10 Things To Consider Before An Air Conditioner Installation | Dallas, TX
In Dallas, TX, summer days often reach 95 degrees; therefore, you need an air conditioner to keep your home cool and comfortable. When it gets this hot outside, and you don’t have an air conditioner, your home can get dangerously warm, putting your family at risk of heat exhaustion or even heat stroke without proper air conditioner installation.
Many people have window unit air conditioners that can cool your home; however, there are some downsides to window units, including:
- Installing and removing the units: Window units can be a hassle because you will need to install a unit in each room when the cooling season begins, and when summer ends, you will need to take the air conditioners out of the window. If you have several air conditioners to install, this can be a time-consuming project. In addition, window units are heavy, making the job challenging and potentially dangerous.
- The doors need to stay closed: Window units are designed to cool a certain amount of space. You need the room you’re in to stay cool; therefore, you will need to keep the door closed to keep the cold air in the room. This can be frustrating because you will be closed off from the rest of the house and your family.
- The units need to be stored during the winter: When summer ends, you need to remove the window units to prevent the cold air outside from coming into the home. When the window units are removed, you will need to find a place to store them. This can be challenging if you don’t have much storage space in your Dallas, TX home or if you have several window units to store.
- You will need multiple units to cool the essential rooms: If you want the main living spaces to be cool, you will have to put a window unit in every bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room, and the cost of several window units can add up.
- High energy bills: If you have multiple window units running all summer simultaneously long, they will draw a significant amount of energy, causing a drastic increase in your summer electric bills.
- Your entire home won’t be cool: If you want your whole house to be cool, you will need to have a window unit in every room. If you don’t have a window unit in every room on every floor in your home, your entire home won’t stay cool all summer.
If you are tired of dealing with the hassle that comes with window air conditioners and the cost of your energy bills, you should consider a central air conditioner installation. When the unit is installed, vents will be installed in every room of your Dallas, TX home, ensuring the entire home stays cool all year long. In addition, a central air conditioner will save money on your energy bills, and you won’t need to worry about installing and removing the units and storing them.
If you are thinking about having a new central air conditioning unit installed, there are several things that you need to consider before a professional in air conditioner installation starts the job.
#1 Your Budget and the Cost
Before you start looking at air conditioning systems and comparing various models, you need to figure out the budget for the air conditioner installation. When determining your budget, you need to consider the cost of the unit, the cost to install the unit and the ductwork, and any additional equipment you want to add.
When you have created a budget, you can start looking at systems that fit your price range. Most people choose the least expensive AC to help save n the final cost; however, selecting the least costly unit can cost you more money in the long run.
More expensive units consume less energy than their cheaper counterparts, which will help you save money on your energy bills. If you choose a unit that is a bit more expensive than the rest, you can recoup the extra cost in the money you will save on your energy bills during the summer.
If you need more information about the available units, a professional in air conditioner installation in Dallas, TX, can discuss your options and the pros and cons of each.
#2 Quality
When planning an air conditioner installation, you should pay attention to the quality of the units available. Although the cost is a factor, if you don’t buy a high-quality unit, frequent breakdowns and breakdowns can occur in the future. In addition, it costs more to run a lesser quality air conditioner because they aren’t as energy efficient as the higher-priced systems. Finally, high-quality systems last longer than their lower-quality counterparts.
You can review the specifications of each unit, or you can have a professional in air conditioner installation in Dallas, TX, to go over your high-quality options.
#3 The Size of the Unit
The size of the unit is something you need to consider because you need to be sure it will fit in the area of your Dallas, TX home that you have chosen to install the indoor unit. A professional in air conditioning installation can take measurements of the area where you plan to install the unit and find an air conditioner with the correct dimensions.
The size of your home also needs to be considered when choosing the best model. If you buy a unit that is too small for your home, it will need to run constantly to keep your home cool, increasing your energy bills considerably. If you buy a unit that is too large for your home, it will consume more energy than necessary because larger units consume more power. In addition, the unit will cycle very fast, and the unit won’t be able to dehumidify your home effectively, and it will feel warmer in your home than it actually is.
A professional in air conditioner installer can measure your home’s living space to determine the best model for the size of your home.
