There are several brands and types of air conditioner units in the market. Modern ones claim that they offer cool and quiet technology, power saving features and, most of all, efficient cooling. However, how can you be sure that you are choosing the best air conditioner unit for your home?
First, the AC units size matters but it doesn't automatically mean that a large unit is better than a smaller one. The cooling power of air conditioners is rated by a number called BTU. The BTU or British Thermal Unit is the measure of heating or cooling capacity of a heat pump or an air conditioner. If you have a small room, at around 300 sq. ft. floor are, you just need a 5000 BTU air conditioner. A higher rating will be inefficient in terms of humidity and power consumption. Excess BTU can cause a slimy, humid atmosphere inside the room.
You can estimate the appropriate BTU depending on the room's size. A 600-700 sq. ft. room requires 10000-12000 BTUs. However, requirements can be higher when the room has more appliances. For example, you need to add 4000 BTUs if AC units will be used in the kitchen. Factors that affect BTU requirement include shading of the room and insulation of the walls. There are free charts in the internet for sizing your air conditioner.
Next, it is not just about cooling capacity. Another important factor is the energy efficiency of the appliance. The Department of Energy has set a standard called SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). The minimum SEER set by the government is 13. As of now, the highest SEER is 17. If your old AC has a rating below 13, it will be a good investment to buy one with a high SEER. The unit can be pricey but it will save you thousands per year on your electricity bill.
Centralized AC units can be a good choice if you have a large house with several wide rooms. One strong centralized unit is better than multiple small window type air cons. Centralized cooling is also less expensive to maintain.
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