Now that the weather is heating up, you may be wondering whether your aging air conditioner will be able to keep up with your family’s needs this summer. The average AC lasts 10-15 years. After that, it no longer runs as efficiently as it once did, and it may not be able to keep your home as comfortable as it used to.

If you’ve made the decision to purchase a replacement air conditioner, you understand already that it’s not an investment that you take lightly. There are a lot of things to consider, including the size of the new AC, its cost, and how efficiently it will be able to keep your home cool — and keep your energy bills down.

To help you with your buying decision, we’ve put together tips focused on those three specific considerations. Read on to learn more.

Tip #1: Size of your replacement air conditioner

Many people mistakenly believe that bigger is always better when it comes to the size of the air conditioning system they need for their home. However, if you purchase and install an AC that’s larger than what your home really needs, then it will be cycling on and off more often than it should, and will also likely not be running long enough to reduce the humidity levels inside your home.

In turn, this could mean a warm, humid, and uncomfortable home as well as higher energy bills during the cooling season. On the other side of the coin, if you purchase a replacement air conditioner that’s too small for your needs, then it may be running nearly constantly in order to try keeping up with the temperature set on your thermostat.

Tip #2: Cost of a new AC

When it comes to purchasing a new air conditioner, you want to get the most bang for your buck. You don’t want to simply choose the cheapest air conditioner you can find, as it may not be what your family needs in order to stay cool this summer. Likewise, the most expensive option may not be suitable for your home, either.

There are many aspects that go into the overall cost of a replacement air conditioner, and these include things like its size (often in a BTU rating) and its SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). SEER is basically a measure of how efficient the unit will be at cooling a home. The higher the SEER, the more expensive it likely will be.

Tip #3: Efficiency with your new air conditioning system

And, of course, you want to consider how efficient a potential replacement AC will be at cooling your home. As mentioned above, the SEER rating of a cooling system will tell you how efficient the unit was designed to be. New air conditioners are required to have a SEER of at least 14. However, many cooling professionals will recommend that you choose a new unit that has a SEER of 21 or higher.

When the time comes to purchase a replacement air conditioner for your home, work with a cooling professional. He or she will be able to help you determine the perfect size AC for your family’s cooling needs — all without breaking the bank. They will be able to advise you as to the best SEER rating and cooling capacity for your family’s needs. They will also be able to provide installation services for the new unit and get your old one hauled away.

Protect your new AC

Once you have the new air conditioner installed, consider protecting it with our affordable Cooling Maintenance and Cooling Repair plans. These plans will help you get the most out of your new AC and ensure that it continues running efficiently for many years to come.

Visit us online and enter your ZIP code to see if these plans are available in your area.