13 Things to Consider Before Replacing Your AC Unit
June 28, 2024
Summer is right around the corner, and when that toasty weather arrives, it’ll be imperative to have a healthy air conditioner in your home. However, if you’re having a new AC unit installed—or especially if you’re installing one yourself—you need to make sure you’re approaching the process cautiously and diligently. There are quite a few costly and frustrating mistakes that homeowners tend to make when having a new cooling system added to their homes. These errors can result in wasted money, household discomfort, and potentially even safety hazards. Fortunately, though, these blunders are easily avoidable if you know what you’re doing.
Whether you have a small, mid-sized, or large house, it’s crucial that you select an AC unit of the appropriate size. If the system you purchase is either too large or too small for your home, it can result in a variety of frustrating issues. For example, if your air conditioner is too big, there’s a good chance it will experience short cycling, ineffective humidity control, and even unpleasant temperature changes. On the other hand, having an AC unit that’s too small may be even more of a hassle. For one thing, it won’t be powerful enough to keep your home cool when the weather heats up. Additionally, the appliance’s energy efficiency will suffer, and it will be more likely to malfunction or break down.
The good news is that if you hire qualified HVAC professionals, they’ll be able to help you select the perfect size air conditioner for your home. They can inspect your household and take the necessary measurements to ensure that no mistakes are made.
Although many people don’t realize it, where you place your thermostat can be quite impactful on your comfort. Modern thermostats work by measuring the nearby temperature and using that reading to instruct the heating and cooling systems. So, if you want your AC unit to consistently keep your home comfortable, you’ll want to place your thermostat somewhere with temperatures that accurately reflect your home’s climate. For example, if you place your thermostat in the path of direct sunlight, it will frequently think your house is hotter than it actually is. As a result, your air conditioner will be cycling much more often than what’s necessary, and you and your family will be uncomfortable.
Ideally, you should put your thermostat somewhere away from windows, doorways, and air vents. It’s also a good idea to place it somewhere near the middle of your home, as that will typically be an area with fairly consistent temperatures.
Your air conditioner needs refrigerant to do its job, and adding some is an important step of the process when installing a new unit. Unfortunately, though, many homeowners and inexperienced technicians make the mistake of adding too much. Introducing too much chemical refrigerant can not only lead to the AC unit having poor energy efficiency, but it can also cause the compressor to malfunction and do significant damage to the appliance. If you’re adding refrigerant to your new air conditioner, be sure to carefully follow the guidelines for doing so. There will be a very specific amount that’s necessary for healthy AC operation, and you’ll want to match that amount as precisely as possible.
The cost of living is getting more and more expensive, and when making any type of purchase, it can be tempting to go with the least expensive option. However, when you’re investing in a new air conditioner, you may want to avoid going with the cheapest possible system. For example, if you encounter an AC unit that’s priced considerably lower than other models, you should typically view that as a red flag. Oftentimes, when an appliance is unusually cheap, that’s a warning sign that it may be made from low-quality parts or built by a company that cuts corners. By paying a little bit more, you can have the peace of mind that you’re purchasing a quality air conditioning unit.
Like with most purchases in life, you tend to get what you pay for when you buy a new air conditioner. Even if you save money by purchasing a low-end AC unit, there’s a good chance that you’ll lose money in the long run due to poor energy efficiency or frequently needing repairs. That said, you may not have the luxury of purchasing a high-end system, and that’s okay. If you can, though, try to avoid selecting one that’s truly at the bottom of the pricing totem pole.
If you want to be absolutely certain that your new air conditioner is installed properly, your best bet is to hire a reputable HVAC contractor to handle the job. As long as you have the new system installed by AC technicians who are licensed, certified, and insured, you should be able to enjoy complete peace of mind. When you’re choosing a contractor to work with, check their reputation and ask them a few upfront questions. If they have a solid reputation and are able to answer your queries thoroughly and with confidence, then you’ll know that they’re a good choice to handle your AC installation.
If you leave the job to an unreliable or inexperienced contractor, many different things can go wrong. For one, they may install the system incorrectly. When that happens, you’ll not only be at risk for comfort issues, but you may also end up having to spend a bunch of money fixing the mistakes they made. In some cases, an improperly installed air conditioner may even cause water damage or electrical problems in your household. Ultimately, it’s worth the investment to go with skilled, reputable installation professionals. In the long run, you’ll be very glad that you did.
Our team of AC technicians have all the tools and knowledge to install air conditioning systems of all sizes for homeowners. Whether you’re interested in a central AC unit or ductless system, you can count on our team for quality air-conditioning installation. Contact us today at (734) 285-1809 to speak with one of our specialists. If you need to schedule an appointment, please use our online form here!
Locally owned and operated in Southgate, MI since 1955, Flo-Aire Heating, Cooling & Electrical is one of the top heating & cooling companies in Southeast Michigan. Flo-Aire provides residential, commercial and industrial HVAC services throughout all of Metro Detroit.