#4 Ductwork
If your home has never had central air conditioning, you will need to have the ductwork installed, increasing the cost of the air conditioner installation significantly. If there were once a central air conditioning unit that has since been removed, the ductwork would be in place, but you will need a professional in air conditioner installation to inspect the ducts to ensure they are efficient. Old, damaged, or insufficient air ducts can cause up to 20 percent of the cool air to leak, reducing the airflow and can cause your energy bills to increase.
It is best to have a professional in air conditioner installation inspect the ducts in your home to check for issues. They can repair any damage to the ductwork and seal the joints, ensuring the ducts are airtight and there are no leaks.
#5 Your Home’s Air Quality
When your air conditioner runs, the windows in your Dallas, TX home need to stay closed to prevent the cool air from escaping and the hot air outside from coming in. Keeping the windows closed will prevent fresh air from coming into the home and your family will breathe stale air. When planning a new air conditioner installation, your home’s air quality is something you should consider.
You can talk to a professional in air conditioner installation about the best air quality control device that can be installed to ensure the air quality is safe.
#6 Energy Consumption
The energy consumption of the unit you plan to install is an essential factor to consider because it will significantly impact the cost of your energy bills.
When looking at models, you should focus on the EER (energy efficient rating) and the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). The EER rating is the calculation of the energy efficiency of a unit at one temperature, and the SEER is the measurement of the energy efficiency of an air conditioner for the entire season at varying outside temperatures. A good SEER rating is anything over 13; however, most professionals in air conditioner installation recommend you go by the EER rating, and you should look for a unit with a rating of 8.5 or higher.
Choosing a unit with a high EER rating can save a significant amount of money on your energy bills over the unit’s lifetime, and an HVAC tech can help you choose the best unit.
#7 Durability
You want to choose a durable air conditioning system because durable units require fewer repairs and often have longer lifespans, which can save you money. You can research various models yourself and make a comparison, or you can have a professional in air conditioner installation do it for you. A professional can help you choose a durable model that comes with a warranty.
#8 Additional Equipment
There are several add-ons that you can have installed to improve the way your system functions. For example, you can add a heat pump that will produce heat during the winter, and the unit will cool your home during the summer. The other available add-ons include:
- Air purifiers to improve your home’s air quality.
- A dehumidifier to assist the unit in removing humidity from the home.
- UV lamps will kill airborne pathogens and allergens and prevent mold growth in the unit.
- Ventilators will help vent the stale air inside out and regularly bring in the fresh air.
You can discuss the add-ons you are considering with a professional in air conditioner installation. They can discuss the benefits of each add-on and the cost to help you make a more informed decision.
#9 Installation Location
The location of the indoor and outdoor units is something you need to consider when planning an air conditioner installation. The indoor unit needs to be installed in a clean, dry area where it can effectively cool your home. The outdoor unit should be installed in a shaded area. If the hot sun shines down on the outdoor unit all day, it can overheat, and the system won’t produce cold air. Also, the outdoor unit should be in a clean area where bushes and shrubs cannot cause issues with the fan.
#10 Routine Maintenance
When the air conditioner installation is complete, it should be maintained before the cooling season every year. The air conditioner needs to be tuned up every year to ensure it functions as efficiently as possible. In addition, the tech can inspect the unit for minor issues that could result in a complete breakdown in the middle of the summer. Finally, routine maintenance will extend the lifespan of the unit. If you want to be sure you get years of efficient cooling from your new air conditioner, make regular maintenance a priority.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas?
If you want to install an air conditioning system in your home, call One Hour Heating & Air of Dallas. We are a full-service HVAC company, and our highly qualified, professionally trained techs are experts in air conditioner installation.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving; therefore, our techs are required to receive ongoing training. We want to be sure they can install, maintain and repair the latest HVAC models; therefore, ongoing training is essential.
We have been serving customers in the area since 1988 and have an excellent reputation in the community. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating on Google. Thanks to the excellent service provided by our team of technicians, many of our customers have been loyal customers for years.
If you have an emergency HVAC issue that can’t wait, we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your comfort is our top priority, and we will do our best to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, so your home will be cool and comfortable again.
If you are scheduling an appointment for an air conditioner installation, our techs can help you choose the best model for your needs and the size of your home. In addition, our knowledgeable staff can give you information regarding money-saving rebates you qualify for to help reduce the cost of the system.
To schedule an appointment for a consultation for a new air conditioner or any other HVAC service we provide, give us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas a call today.