18 Mar Replacing Your AC Unit

With the heat of mid-summer upon us, suffering through a sudden loss of your air conditioning system in your home or business represents a costly and timely event. 

Despite annual tune-ups and maintenance, overuse, invasive rodents and other factors often cause unforeseen problems in older units. The lifespan of most systems ranges from 10 to 14 years — meaning that at some point, you may find yourself in the market for a new AC system when you least expect it. 

Replacing your AC system involves many factors, including:

1. Understand the size needed: When replacing an air conditioning unit, take into consideration the renovations or changes that have occurred to your property. Fixed windows, new insulation and any factor that affects the amount of AC needed to cool your home or building. This info will help you determine the size unit you need
   
2. Choose your compressor wisely: A compressor supplies cold air to your air conditioning system. Compressors come in two different varieties: single stage and two stage. Single stage compressors run at high speed only, costing more by running continuous cold air into a room. Two stage compressors work in varying cycles — running from low to high frequency cold air — determining if a room needs less cold air to maintain the same temperature.
3. Know your SEER: SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. According to the US Department of Energy, the standard for this ratio should fall between 14 and 20. This means your SEER should be running within this range to reduce costs and to minimize any environmental affects.
4. Maintenance required: After initially replacing your unit, continue annual maintenance on the unit to ensure that air is flowing freely and cleanly. If the unit’s health is not kept up, its overall performance will begin to falter, resulting in an air conditioning unit that needs replacing much sooner than projected.
5. Know who to call: When the time comes to replace your AC system, the best person to consult is a professional who understands these factors and can advise you of the best option for your home or building.

For more information on replacing your AC system  from the experts at Pro-Tech Heating & Cooling, please contact us here or call us directly at 616.453.5000.