Most heating and air salespeople will tell every customer they need to install an ultra high efficiency (and ultra-expensive) central air conditioning unit. The truth is, very few people actually need such a high-end unit. Even many homeowners who ultimately decide to install a 16 SEER (or higher) air conditioner don’t technically need such an ultra efficient unit to cool their homes comfortably. They install them because other considerations can sometimes make upgrading beyond a basic model a no-brainer financially, Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against ultra high efficiency air conditioners. Quite the contrary, I think they’re fantastic. What I am against is salespeople misleading customers in order to sell more expensive equipment just so they can earn higher commissions. So I’d like to arm you with the information that will help you decide 2 things for yourself… Let’s start with this basic premise… when sized correctly, even the most basic 13 SEER air conditioning unit will cool your home.

Despite what any salesperson tells you, a 13 SEER unit will cool just about any home comfortably.This may come as a surprise, but installing a new air conditioner is not high on most people's list of fun ways to spend money. So why not install the air conditioner that makes the most sense for you and your home financially? People who live in larger homes and older homes, especially if they have 2-story ceilings or lots of windows, will usually find it very expensive to keep their home comfortable during the summer. If your utility bills are high enough, you might want to consider a 16+ SEER ac unit. This is especially true if you are replacing your old air conditioner and furnace at the same time so you can potentially qualify for a rebate from Xcel Energy. A 16 SEER air conditioner is approximately 20% more efficient than a basic 13 SEER unit. A 17 SEER model would be about 30% more efficient than a basic 13 SEER unit, so you can expect to lower your summertime utility bills a good bit by upgrading to one of these ultra high-efficiency air conditioners.

it’s worth spending the few minutes it takes to do a rough calculation to see how long it will take to recoup back the additional money you spend on an ultra high efficiency air conditioner. Just multiply the increase in energy efficiency (use .20 for a 20% increase for example) amount of your average summertime utility bill. Then multiply the amount you would expect to save each month during the summer by 4. (4 being the number of months that are hot enough to need your air conditioner every day here in Denver) That will give you a good estimate of your annual utility bill savings with a higher efficiency air conditioner. Say you would save about $300/year by installing a 16 SEER unit instead of a 13 SEER. If the cost difference after any Xcel Energy rebates is $1,500, it would take you 5 years to recover the additional cost. That’s a very reasonable time frame, and certainly worth installing the upgraded unit. If you’re just replacing your old air conditioner, you can qualify for the $500 Trade-In Rebate from Xcel to offset some of the cost of installing a more efficient unit.

If you’re replacing your old air conditioner a new furnace at the same time, you can potentially qualify for both the $500 Trade-In Rebate and the New Equipment Rebate from Xcel. used air handling unit for saleIt’s important to keep in mind that the amount of the New Equipment Rebate you’ll actually receive depends on the EER rating of your new system, so you should think of it as being eligible for ‘up to’ the amount listed.cost of commercial ac unit For example, even though the New Equipment Rebate for a 16 SEER air conditioner is listed as $500, the amount you’ll actually get back might only be $300, depending on how your new system rates out when tested for the EER.how to install outside ac unit If you can qualify for both the Trade-In Rebate and at least a portion of the New Equipment Rebate from Xcel, it’s definitely worth considering a more efficient unit.

If you’re looking to take advantage of a 0% Financing offer with an extended term (like 0% for 48 or 60 months), you will have to purchase a ‘qualifying system’ to get those terms. You can expect the 'qualifying system’ to include at least a 16 SEER air conditioner, and often times you’ll have to install a 17 SEER unit to qualify for the special financing. Don’t be surprised if you’ll also have to install a new variable-speed furnace at the same time to qualify for most of these financing promotions. Keep in mind that even 0% Interest financing isn’t necessarily free. There will always be an origination fee built into the price of any system you purchase using financing. Typically the origination cost of the financing will range from 10% for 24 Months up to as much 15 - 20% for 48 - 60 Months. So don’t automatically assume you’ll be coming out ahead by installing an ultra high efficiency air conditioner just so you can get 0% Financing with a longer term.

So if you don’t need to install a high-end ac unit to lower your utility bills, and you don’t need extended financing terms, buy a basic air conditioner if that’s all you you need instead.Choosing the correct size air conditioning unit is a frustrating and confusing proposition for many homeowners. Getting an air conditioning unit that is too big or too small can reduce your comfort, increase operating costs, decrease efficiency, and even lessen the lifespan of your unit. Even when you get price quotes from multiple companies, you will likely get recommendations and rationales for various size units. The following guidelines will give you important insight into the process of sizing air conditioning units. Your HVAC company will use a formula called the Manual J Residential Load Calculation to determine the optimal size for your air conditioning unit. This involves a rather complicated calculation using a number of variables, including: Your home’s construction materials.

The number of windows. The size of the rooms. Your home’s insulation levels. Or, click here to request a air conditioning replacement quote online. Fortunately, you can get a close approximation using a much simpler formula. You can get an estimate of the required tonnage of your air conditioner by dividing the square footage of your home by 600. Do not include the square footage of your basement or garage in the calculation. The following is an example: Square Footage of Home/Size of AC Unit 1,500 sq. ft./2.5 tons (1,500/600) 1,800 sq. ft./3.0 tons (1,800/600) 2,100 sq. ft./3.5 tons (2,100/600) 2,400 sq. ft./4.0 tons (2,400/600) Greater than 2,400 sq. ft./5.0 tons It is important to keep in mind that new, energy efficient homes may require a smaller unit depending on the home’s particular style, construction, and orientation. Your heating and air company will do the long-form load calculation to fine tune the size of your air conditioning unit;

however, your rough estimate should be within about one-half ton of the actual size. You should be wary if your heating and air company recommends a unit that is more than one-half ton smaller than your calculation. If this happens, you should advise the contractor to make sure there is sufficient air return for the extra cooling capacity. You should also ask for a written money-back guarantee in case you are not satisfied. Another way to determine the appropriate size air conditioner is to look at your existing unit. The unit’s capacity is coded into the model number of the unit. For example, if your air conditioner’s model number is CKL18-1, it is a 1.5-ton unit. The number 18 indicates that the unit is 18,000 BTUs. There are 12,000 BTUs in one ton; therefore, your unit is 1.5 tons. The following is a handy conversion guide: Number of BTUs/Number of Tons It is important to ensure that you are looking at your air conditioner’s model number and not the serial number.

Many homeowners make the mistake of getting an air conditioner that is too big for their home thinking that it will cool quicker or be more efficient. In fact, getting a unit that is too large will cause the system to short cycle. This means that the compressor will not run long enough to dehumidify your home. The unit will cycle on and off more often, which will reduce the life of your system and increase operating costs. Types of Central Air Conditioning Units When selecting a central air unit, you have the choice of installing the entire unit outside of the home or installing the compressor and condenser outdoors and the blower or evaporator indoors on the furnace. The split configuration is the most economical. This allows the furnace blower to deliver the cooled air throughout the house through your existing air duct system. If you opt for a window air conditioner over a central heat and air unit, the first step in selecting the right size unit is to determine the square footage of the area that you want to cool.