What To Look For in an Air Conditioner?

The summer temperatures are getting high, and I am sure you are not the only one who can feel it. Do you already have an air conditioner at home? Or is it not good enough? Here are 5 tips for you on how to choose and what to look for when selecting the right air conditioner for your family.

1. How to Size an Air Conditioner?
   An air conditioner that is too small will have to run constantly, but having one that is too large in power could be energy inefficient. When it comes to size, it does not refer to how much the unit weighs, but rather how much energy is required to remove heat from your home in one hour. This unit of measurement is called British Thermal Unit (BTU).

2. How to Measure BTU?
   First, measure your room by multiplying the width by the length to get square footage, then multiply this number by 25 BTU to get the cooling size for that room. For example, a 100 sqft room size will require 2500 BTU. Our normal ceiling height is about 8ft tall and will need to add about 10% BTU. If the direction of your windows faces South or West most of the time, you should add another 10% capacity to cool down better. Each additional family member who sleeps in the same area should add at least 4000 BTU on top.

3. What Type of Air Conditioner?
   There are many different types of air conditioners: Portable, Window, Ductless Mini-Split, Through the Wall, and Central Air Conditioner. Each one of these or a combination of any of them can be used as long as it is energy efficient. For example, for a house that is wide and long with many rooms, a central system might not provide sufficient air conditioner power to every room, so you might need a portable or a mini-split for one of the rooms that is not getting enough power from the air ducts. A mini-split will be able to provide both hot and cold air throughout the year, but a portable unit will only provide cold air in the summer and can be easily stored away in the winter.

4. Do You Meet the Requirements for Installing the Air Conditioner You Want to Have?
   For condominiums and townhouses, owners will require HOA approval. You may be limited to what type of air conditioner can be installed within the community. For single-family owners, if you have no attic nor crawl space, then a central system with ducts will not be an option. Mini-splits are much more popular nowadays than window or wall units; however, you will also need to check your electric panel to see if you have enough power to support an extra system.

5. Where to Buy It?
   You will want to do your online research to compare all your options, go through reviews, and ask expert questions about the installation cost of a particular kind of air conditioner you are planning to purchase.

Once you have all the research done, you will be able to enjoy your air conditioner for the next 10-20 years. Cool!

 Author: Susanna Leung

Susanna Leung’s goal as a real estate professional with Haylen Group is to help her first-time home buying clients find that perfect home where their families can grow, thrive, and live their dreams in the United States. She applies her experience in remodeling, resource networking, negotiations, and advanced marketing to provide her clients with dedicated, full coverage service.