The Truth About Buying a New Air Conditioner
Buying a new air conditioner can be very stressful, am I right? Not only that, but when you’re not educated about all the in’s and out’s of buying a new AC, that’s not cool, at all. So it’s time you know the truth. Because while this can be an overwhelming process, education is your friend and we’re here to teach you all you need to know about buying a new air conditioner.
1. Price of a New Air Conditioner
Typically price is the main factor when deciding if you are going to purchase a new air conditioning unit or not. An AC unit may be cheaper if you’re just adding a new AC, but it could be even greater if you decide to replace your furnace at the same time or if you have a different heating source. Getting an air conditioning unit is an investment in your home, but there are so many benefits of air conditioning it is usually worth the cost. If you’re worried about cost there are companies out there who can do it for cheaper. Of course, there will always be cheaper companies. But in that case you get what you pay for and there may be some trade offs for that less expensive ticket. Cheaper is not always better. When making such a huge purchase such as this, you want a reliable, energy-efficient system that will last you for years. And years. And years to come. We get that question a lot. “How much is a new A/C?” And while we can most certainly give a ballpark, it is a difficult question to answer. Because asking the price of an air conditioner is like asking how much a new car might cost, or maybe how much a home might cost. Truth of the matter is that it depends. For an air conditioner (and a new car), it depends on the brand. You won’t pay the same price for a KIA that you would a Porsche. For a home, location, size, and other factors play into how much it might cost. But that is why we have consultants! To make buying a new air conditioner as stress-free as possible, and to give you the best and most accurate price quote before installation.
2. Picking the Best HVAC Contractor
Next you want to focus on the best HVAC contractor you can find. We hear Brennan is pretty great… OK, so maybe we’re biased. What we tell all of our customers is to check their online presence. With so much of our world moving online, its not only important to provide quality service and products, but also to have a strong online presence that makes you stand out from your competitors. The best way to do this is to hop online and Google your potential HVAC contractor. If they have a low review score on Google, they might not be your best bet, but also make sure to check the number of reviews. A company can look great with 3 five-star ratings, but wouldn’t a company look even better with over 500 reviews from happy customers? Choosing the right HVAC contractor can make all the difference and might even be the most important decision you’ll make throughout this process. You want someone you can trust, and someone who cares. That is very important when choosing the right HVAC contractor for all your heating and cooling needs!
3. Choosing SEER Values
What? What’s SEER? First off, SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is the energy efficiency rating for air conditioners. If you’re looking for a higher efficiency unit, then you’re going to want to look at a higher SEER. The minimum SEER requirement in Washington State is 13 but the highest SEER is 21. In a state where it’s in the “higher temperatures” maybe thirty days out of the year, a 21 isn’t usually necessary. Maybe if we were in Arizona…
4. Selecting the Proper Size of Air Conditioner
When selecting the proper size of air conditioner for your home know that this can be a complex process. There really isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question because it really depends on your home. You may hear your contractor refer to the ‘tonnage’ of the air conditioner. No, this does not refer to the weight of the air conditioner. A ‘ton’ is a measurement used in describing an air conditioners’ cooling power. A two-ton air conditioner is more powerful than a one-ton air conditioner, but this doesn’t always mean that bigger is always better. Many elements go into determining the appropriate size of air conditioner for your home like location, square footage, and insulation. Overwhelmed yet? To determine the best size of air conditioner for your home, your representative will most likely have to access all parts of your home, especially the attic and basement. Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning has professional and highly-trained representatives that can help you choose the right size for your home. Our free energy consultation form is here.
In all, there is a lot to know about purchasing a new air conditioner. Want to know the truth? Talk to a professional in your area, someone who can help you better understand air conditioning and what all goes into the sales and installation process. Not only talk to them, but hire them. A lot of times, people want to just do it themselves. DIY projects involving anything HVAC can be dangerous and even potentially life threatening if not done right. See our Love Your Furnace: The Importance of Furnace Maintenance blog for more information on this.
Choose Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning
Since 1987, Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning has served tens of thousands of happy customers in the Puget Sound region. All of our service technicians are factory-trained and certified which is just one of many reasons why you should choose Brennan. We offer general maintenance’s for air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, tankless water heaters, and other products. Brennan is an award-winning Seattle heating and air conditioning contractor. Contact us today!
