With the high temperatures experienced on this continent, air conditioning is a vital survival tool, be it at home or the workplace. However, simply getting an AC system is not enough. You have to ensure that the air conditioner you choose is just right for your needs. To do that, you need to ask yourself four important questions. Read on to see what they are.
How many rooms need regular cooling?
Although your premises may be in dire need of cooling, sometimes the cooling is just needed in some parts of the house. If you just need one room cooled, think of getting a window mounted air conditioner. If you need several rooms cooled but not at the same time, a portable air conditioner can be ideal. You can set it up in any room you want, when you want.
If you need several rooms cooled at the same time, think of getting a split system. This AC system comes with multiple indoor units and each can cool several rooms to separate temperatures.
On the other hand, if you need comprehensive cooling in all areas of your home, get a ducted air conditioner. Though pricey, this system supplies cool air to all areas of your home through sealed ducts. What's more, you can control the amount of cool air supplied to each zone.
Do you need heating at certain times of the year?
If you live in parts of Australia where the winter months necessitate heating, get a reverse cycle air conditioner. This system can cool as well as heat your room. The good thing about this is that you do not need to take down your AC during winter; you also don't need to have a separate heater. Your reverse air cycle will do the work of both.
What size AC do you need?
Once you know the kind of air conditioner you need, find out the amount of cooling you need. The answer is a bit technical here and will depend on the size of the room, the nature of insulation, the number of people using the room, the climate of the area and even the amount of sunlight your house gets. Get an AC technician to calculate the heat load in your house. The more cooling you need, the more power output you need from your AC. This is indicated in kilowatts (KW).
How energy efficient is your AC?
Lastly, think about how efficient your AC is. This is best indicated by the SEER rating. The rating calculates the cooling output divided by the power input. The higher your AC's SEER rating, the more energy efficient it is. If your current AC is old, chances are that you can save on your energy costs by swapping it for a newer, higher SEER rated AC.
Once you go through this process, you'll be glad you took the time to evaluate your cooling needs before making an investment that will stay with you for years to come. More importantly, you'll be pleased to get just the right cooling you need without paying exorbitant energy bills.
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