an air-conditioning system is finding enough space for their electrical needs. There must be enough space in the existing electrical panel to add a breaker for the AC unit. In older homes, this may require homeowners to upgrade their circuit breaker box as well as hire an electrical contractor.

Having air-conditioning in the home makes the home a more comfortable place to live. Additionally, the air filtration provided by an AC unit can increase the quality of the air and improve the quality of life for the occupants of the home.