The new air conditioner buying guide
Buying an air conditioner is a big decision that you’ll likely be living with for many years. There are a lot of fine points and things to watch out for that the average homeowner isn’t aware of.
A good installer like Home Service Plus® (HSP) will hold an in-home consultation with you to help you decide and to answer any questions you have. But what are the right questions to ask?
Below you’ll find a breakdown of the various considerations of the air conditioner buying process, followed by sample questions to ask your sales rep.
Armed with these tips, you’ll be able to narrow the wide world of AC types, brands and models down to the perfect choice for your home.
Which type of AC is right for you
Central AC
Two-thirds of American homes that use air conditioning use central AC units,
according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), making this type of AC system the most common by far. “Central air conditioning” can mean either a split system or a heat pump.
Split systems and heat pumps both comprise an indoor and an outdoor unit that work together to push cool air around your home through a system of ducts. The key difference is that unless it’s paired with a furnace, a split system only cools, while a heat pump can both cool and warm your home. It does this by transferring heat between indoor and outdoor air.
There is a third type of central air conditioning known as a packaged unit, in which there is only an outdoor unit, no indoor unit. However, these are typically installed in situations when indoor space is limited, such as mobile homes.
Central air conditioning cools the entire home, but it requires a lot of energy to do so. For homeowners who desire more targeted cooling, lower electricity usage or who don’t have existing ductwork, room air conditioners are an alternative and the second-most popular category of air conditioner.
Room AC
Room air conditioners include ductless mini-splits, window units, and portable units. Ductless systems are extremely energy-efficient that can be installed in a wide variety of living spaces and configurations to cool a single room or up to as many as nine. Window and portable AC’s are relatively inexpensive to purchase, are not nearly as energy efficient as a ductless system and require a partially open window to operate, creating security concerns.
As the name implies, portable ACs are able to be moved from room to room as needed via caster wheels on the bottom. They are roughly the size of filing cabinets, although they can weigh upwards of 80 pounds and therefore may not be as portable as desired.
Some portable air conditioners are able to provide both heating and cooling, but regardless, all portable units generate heat that has to be vented. Most models come with a window kit for venting hot air outside. They also have to be manually drained of condensation periodically, unless the unit has an automatic drain feature.
Window air conditioners have been a go-to cooling method for decades. Many homeowners will be able to install a window unit themselves, which involves little more than placing it in the window, fastening it in place and plugging it into an outlet. Like portable units, many window units can heat and cool the room for year-round use. And though they’re not classified as “portable,” window units can be uninstalled and reinstalled somewhere else with minimal effort.
Ductless mini-splits are a slightly more complex type of room air conditioner that still delivers excellent energy efficiency and the ability to scale up the number of conditioned rooms to rival central ACs. These systems connect an outdoor unit to one (“single-zone”) or several (“multi-zone”) wall mounted indoor units via refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring; no ductwork is needed. They can deliver heating and cooling and be sized to work with any ceiling height or room configuration.
The appropriate size
Proper sizing will take into consideration a number of factors, including:
- room size
- room location and type
- the size and number of windows
- the humidity level based on your climate
- your wall insulation and the temperature difference between the inside and outside
- the typical number of room occupants
- flooring material
…and more. The gold standard for proper sizing is called a
Manual J Residential Load Calculation, the professional method required by national building codes and most state and local jurisdictions. This is how our trained professionals at HSP determine the proper sizing of equipment.
Your budget parameters
A new central or ductless AC system is a big ticket item. As you budget for it, you’ll need to factor in not just the purchase amount but the cost to install it. If you previously have not had air conditioning, you’ll also need to prepare for the higher energy costs, as well as the cost to maintain the system.
Because of the high costs, HVAC financing is commonly offered by both manufacturers and contractors. There is even a class of
personal loans dedicated to the purchase.
Here at HSP, we offer several financing options for customers with approved credit.
The timing of your purchase: Avoid high season
Don't wait until your AC unit fails during the busy summer months. Installation wait times can be 1-4 weeks and you don't want to be without your AC when it's hot outside.
If your system is older and has had repair issues in the past, it's best to proactively replace it before it gets hot out.
What warranty coverage you can expect
You will have access to two types of warranty coverage at no added expense: a manufacturer’s warranty and an installer’s warranty.
The manufacturer may warranty parts for anywhere from one year to the lifetime of the unit, depending on the part, such as the compressor. It may also cover replacement of the unit for a period of time, and may offer the option to purchase an extended warranty that could cover not just new parts but the labor to install them if something breaks, for a longer period of time than the base warranty.
The manufacturer's warranty varies by brand, often dramatically and frequently based on whether you as the homeowner register the unit within two or three months of installation. Some will slash your coverage window in half if you don’t register.
The installer’s warranty typically lasts for one year and covers defects in the installation process. This means that if a problem arises with the unit that was a result of the workmanship, rather than the equipment itself, your installer should come and remedy the situation at no cost to you.
HSP offers both parts and labor warranties. These vary from five years to 12 years depending on the equipment. We handle all registration with the manufacturer for you.
How energy efficient it is
As the largest consumer of electricity in most homes, how efficient an air conditioner is will have a big impact on your utility bills.
High-efficiency models are likely to be more expensive upfront but able to negate the cost difference through energy savings after a few years.
The most common way to evaluate the energy efficiency of an air conditioner is called SEER2, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.
To derive a unit’s SEER, an air conditioner is lab tested at a variety of outside temperatures to measure its energy efficiency throughout a cooling season. As of January 1, 2023,
federal law requires new models to be at least 13.4 SEER2, although they range as high as 26.
EER2, or Energy Efficiency Rating, is another way to measure energy efficiency. In this case, dividing the input electrical power in watts by the unit’s Btu capacity produces the EER at controlled settings: a constant outdoor temperature of 95 degrees, a constant inside temperature of 80 degrees and a humidity level of 50%.
As with SEER2, the higher the EER2, the better the efficiency and the less electricity they consume.
Choosing a reliable AC installer
An improperly installed air conditioner could lead to poor performance, increased electric bills, damage to the equipment and more. And if there were problems with the installation, they may represent an unethical or fly-by-night installer that is hard or impossible to reach for repairs later. That’s why selecting a capable installer from the get-go is very important.
Online ratings can be a mixed bag when it comes to developing an impression of an HVAC company, as customers may be more likely to post reviews when they’re negative. Word-of-mouth recommendations from family, friends or neighbors may be more valuable.
You could also use this guide to help you craft your own opinion first-hand when you call a potential installer. Familiarity with the details included here–as well as willingness to take the time to answer your questions in a friendly manner–could be signs you will have a positive experience in hiring them.
How you plan to maintain your AC
Air conditioners should be serviced once per year–preferably shortly after winter breaks–to have the refrigerant levels, filters, thermostat, drain pan, ductwork, condensate line and other parts checked and cleaned, if applicable.
Many installers will offer maintenance programs as part of their business, which can help you keep your equipment operating in optimal condition.
What to ask an AC sales rep
Is my home best structured for central AC or a ductless unit?
Will you be performing a Manual J load calculation?
What kind of financing options are available?
What is your warranty on the installation?
Will you be registering my equipment with the manufacturer?
Have you given me all the included documentation (owner’s manual, warranty information, etc.)?
What SEER rating do you recommend for my budget?
Since air conditioners don’t do much to improve indoor air, is there a way to improve my home’s air quality?
What kind of maintenance service do you offer?
Chill out with a new air conditioner from HSP
Home Service Plus sells and installs premium-quality AC units for all types of homes. Our in-depth in-home consultation helps us deliver air conditioners in the perfect size, type, energy efficiency and cost range for our customers.
