The chances are that your air conditioner will breakdown at the most inconvenient time during the peak of summer. Instead of rushing to buy the first replacement unit you find, you should slow down and be certain that you are purchasing the correct unit for your home. Here are 2 tips to consider when purchasing a new air conditioner.

Selecting The Correct Size

A common mistake that homeowners make is purchasing an air conditioner that is the incorrect size. A unit that is too small will have troubles cooling down your house, causing the unit to run much more than it needs to be.

A unit that is too big will not be able to effectively remove moisture from the air inside your home. This is because the air conditioner will reach your set temperature quickly, but an air conditioner needs to run for a while to remove moisture in the air to make the air feel comfortable. Large units also see more wear and tear from frequently turning on and off.

If you are not sure how large of a unit to get for your house, have a professional HVAC contractor come out to your house and size it for you. They consider factors such as overall square footage, the amount of insulation you have, the kind of windows that are installed, the height of your ceilings, and where vents are placed.

Understanding The Efficiency Ratings

When you start shopping around, you'll notice two ratings on the big yellow sticker attached to each air conditioner.

• SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio)
• EER (energy efficiency ratio)

Always remember that these numbers are used to rate energy efficiency, so a larger number will be best. The EER number is for if the air conditioner was used in a climate that had a consistent temperature throughout the entire year. SEER uses a more realistic climate with fluctuating temperatures.

Keep in mind that there are minimum requirements for SEER And EER in some states. For example, Arizona has a minimum requirement of 12.2 rating for EER and a 14 rating for SEER. You can use these two numbers as a starting point, knowing that they are the least energy efficient units out there. 

Now that you have an understanding of these 2 tips regarding the purchase of air conditioners, you should have no problem picking a good one to be installed in your home.