Practical Tips for Finding A Cost-Effective AC Unit
When you’re looking to get the best value for money and wish to cool your home efficiently, then it pays to learn a bit about what you’re buying. For instance, it’s incorrect to assume that all AC units are suitable for all room sizes. Also, not all brands are equal either.
To help avoid making a mistake when looking for one or more AC units, here are some practical tips for you.
AC and Air Filtration
The first thing to know is that it’s not all about the AC units themselves. Without proper filtration systems, they wouldn’t work at all.
Think of their replaceable air filters as consumables that have a fairly short useful life. It turns out this is the reality. When considering what system to get set up, it’s important to appreciate that the AC unit(s) will need periodic servicing, and the filters changed over too. This is part of the ongoing cost of ownership and should be clearly understood.
Why do we say this? Because failing to appreciate this fact leads to owners not changing their air filters. As a result, the AC units don’t work well, cost more to operate, and they get overworked and fail sooner. One of the better brands for air filters is Merv. Check out these from FilterBuy, a leading filter supply store online: https://filterbuy.com/merv-13-air-filters/. They’re extremely dependable.
Large vs. Small AC Units
AC units need to be properly sized for the space that they’ll be used in. It’s not a good idea to use a unit in one room and later relocate it to a larger or small space. This won’t work well at all. The BTU measurement is the power that an AC unit has. A good AC installer will calculate what BTU range is required for a room. They can then recommend different brands and models that fit this requirement.
The calculation is done this way to avoid choosing a cheaper unit but underpowering one (which will get worn out trying to continually cool the room ineffectively). An overpowered one will leave humidity hanging in the air after it’s powered itself off, so this is to be avoided too.
Select the Most Appropriate AC Unit Type
The right AC unit and type depends on your home’s requirements. Here are the three main ones:
Ceiling Cassette
A ceiling cassette is one that is installed on the ceiling pointing down to the room below. It can only be installed by a professional supplier due to the expertise required and the need to avoid mistakes.
This type of AC unit requires a unit on the exterior of the property that provides a way to vent the heat out of the home. Sometimes, these units also have heating capabilities.
Wall Split
The wall split type has a unit on the interior wall but not near the floor level and one on the opposite side to vent the heat out. It requires a professional team to come to install it too. It’s not uncommon to have this type of unit also provide heating.
Portable Units
A portable AC unit is movable into different rooms as required. It doesn’t usually require a team to install it. These tend to be less effective, but in a situation where access through walls or ceilings isn’t possible, then a portable unit is still better than relying on a standing fan.
Choose the Units Only with the Necessary Features
Once you know both the type of AC unit and the proper BTU capacity required for the space it’ll occupy, then you’ll be on the right track. Then it comes down to available features. Here, you’ll need to think about what features are must-haves and others that you don’t care about. This will help bring down the cost of the AC unit with the necessary BTUs.
Features to look out for include a remote, Eco mode, fan rotation and speed settings, temperature range, programmable timer, airflow control, and an Energy Star rating.
How Far Does Brand Matter?
The brand will partly affect the price that you’ll pay. We’d say that when you’re looking for value for money but also longevity, then you should avoid brands that aren’t respected in the marketplace. On the other hand, don’t considerably overpay for a popular brand if you don’t feel that you’re getting enough value there.
Look at the reviews of AC units online to educate yourself on the current differences between what various brands offer. This will help you to know when a model is less expensive because it’s less reliable (not just with fewer added features). It also avoids being sold a bad AC by an overeager salesperson in a store too.
With cost-effective units, don’t just look at models that are on sale or cheaper than the rest. Sometimes, there’s a good reason for discounting. Instead, decide what you need and don’t need, and which brands are worth the money. Then shop around to see what deals are available that fit your criteria.