What to Consider When Choosing an Air Conditioner

The right air conditioner can help you save energy and increase the value of your Fayetteville, Georgia, home. If your HVAC system is more than a decade old or you’re building a new home, you can save money and prevent inconvenient breakdowns. When choosing an air conditioner, consider its size, type, costs, and features.

Size

If your HVAC system isn’t the right size, it will have to work harder to keep you and your family comfortable. Your utility bills will be higher, and increased wear could shorten your system’s life. An oversized air conditioner will turn on and off too often, causing temperature fluctuations and increasing your house’s humidity. A unit that’s too small won’t be able to bring your home to the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat, so it will work continuously.

Fortunately, you can prevent these problems by contacting the experts at Trinity Air Inc. Heating and Air Conditioning. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America, of which Trinity Air is a member, use Manual J, also called the Residential Load Calculation, to find the perfect size for your system. Special software considers the climate, your insulation, the amount of shade, the number and size of your windows, and more.

Type

Many types of HVAC systems are available. A heat pump transfers heat away from your home like an air conditioner does, but it can reverse its flow in winter to heat your home instead of cooling it. That way, you won’t need a separate furnace. Geothermal heat pumps exchange heat with a network of pipes filled with water or refrigerant and the ground or a body of water. Since the temperature underground and underwater stays constant all year, it’s more efficient than exchanging heat with the outdoor air.

Ductless systems have an outdoor unit and one or more indoor air handling units, and they’re connected by a small conduit for refrigerant instead of ductwork. You won’t have to worry about leaks or pests in your ductwork, and your system won’t have to waste energy moving conditioned air through ducts. Ductless packaged systems are available as well. You can choose a wall-mounted or a ceiling unit. The indoor and outdoor units come in one casing, so they need fewer parts and use less energy.

Costs

Some types of air conditioners are more expensive and difficult to install than others. Geothermal systems can last for more than half a century and are more expensive as expected. Digging holes for the pipes could destroy your landscaping and take weeks. Ductless systems work well for renovations because you can avoid spending the time and money to construct ductwork. A packaged system can also help you save on installation costs. More efficient HVAC units are more expensive, but they can save you considerable energy costs in the long run.

Features

A zoning system will let you control the temperatures of different areas or zones independently. That way, everyone can set a temperature that’s comfortable for the area they use most. You can also avoid heating or cooling unoccupied rooms. You can use a system with dampers in the ductwork to send air where it’s needed most, or you can use a ductless system with more than one indoor unit. There’s a thermostat in each zone that can also be controlled with a central console or a remote.

With a programmable thermostat, you can set your air conditioner to turn itself down when you leave for work or go to bed and then return to a comfortable temperature when you wake up or come home. Many also include humidity monitors and indoor air quality monitors. A smart thermostat uses motion sensors to learn your routine so that you won’t have to program it. You can control many models from your computer or smartphone, and you can get electronic notifications about your system’s power use and reminders for maintenance.

Trinity Air Inc. Heating & Air Conditioning has more than 25 years of HVAC installation and service experience. We can help you choose and install the best air conditioner for your home. Call us anytime at (770) 691-5394 for outstanding, friendly service from our expert technicians.

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