What To Consider Before An Air Conditioner Installation | Irving, TX
Texas summers are very hot, and it’s impossible to remain cool in your home without air conditioning. Many homeowners rely on window units to keep their homes cool because they are the cheapest option. It’s easy to find an air conditioner today for $100, making it possible to buy multiple units to keep various rooms in your house cool.
Although window units are the least expensive option, they are also the most inconvenient for several reasons, including:
- Installation and removal: One of the most significant downsides to window units is they must be installed at the beginning of the cooling season and removed at the end. Removing the units from the window at the end of the cooling season is necessary to prevent cold drafts during the winter, causing your heating system to work harder and increase your energy bills.
Window units are heavy, and installing and removing them regularly is a tiring task. - Storage: You’ll need an area to store the air conditioners when they aren’t in use during the cold weather. If you live in a small home with little space for storage, finding a place to store the units can be challenging. Also, they will take up a significant amount of space, cluttering your home, basement, or garage.
- Cooling one room: Window units are designed to cool just one room; therefore, you’ll need to keep the door closed to keep the cool air in. This can be frustrating because closing the door will cut you off from the rest of the house. If you want to keep a room without doors cool, such as the living room and kitchen, you’ll need to hang a sheet or blanket in the doorway to keep the cool air in, which isn’t aesthetically pleasing.
- Noise level: Modern units are quieter than those produced ten years ago, but they’re still loud. The noise from the units can be distracting and make hearing the TV challenging without turning the volume up significantly.
If you’re tired of the hassles associated with window units, you should consider a central air conditioner installation. Central units stay installed all year long and can be turned on at the beginning of the cooling season simply by pressing a button. You won’t have to worry about installing and removing the units yearly, and storage isn’t necessary. In addition, central air conditioners cool the entire house through the vents in every room, and you won’t have to worry about keeping doors closed or covering doorways with blankets. Finally, central units are designed to be whisper quiet; the only sound you’ll hear is a faint clicking when the unit cycles.
There are several things to consider before a central air conditioner installation in Irving, TX, and you can get help from a licensed HVAC tech.
#1 Create a Budget
You must create a budget before any home improvement project, including air conditioner installation. There is more to a central air conditioner installation than paying for the unit, and you must include the labor and ductwork in the budget. A professional in air conditioner installation in Irving, TX can help you determine the labor and ductwork will cost, allowing you to create an accurate budget to ensure you can afford the installation.
#2 Choosing the Location
You must choose a location before an air conditioner installation. First, you must find a place to install the indoor unit. Most homeowners install the unit in the basement, and you must find a place where there’s plenty of room to move around.
Next, you must find an area to install the outdoor compressor. There’s more to this than pointing to a place in the yard, and it’s best to install the compressor in a shady area. The unit will overheat if the sun beats down on it all day long, and your home won’t be cool and comfortable if the compressor overheats. In addition, the compressor must be installed away from plants and shrubs to prevent them from getting caught in the compressor’s fan, causing damage.
If you need help choosing the best indoor unit and compressor locations, a professional in air conditioner installation in Irving, TX can help. An HVAC tech has the knowledge and experience to select the best locations for the units, ensuring the system functions at peak performance.
#3 Choosing a Quality Unit
You may be tempted to choose the cheapest unit on the market to save money, but this isn’t the best idea. Low-quality units aren’t as energy-efficient as high-quality units and will cost more money to run. In addition, low-quality units have shorter lifespans and require frequent repairs.
A professional in air conditioner installation can help you find a quality unit that works with your budget. The unit may cost more initially, but you’ll save money on your energy bills throughout the unit’s lifespan, allowing you to make back some of the money.
#4 Choosing the Right Size Unit
The size of the unit is essential for it to function at peak performance. The size unit you need depends on the size of your house. The unit will cycle too frequently if it’s too large for your home’s square footage, and it won’t eliminate the humidity in the house, making it feel hotter than it is. Buying a unit too small for your home’s square footage is also a problem. If the unit is too small, it will work harder to keep your home cool and comfortable, consuming more energy, and your electric bill will be more expensive.
A professional in air conditioner installation in Irving, TX can help you choose the correct size unit, ensuring it keeps your house cool and won’t increase your energy bills.
#5 Energy Efficiency
Installing an energy-efficient air conditioner is best to keep your electric bills from increasing. Installing central air in your house is expensive, and the last thing you want is to spend more money every month by installing a unit that consumes a significant amount of energy.
