Your old air conditioning system is no longer able to do its job, and air conditioning repair in Vancouver, WA won’t rescue it because the repair would cost too much compared to purchasing a new system.
So what’s the next step? Although fall has already started, you don’t want to go long without a working air conditioner in your home, since hot weather can still crop up. Fall is also a good time to leap onto a major AC upgrade because it’s usually easier to schedule the service. You can start right now by finding a new air conditioner and we’re here to help.
First, do you want a standard central AC or a heat pump?
You may not want to have a new air conditioner installed at all but instead opt for a heat pump. A heat pump is similar to an air conditioner and operates in an almost identical fashion, so it’s not a difficult change to make when you work with professionals. What is different about a heat pump is that it can also operate as a heating system.
For a heat pump to be an effective replacement for your AC, you also have to replace your current heater. If you think your current electric furnace is also ready to be replaced, then a heat pump should be at the top of your list for a new installation.
How large an air conditioning system do you need?
When we talk about an air conditioner’s size, we aren’t referring to how much physical space it takes up but how much cooling capacity it has. Your first instinct might be to say, “Oh, I want as powerful an AC as I can afford!” That might make sense initially—but sizing an air conditioner is tricky. An air conditioner that is too powerful for the space it is supposed to cool will become a massive energy-waster that will wear down too fast and have a short life.
You need to find a central AC with the right amount of cooling output (measured in “tons,” where one ton equals 12,000 BTUs of heat removed from a space per hour) to keep your house comfortable while not wasting energy.
How do you find the right-sized AC? With the assistance of professionals. To size an air conditioner, we will do a load calculation for your house to determine its specific cooling requirements. We’ll then help you choose an AC with the right tonnage for the job.
Are you interested in a high-efficiency AC?
Standard efficiency air conditioners have a SEER rating of 15, which is the minimal requirement for the ENERGY STAR label. (We don’t recommend purchasing any equipment that isn’t ENERGY STAR-approved.) There are also special high-efficiency ACs with features such as variable-speed fans and inverter technology that have SEER of 20 or above. These systems are more expensive, but they can also save money in the long-term.
High SEER isn’t a guarantee of savings, so please work closely with our technicians to find a system that meets your requirements and will do what you need from it.
Let Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning help you find the best new AC for your future comfort. Connecting people to Comfort!