Personalized Home AC Installation
The first step in any AC installation is assessing your cooling needs. If you install an air conditioner that’s too big or too small, you will lose energy efficiency and cause excessive wear on the system. Our technicians achieve optimal sizing through a load calculation. They start with your home’s unique floor plan and square footage. They also consider other factors that affect your cooling needs, such as your building’s envelope, local climate, and the amount of direct sunlight your home receives. That will tell us the cooling output needed, which the industry in the U.S. measures in either tons or BTUs.
Once you know the cooling output, you can explore specific features. This is where you can start considering energy efficiency. Options, such as variable speed motors and zoning, can reduce the amount of electricity the system uses.
The industry uses the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) to measure AC performance. The higher the rating, the less electricity the AC uses. High-SEER ACs cost more. Still, you can offset that through lower operating costs and incentives. If an AC has a high enough SEER rating, the U.S. EPA awards it the ENERGY STAR label. That certification is a key requirement of most rebates, tax credits, and other incentives.
A common question is whether you need new ducts installed. Most customers don’t, as they can use their existing ducts. Even if you have duct problems, we can likely repair them. Our team can replace mounting hardware, panels, and even entire duct sections. There’s also duct sealing, which can reduce air leakage from as high as 40% to a minimal level.
Another common question is whether noise output is a concern. It depends on the home and the location of the installation. AC units generally range from 55 to 70 decibels (dB). At the lower end, AC units are as quiet as a whisper. At the upper end, they can be quite noisy. Most homeowners won’t have issues at around 60 dB. Installers can also take additional measures to reduce noise, such as installing extra padding.
Another consideration for your AC installation is a smart thermostat. Through scheduling alone, it can lower annual cooling costs by up to 10%. Smart thermostats offer remote access and control, and often include additional features. Geofencing is a user-friendly alternative to scheduling. You can also save with energy monitoring and reporting features.
There are many benefits to a new air conditioning installation.
- Energy incentives
- Quieter operation
- Reduced cooling costs
- Better indoor air quality
- Smaller household carbon footprint