Autumn is a good time of the year to make big changes to the comfort system in your home. The weather cools down enough that you won’t need your AC running as often, and it’s easier to schedule an important job like having a new air conditioner installed. Because we live in an area that can experience warm temperatures all around the year, you never want to be caught with a dying air conditioner at any season—so if you think you’re ready for a new air conditioning installation, now is an excellent time.
But don’t jump into it too fast! Many homeowners have made mistakes with an AC installation because of haste and not consulting with a professional HVAC contractor in Houston, TX. Below we’ve listed the top four things these homeowners wish they had known before they plowed ahead hastily getting a new air conditioner.
1. What the SEER rating really means
SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio, and it’s the measure of the general energy efficiency of an air conditioning unit. Unfortunately, consumers often go no deeper into what SEER means for the AC system and just try to purchase the unit with the highest rating they can afford. This often leads to getting the wrong system. SEER isn’t a guarantee of energy savings, it’s only the maximum efficiency a unit can perform at. If the AC isn’t right for the home in other ways, the SEER rating won’t matter: the cooling system will waste power.
2. The importance of properly sizing the AC
This is a huge mistake that often occurs when a homeowner entrusts the installation service to an unlicensed amateur who works for a suspiciously low amount. An air conditioning system must have the right amount of cooling output (as measured in units called tons) to keep the house cool without wasting power. Both undersized and oversized are trouble, and often amateurs make the mistake of putting in a system that’s too large. An oversized system will cycle on and off rapidly, raising electrical bills and wearing itself down prematurely. You need licensed professionals to properly size the AC so it does the job you need.
3. The benefits of a variable-speed blower fan
You’ll see lots of extra features on new air conditioning systems, and one that’s especially beneficial is the variable-speed blower fan. This may not seem like it’s that important, which is why consumers sometimes pass over it. But a variable-speed blower can help with not only lowering energy consumption, but it’s also better controlling the distribution of cooling through your house and eliminating sharp temperature fluctuations. It can also help with better humidity control.
4. The option to have a heat pump installed
You don’t have to purchase a new air conditioning system for your home cooling. You can instead purchase a heat pump, which works similarly to an AC but can reverse the direction it runs so it also can heat a home. Heat pumps are ideal for our warm climate and won’t lose energy efficiency in cooler weather. If you have an aging electric furnace, a heat pump becomes an appealing option because you can replace both the air conditioner and the heater at the same time.
Before you make any choice about the future of your home cooling, get in touch with our team. With pros at your side from the start, you can’t go wrong.
At AC Comfort, Your Comfort Is Our Business! Schedule your new AC installation with our team.