Air conditioning systems keep everybody in the house cool in the summer and impact a home’s value. Contemporary construction methods integrate both cooling and heating into packaged systems which include air quality and temperature conditioning. A home’s conditioned square footage has a direct impact on its value. Since AC systems can be among the biggest and most expensive investments that you will ever make in your life, you need to know some basic principles involved.
Add the System on your Current Furnace
Houses with furnace usually require a split system as an economical option. This adds a compressor/condenser unit which sits outside as well as an evaporator unit which ties into the furnace and makes use of the present thermostat and heating ductwork. This minimizes the initial upgrade cost. The savings obtained can be utilized to increase efficiency further by installing an insulating duct and programmable thermostat to enhance the distribution of cold air.
Replace Old Systems
A number of home owners are likely to prefer to replace the entire cooling and heating systems with a packaged one. Also, it offers more efficient heating for home owners who want to replace their outdated heating systems like fuel oil furnaces while adding the central AC they like. Packaged systems have the condenser, evaporator, heat pump and compressor placed in a single outdoor location.
Replace just the Condenser
Environmental elements can result in the deterioration of condensing units making them inefficient. A lot of home owners prefer to upgrade just the condensing unit that has a high-efficiency model, especially if the indoor evaporator coil can still be serviced. When replacing the condensing unit, make sure that the new unit will match the capacity and size of the other indoor evaporator unit.
Make Sure the Size is Right
Proper AC unit sizing is imperative. Air conditioning capacity is measured in British thermal units per hour. For central ACs, engineers convert such measures to tons, which is equivalent to 12,000 Btu/hr. For average homes, tonnage ranges from one to five tons which is calculated on square footage. But, more tonnage doesn’t lead to better performance. Due to their high output, units that are oversized tend to more frequently turn on and off increasing energy demand. These are not expected to stay on for a long time to circulate home air, decreasing dehumidification and air filtering.
Check Energy Ratings
Whether you are considering buying a new or used AC, you need to choose an energy efficient unit. When purchasing used or overstock models, you have to check the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating or SEER. And know about the present minimum requirement when you buy the unit. SEER ratings are the energy efficiency in the cooling season.
Look for a Great Contractor
If you want to reduce costs, you can directly talk with your contractor. Many choose to work with owners who can directly buy the materials and carry out custom load calculations which accurately offer the specifications to buy new equipment. A new AC system installation requires various skills that include plumbing, electrical and programming skills. Experienced local contractors know about the requirements for permitting or inspection. Make sure you end up with a good GNRcorbus climatisation Sherbrooke.