You can determine the energy efficiency of available units by checking their Energy Efficiency Ratio, also known as an EER rating. EER ratings range from 7.5 to 14 or greater. Units with low EER ratings aren’t as energy-efficient as units with higher EER ratings, and it’s best to choose a unit with an EER rating higher than 12.
A professional in air conditioner installation can help you find an energy-efficient unit that works with your budget and will keep your energy bills low throughout the unit’s lifespan.
#6 Air Ducts
The air ducts are essential to your air conditioning system, and they transfer the cold air from the unit to the vents throughout your house. If there’s never been a central air conditioning system in your home, there won’t be any ductwork, and it must be installed when the unit is installed.
A professional in air conditioner installation can let you know how much it will cost to install the ducts and how much time installing the ducts will add to the length of the project.
There would be existing ducts if your house once had a central air conditioning system. You can’t just assume that the ducts are in working order and there are no cracks, breaks, or failed sealing. You’ll need a professional HVAC tech in Irving, TX to inspect the ducts for damage and areas that could allow the cold air to escape. If there are any issues with the ducts, the tech will make the necessary repair during the air conditioner installation, ensuring the air travels through the vents to the ducts so the cold air doesn’t escape.
#7 Additional Equipment
Your new air conditioner will function properly and keep your home cool, but you can install additional equipment, so the unit performs better. A professional in air conditioner installation can discuss the options, and your options include:
- Heat pump: If you don’t have a furnace, or it’s old and must be replaced, you can install a heat pump with the air conditioner, and the unit will heat and cool your home. Heat pumps are far more energy-efficient than furnaces. The average yearly cost to run a propane furnace is $1,550, and $850 for natural gas furnaces. Heat pumps are cheaper to run, and the average cost is about $500 per year.
- Air quality device: Your home’s air quality is essential because you want your family to breathe clean air. Air conditioners have requirements for specific air quality, but the requirements aren’t strict. Adding an air quality device will ensure the air is safe for your family to breathe. A professional in air conditioner installation in Irving, TX can help you find the most cost-effective and suitable air quality control device.
- Energy-saving thermostats: Thermostat technology has evolved over the past few years, and you can install a thermostat to save money on your energy bills. One option is a programmable thermostat. You can program the thermostat a week in advance, so the unit will turn down when you aren’t home and turn up before you get home, ensuring your house is cool and comfortable when you arrive.
WiFi thermostats are another excellent option. You can control the air conditioner using your Smartphone from anywhere in the world as long as you have a WiFi connection. You can use your phone to turn the unit down when you leave the house and then turn it up when someone arrives home to ensure the house is cool.
You can install a smart thermostat if you have a smart device such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. You can control the unit when you are home using the sound of your voice and then use the smart device’s app on your phone to control the air conditioner when you aren’t home.
A professional in air conditioner installation in Irving, TX can help you select the best thermostat, and it will help save money on your energy bills. - UV lamp: Mold can grow in your air conditioner, and if this happens, you have a serious problem. Mold spores from the unit will get into the air ducts and the air, putting your family at risk for mold-related health issues. It is challenging to eradicate mold from the unit, and if the tech can’t remove every last spore, the unit must be replaced.
Fortunately, a professional in air conditioner installation can install a UV lamp to prevent mold growth in the unit, and you won’t have to replace it sooner than necessary. - Zoning system: You can save a significant amount of money on your energy bills if you install a zoning system. Some areas of the house don’t need to be as cool as others, such as the upstairs bedrooms when everyone is downstairs. A professional in air conditioner installation can install a zoning system to treat each individual area of the house as an individual environment.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas
If you’re planning a central air conditioner installation and want to work with the best HVAC company, look no further than One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988, and many of our customers have been working with us for decades.
Our techs are professionally trained, highly skilled, and have handled the toughest job in the industry. They must pass a background check, drug test and register with the state of Texas before hiring so our customers feel safe when they allow our techs into their homes. HVAC technology is constantly evolving, and our techs receive ongoing training. We want to be sure our techs can install, maintain, and repair the latest HVAC models, and further training is essential.
We understand that HVAC issues often arise at inconvenient times, so we offer emergency service. If you have an HVAC issue that affects your home’s temperature or your family’s health and safety, we’ll get a tech to your home as quickly as possible.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioner installation or any other HVAC service, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas today.