Ten Tips to consider when Buying a New Air Conditioner

1. Why should I buy an air conditioner?

You should consider buying one if your current unit is old and you are worried about its reliability. Purchashing a new air conditioning unit can be a very good idea, if your old unit has an 8-EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) or less. But, if your old AC unit is broken...then you have no choice.


2. Which type of air conditioner do I need to buy?

There are four main types of air conditioners: whole house/central air units, window units, portable units and through the wall units.


3. What type of features do I need for my new air conditioner?

Your unit should have an ajustable thermostat, at least two cooling and two fan speeds, energy efficient setting (stops the fan when the unit is not cooling/running). It should also come equipped with an adjustable vent which permits the passage of air from one defined space to another, providing a means for selectively adjusting the amount of air flow. Also, an exhaust vent setting allowing fresh air to be introduced from outside. The filter should be set for easy access for removal and cleaning. You would most likely want a manufacturer's warranty of about 5 years.

Today some of the newer units being sold, have an electrostatic filter which either comes standard or as an option, here at AC Units Direct we have electrostatic filters avalible for purchase and custom sizing. What an electrostatic filter does is: remove extremely small particles from the air, using the force of an induced electrostatic charge. It can easily remove fine particulate matter such as dust and smoke from the air. An electrostatic filter is an exceptional feature for those with allergies, and own pets that live inside their home or office.


4. What is SEER? What is EER?

SEER, is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, its most common use is to measure the efficiency of a central air conditioner. "The HIGHER the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner"! Now technically speaking, SEER is a measure of equipment the total cooling of a central air conditioner or heat pump (in Btu) during a normal cooling season as compared to the total electrical energy input consumed during the same period.

EER, is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, it measures how efficient a particular air conditioning unit is. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit, and the less it will cost to run each year.


5. What cooling capacity do I need?

Cooling capacity is measured in BTU/hour (British Thermal Units per Hour). The higher the number, the more powerful the unit.
Use this system sizing calculator to determine the correct size system you need.


6. How much will my air conditioner cost to run?

Here's an example for you to follow and find out:


find out how much kWh are used each day = $0.15 or 1.5kW

then multiply the number of kilowatts used per day (1.5kW) by the number of hours you will have it running on, let just say 8 hours.

Here's the result:
1.5kW x 8h =12kWh

So 12kWh are used per day, next you find out how many kWh are used for 30 days, if 12kWh are used in 1 day then in 30 days you would use: 30 x 12kWh = 360kWh

If 1 kWh costs $0.15 then 360kWh cost 360 x 0.15 = $54.00

then it cost $54.00 to run the air conditioning unit for 8 hours a day for 30 thirty days.


7. How much does my electricity cost?

Technically, you should add the generation cost per kilowatt-hour to the delivery cost per kWh to get a true cost. However, many areas charge slightly different rates for different usage and have a surcharge for high usage during the summer months.


8. How do I calculate the payback?

Take the EER of your old unit. -1 from this EER for every 5 years of its age. Use the product guide to generate the annual cost for the old unit and the unit you want to buy. You may have to extrapolate if the figures are beyond the range of your chart. Subtract the two numbers to get the annual savings. Divide the purchase price by the annual savings to get the payback time. If it is less than double the warranty period, it's still probably a good buy.


9. Which AC Unit should I buy?

Buy the unit of the correct capacity and type that has the highest SEER and EER, if you can afford it.

Also follow these 3 tips:

- Read customer reviews and view rating services online
- Consult the manufacturer's site for the EER, BTU/hour and list price
- Check the manufacturer's site for rebates


10. Where should I buy my air conditioner?

Make sure the store is an Authorized Dealer (AC Units Direct is an Authorized Dealer). Buy it from AC Units Direct, we offer the lowest Wholesale prices on air conditioning units. Consider buying online, it is usually cheaper than buying it locally from an Air Conditioning contractor.

If you purchase it online or locally, have a certified professional install the unit, if not you will not be able to recieve the warranty for your product. Make sure the installer is licensed and insured.