Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Conditioning System

Building a new home requires a lot of planning and a lot of hard work. When the home is finished, it is to be a place you can be comfortable in. One of the main comfort providers of a home, although it is sometimes taken for granted, is the heating and air conditioning system.

When having to purchase a new heating and air conditioning system, there are several factors one must consider such as initial cost of the system, type and size of system, and the system's energy efficiency.

Air conditioning systems today have a greater energy efficiency rating than they used to. The SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio can tell you which units are more energy efficient. The higher the unit's SEER rating, the more energy efficient the unit is. Most of the latest models have a SEER rating of at least 13. When purchasing a unit, make sure that the unit has a high SEER rating. This will guarantee you savings on energy costs later on down the road.

There are many ac manufacturers on the market today. Some of the top brands that are known for their high-quality craftsmanship and dependability are names such as Carrier, Trane, Bryant, Rheem and Ruud. It is important to look around and find a good, dependable unit that is backed by a company name and reputation you can trust. With a well known company, you usually get a great warranty to back up their product. Plus, you can rest assured that if something does happen to go wrong, replacement parts will not be hard to find.

Although many people look at initial cost before these other factors, choosing an air conditioning system based on price alone could end up costing you a lot more in the years to come. Better know brands and those with higher SEER ratings will cost more initially, but will be less likely to cost a lot in repairs and will help lower you energy costs as well.

So, before you buy, consider your options. Shop around. Compare prices and brands and find a dependable HVAC contractor to install your unit of choice. The time you invest in making the right choice now will save you time, money and grief later on.