Factors To Consider When You’re Upgrading Your Air Conditioning

Factors To Consider When You’re Upgrading Your Air Conditioning

With winter coming to an end, it’s good time to consider the advantages of upgrading your central air conditioning system. Here are a few important factors to consider when looking for an air conditioner upgrade.

• Split or packaged: When upgrading, you must decide on whether to buy a split or packaged system. A packaged central air conditioner contains all the necessary components in one outdoor cabinet installed just outside one wall of your house. In a split system, the outdoor cabinet holds the unit’s compressor and condenser while the evaporator is housed in an indoor cabinet.
• Ductwork: The placement, configuration and condition of your air conditioner’s ductwork can be a major consideration during an upgrade. If the ductwork is too small, it might not be able to carry the amount of conditioned air produced by an upgraded unit. The configuration of the ductwork might not be adequate for an improved air conditioner. You should also check the ductwork system for air and energy leaks, and make sure the network is properly sealed.
• Sizing: Your air conditioner must be sized correctly and possess enough cooling capacity to sufficiently cool your entire house. An air conditioner that is too small will be inadequate during the hottest days of the year. It will work harder and use more energy, increasing chances of a breakdown. A too-large air conditioner will waste energy and will not do a good job of removing humidity.
• Efficiency: Upgrading your air conditioner gives you the perfect opportunity to invest in a high-efficiency cooling system. Air conditioner efficiency is measured by the unit’s Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), which is the amount energy required to produce a particular level of cooling. An Energy Star-certified high-efficiency air conditioner should have a SEER rating of 13 or higher.

Contact Air-Tro today for more information on upgrading your air conditioning system, to get an estimate, or to schedule an installation. We serve the greater Los Angeles area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioning and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.