Tips for Edmonton Homeowners in Need of New Central Air Conditioning

Edmonton homes are in for a hot time this summer. Thankfully, air conditioning is available for homeowners hoping to keep themselves cool. With the help of local HVAC contractors like Capital Plumbing & Heating Ltd., you can finally replace your old AC unit with a new, energy-efficient cooling system so you won’t have to suffer through the summer heat. However, you’ll need to be smart in selecting the air conditioner for your home. Here are a few factors to consider to ensure you make the right choice.

Correct Size and Capacity

One of the key concerns that can affect your purchase is the size and cooling capacity of the air conditioning unit. Air conditioners come in a variety of sizes and their cooling capacity is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour and in tons. One BTU is equal to the energy needed to raise water temperature by a single Fahrenheit. 12,000 BTUs per hour is equal to one ton of capacity.

You’ll need to correctly estimate the capacity of your central air conditioner; too small a capacity means that it won’t be able to cool your home properly and too large a capacity means that the air in your home may become too humid and you’ll waste considerable energy. As a rule of thumb, you should get a ton of capacity for every 400 square feet—but that is not very accurate. Other factors can influence it like insulation and the room layout. That’s why it’s best to have a professional do the AC size and capacity estimation for precise results.

Look at Efficiency

The other thing that you will need to look at when buying an air conditioner is its efficiency. All air conditioning units are given a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). These days, if you want an efficient air conditioner, you’ll need to select a unit that has a rating of 14 or higher. As it is, you’ll want to buy the highest SEER rating that you can afford. The initial high cost will be balanced out by the savings in the energy bills.

Moisture Maintenance

Another feature that should be taken into consideration is how the AC system handles the moisture in your rooms. Humid air can make people uncomfortable; your air conditioner can help remove the excess moisture using various methods, but the main dehumidifying method is to have the air blown through the evaporator coils. This makes the water in the air condense.

Be comfortable in your own home and don’t worry about soaring energy bills with the right air conditioner. Consult your local HVAC expert on which system is the best to use for your household.

Capital Plumbing & Heating Ltd.

With over 20+ years of industry experience, Capital Plumbing offers the best in the business if you need expert plumbing, heating, cooling, or HVAC services in Edmonton that you can trust for the long term.