Choosing the right air conditioner

Choosing the right air conditioning for your home or office can seem to be a daunting task. Like choosing a vehicle, the type and brand of air conditioner can mean the difference between the life span and the cost of your electricity bill. The size of your home is the most important factor when considering your new air conditioning unit.


Tonnage is the term used in the Air Conditioning world to measure the size of a unit. A common question is "does the unit actually weigh a ton or 2.5 tons or 3 tons?" The short answer is no. In layman's terms tonnage for air conditioners is the amount of cooling capacity for a specific unit. One ton of cooling is the amount of heat needed to melt one ton of ice in a 24 hour period. Don't get wrapped up in the tonnage of the unit as it is a specific calculation based on the size of your home.

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Air Conditioner manufacturing has changed over the past 20 years, and like the rest of the country has gone green to an extent. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio more commonly known as the SEER in the Air Conditioning industry is energy efficiency of the unit. In 2006 the Federal standards changed for new Air Conditioning units. New units can have a minimum of a 13 SEER rating, and some units carry upwards to a 23 SEER rating! In the Florida heat a 13 SEER system will cost you more to operate than a higher rated SEER system.


Tax rebates are a huge benefit of purchasing a higher SEER rated unit. Some tax rebates can be as high as $500 depending on the specific unit. The key to purchasing any unit is doing some quick research before buying. And like any major investment for your home, many times you will get what you pay for. It may mean more upfront cost to purchase a more expensive unit, however in the long run the money saved on your energy bill will far outweigh the cost of the more expensive units.


While these tips are a general guideline to choosing the right Air Conditioning for your home, it is best left to an expert in the field to help you in making the right choice for your Air Conditioning needs.

Information provided by: Preferred Services