HVAC Smart Zero Home

How to Choose The Best AC For Cooling Your Home

By: Smart Zero Home

Share via:

If your Air Conditioner is over 10 years old, it is time to get a new one.

So what does one look for when purchasing a new AC? Following is the list of the most important features that your should consider when buying a new AC:

AC Efficiency: A higher efficiency AC will reduce your electricity bills, as long as the right efficiency is chosen. Remember highest efficiency is not always the best option as it can be more than what you need. Choose a higher but appropriate level of efficiency for your system based on your needs and requirements. Our automatic design software, specifies the most practical and cost effective HVAC cooling efficiency SEER for your home. AC’s efficiency is measured in SEER(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).

Size of the System: The size of the system should be driven by the efficiency of your home and your needs (size of the space that needs to be air conditioned). Bigger is not always better. A larger AC (than required) is a lot more expensive, and results in shorter AC cycles (switches on and off frequently). This can consumer a lot more electricity (every time the AC switches on, it draws more electricity than when running), and the AC may not run long enough to dehumidify the space sufficiently.

A larger than required AC size can result in shorter AC cycles, and an increase in humidity

Leakages: Ensure that there are no leakages in the home, to prevent the cool air loss (don’t let the cool air produced by your new AC escape to the outside). To stop leakages, the best course of action is to identify and seal them. See our post on adequate air-sealing.

Windows: Make sure that the windows are designed for your home. Windows with high solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) (especially on the West side), can neutralize the impact of a good AC through solar radiation heat gain from the harsh afternoon sun. Ensure window shading during hot summer afternoons. See our post on windows.

Here is our (SmartZeroHome.com) pick of the Top 5 ACs in the market.