Folsom Air Conditioner Insider Buying Guide
What Size Air Conditioner should my Home have installed?
Air conditioners size is measured in "tons" and while most think of a "ton" as the weight of something, "tons" in the heating and cooling industry refer to an air conditioners ability to cool 12,000 BTUs in an hour. In residential homes, air conditioners range from 1-ton to 5-ton units and are available in half-ton increments (2-ton, 2.5-ton, 3-ton, etc.) With the overview of how sizing works, here is a simple formula to get a ballpark estimate size for your home. ((House square footage times 25, divided by 12,000) -0.5) = estimated needed tons. To get an exact air conditioning size, consultant with a HVAC technician.
Here is an example with a 1,500 Sq. Foot home...
1. 1,500 X 25 = 37,500
2. 37,500/12,000 = 3.1
3. 1-0.5 = 2.6
In this example, your home would need a 2.5 or a 3 ton unit.
Efficiency with your Air Conditioner
Air conditioners are rated in SEER's (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.) Older central air conditioners can have a SEER range as low as 5 or 6 and newer units now get into the 20s. In California, the minimum SEER rating in 2015 is 14 SEER's. The higher the SEER rating your air conditioner has, the more efficient the air conditioner is. Ultimately, the higher your SEER rating, the more you will save on your electricity bill.
Brands, Brands and more Brands!
With many air conditioning brands available, homeowners often find it difficult to pick a brand. In our experience, we stick with three major brands: Lennox, Rheem and Carrier. All three brands manufacturer quality products and have industry leading engineers. The ease of installation, longevity of the equipment, warranty and high efficiency helps us decide our favorite brands.
Yes, Warranties Are Important!
If you go with one of our favorite brands (Lennox, Rheem and Carrier) you will receive a warranty with all of their equipment. Each manufacturer on our favorite list has a Parts Warranty of 10 years and the Compressor Warranty is either 10 or 12 years, dependent on models.
Not all Air Conditioner (HVAC) Companies are Equal...
In every industry, there are bad businesses, good businesses and great businesses. When choosing an HVAC contractor to install your central air conditioning unit, look for businesses that have been in business many years, are licensed with the state, have great customer service and aren't too pushy! If they're too pushy to make a deal, be wary.
Pricing matters, right?
Every industry has variances in pricing. In the HVAC industry, prices range based on where you live, the size of the unit you're replacing, efficiency level and permitting costs. We don't want to leave you hanging, so we will say, a range you can expect to pay for a new air conditioner is from $4,000 - $8,000 depending on the previously mentioned factors. For the best estimate, contact a trusted HVAC technician.
Air conditioners size is measured in "tons" and while most think of a "ton" as the weight of something, "tons" in the heating and cooling industry refer to an air conditioners ability to cool 12,000 BTUs in an hour. In residential homes, air conditioners range from 1-ton to 5-ton units and are available in half-ton increments (2-ton, 2.5-ton, 3-ton, etc.) With the overview of how sizing works, here is a simple formula to get a ballpark estimate size for your home. ((House square footage times 25, divided by 12,000) -0.5) = estimated needed tons. To get an exact air conditioning size, consultant with a HVAC technician.
Here is an example with a 1,500 Sq. Foot home...
1. 1,500 X 25 = 37,500
2. 37,500/12,000 = 3.1
3. 1-0.5 = 2.6
In this example, your home would need a 2.5 or a 3 ton unit.
Efficiency with your Air Conditioner
Air conditioners are rated in SEER's (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.) Older central air conditioners can have a SEER range as low as 5 or 6 and newer units now get into the 20s. In California, the minimum SEER rating in 2015 is 14 SEER's. The higher the SEER rating your air conditioner has, the more efficient the air conditioner is. Ultimately, the higher your SEER rating, the more you will save on your electricity bill.
Brands, Brands and more Brands!
With many air conditioning brands available, homeowners often find it difficult to pick a brand. In our experience, we stick with three major brands: Lennox, Rheem and Carrier. All three brands manufacturer quality products and have industry leading engineers. The ease of installation, longevity of the equipment, warranty and high efficiency helps us decide our favorite brands.
Yes, Warranties Are Important!
If you go with one of our favorite brands (Lennox, Rheem and Carrier) you will receive a warranty with all of their equipment. Each manufacturer on our favorite list has a Parts Warranty of 10 years and the Compressor Warranty is either 10 or 12 years, dependent on models.
Not all Air Conditioner (HVAC) Companies are Equal...
In every industry, there are bad businesses, good businesses and great businesses. When choosing an HVAC contractor to install your central air conditioning unit, look for businesses that have been in business many years, are licensed with the state, have great customer service and aren't too pushy! If they're too pushy to make a deal, be wary.
Pricing matters, right?
Every industry has variances in pricing. In the HVAC industry, prices range based on where you live, the size of the unit you're replacing, efficiency level and permitting costs. We don't want to leave you hanging, so we will say, a range you can expect to pay for a new air conditioner is from $4,000 - $8,000 depending on the previously mentioned factors. For the best estimate, contact a trusted HVAC technician.