Central Air Conditioning Units

Good central air conditioning units can help maintain a constant temperature in your home during warm summer months. While older units were often loud and inefficient, newer models use less energy and are easier to install. With the help of your contractor, you should be able to choose a unit that will best meet your needs.

Although your contractor should help you pick a unit, it is important to understand some of the issues involved when choosing an air conditioner.

Refrigerants have been under closer scrutiny due to environmental concerns. Freon, a popular coolant, is slowly being phased out due to possible damage to the ozone layer. It is being replaced with Puron, which is thought to be better for the environment. If you want to purchase an air conditioner with Freon as the coolant, be aware that they will only be sold until 2010. Replacement Freon coolant will also only be sold until 2020.

Choosing a unit with the correct capacity for your home is essential. If the unit is too small, it will be unable to properly cool the space. A unit that is too large for the space will cool the house quickly, but turn on and off often, using large amounts of electricity.

A contractor will size the unit for your house. To do this, he must determine the cooling load. The cooling load is affected by the size of your house, its location, and the climate. It is important to verify that the contractor calculates a Manual J cooling-load, which are much more accurate than a rule of thumb chart based on the size of your home.

The efficiency of central air conditioning units is measured in SEERS, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. While older air conditioning units had a rating of 6, currently nothing below 13 is allowed to be sold in the United States due to energy concerns.

SEERs now range from 13 to 23. The EPA recommends buying the highest SEER rating you can afford, and energy savings can be substantial between different SEERs ratings. A unit with a SEERs rating of 14, for example, is 40 percent more efficient than a unit with a rating of 10. You may also get a better return on your investment with a higher SEER rating when you sell your house.

Most air conditioning manufacturers will not sell to individual home owners, and big box retailers such as Lowe's Home Improvement Store and the Home Depot often do not sell them. Instead, if you want central air conditioning you must a choose a contractor to install and purchase a unit for you. When you interview contractors, make sure that they are quoting you a price for the entire job. This should include the cost for obtaining permits and disposing of the old air conditioner.

The best way to choose an HVAC contractor is through a referral from a friend or family member in your area. If that is not possible, call your local or state government, who should have a list of licensed contractors in good standing. You can then contact a few of these contractors to compare quotes.

It is important to choose a contractor who will sell you the best air conditioning unit for your home. Units with more capacity are more expensive, therefore unscrupulous contractors may try to sell you a larger unit than you need. Getting several quotes from different contractors can reduce the chance that this will occur.

Don't be afraid to ask each contractor how he choose the unit required for your home, especially if it differs from other contractor's recommendations.

Depending on your climate and the layout of your house, an air conditioner may not be required. Passive cooling techniques, such as shade trees, house orientation, and window placement can keep a house cool enough without installing a costly air conditioning system. This is particularly true in older homes that were constructed before air conditioning was available.

Even if you determine that you need mechanical cooling, you may be able to install an evaporative cooler instead of a standard air conditioning unit. Evaporative coolers work best in dry climates when the humidity is low. They are far less expensive and easier to install than an air conditioning unit. Evaporative coolers also use less energy after they are installed.

• Apron Sinks
• Interior Painting Techniques
• Front Entry Porch Pictures

• Glass Tile Backsplash Ideas
• How to Install a Bathtub
• Build a Kitchen Banquette
• Sliding Wood Closet Doors
• Wood Plank Look Ceramic Tile

• PollenTec Allergy Screen Interview
• Building Your Own Home
• How to Install Radiant Floor Heat
• Energy Efficient Home Renovation
• Category:Misc. Home Improvement