Air Conditioners Buyers Guide

Summer in Southern Ontario can be just as extreme as the winters. Instead of dealing with winter squalls and freezing temperatures, summer is filled with sweltering hot, humid weather. When you step into your house, you want to know that the oppressive heat won’t bother you indoors. That starts with choosing the right air conditioning system to install. If you’re considering replacing an old air conditioning system or upgrading an inefficient air conditioner, there are options that allow you to keep you comfortable in your home while also saving you money.

Home Conditioning Explained

Central air cooling systems work by providing cool air through ductwork inside your home. This is primarily accomplished by drawing in warm air from the outside and removing heat. In a process similar to how a refrigerator works, a heat exchange occurs when the compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas, and the gas is sent to the condenser coils which turns it into a liquid. Then the refrigerant travels back indoors to the evaporator coil, where the liquid refrigerant evaporates and cools the indoor air. The hot air exits through the top of the air conditioner by the use of a fan, while the cool air is circulated through ductwork in your house. This same process continues until the desired set temperature is met.

Choose the Brand of Air Conditioner You Need

The three top air conditioner brands are American Standard, Carrier, and Goodman. American Standard air conditioners are very reliable units with low maintenance costs. Carrier is another solid choice in air conditioner, boasting several options to fit your needs, including a 21 SEER (Energy Efficiency Rating) which is one of the most energy efficient air conditioners on the market. The major downside to both American Standard and Carrier is that both AC units are expensive in upfront costs.

Goodman offers a great, efficient air conditioner that won’t cost a tonne of money up front. Goodmans are solidly built, top-of-the-line air conditioners. They’re considered to be a homeowner’s best choice by providing low-cost options to fit any budget, while also boasting one of the best warranty programs in the industry. Goodman air conditioners range from 13 to 18 SEER. Another feature of many Goodman models is that they are smart home compatible. The Goodman units provide the best value for the cost.

Choose Which Size Air Conditioner to Buy

Next, in order to find the perfect AC unit for your home, you’re going to need to determine what size of unit that you’ll need. One major factor will be the age of your home. Older homes have gaps where cooler air can escape, while newer homes have a tightly sealed house envelope, which seals in all the cool air produced by your air conditioner. Newer homes also are designed with better materials, like more efficient ductwork systems. Airflow and duct size tolerances are extremely important in discerning the size of air conditioner that you pick.

The size of your house is also an enormous factor. Your goal is to find an air conditioner the proper size that cools every square inch of your home. Bigger isn’t always better. Larger air conditioners will not only cost you more in upfront costs, but if the unit is too big for your house, it may actually struggle to rid the air of humidity, which creates a clammy, cool environment. An undersized air conditioner will also cost you in the long run. Not only will it be unable to cool your home efficiently, an undersized AC unit will also constantly run. Since it’s running all the time, the unit with wear out much sooner.

Other factors to consider when buying an air conditioner unit include: the number of windows, how much sun/shade your house receives, and the amount of insulation in the walls and attic.

Choose a Provider

In order to find the right sized air conditioner unit for your home, contact an expert to analyze your house and provide you with a heat loss assessment. Evam Canada has a proven track record with servicing air conditioners in Mississauga area for twenty years. Each technician that works at Evam is a licensed and factory trained expert. They also offer 24/7 services in the Mississauga area, so if you ever have an issue with your air conditioner, you know that it’s going to be dealt with right away. They have a passion for customer service and want to fit your home with the ideal energy efficient air conditioner.