Choosing the type and kind of central air conditioning system to install in your home's heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is complicated. There are many physical factors about your home's cooling at play that directly affect the performance quality, efficiency, and the cost of how well a central air conditioning system will work in your home. You also must consider the wide variety of central air conditioning systems, as well as their size, efficiency, and installation requirements. So, it's no wonder that homeowners can get anxious when they want to know what size air conditioner they need for their home. Central air conditioning uses a compressor and condenser coil housed in an outside unit and an expansion valve and evaporator (also called an "A coil") mounted above the furnace heater inside your home's HVAC system. Air conditioning works by cycling refrigerant from gas to liquid and then to gas again through the use of pressure. The refrigerant (known as R-410A) begins the cycle as a low-pressure, low-temperature gas.

It enters the outside unit where it's first compressed into a high-pressure, high-temperature gas. Next it enters the condenser's coil where the fan cools the gas into a high pressure liquid. The liquefied refrigerant flows through tubing inside your home to the HVAC unit. There it first enters the expansion valve which limits the flow of the liquid as it enters the evaporator. This valve lets the liquid expand inside the evaporator coil into a gas, chilling to about 7 degrees Celsius as air from the HVAC blower moves over the coil. The refrigerant then heads back to the outside unit as a low-temperature, low-pressure gas to begin the cycle again. Air is cooled by being blown over the chilled coil, and it's then circulated throughout your home. The AC system continues running until the desired temperature is reached. Any humidity in the air condenses onto the coil as water and drips into a condensation pan. In this way, your home is both cooled and de-humidified by a central air conditioning system.

Choosing the correct size of your air conditioner is a key a factor for setting up a home cooling system. Sizing an air conditioner requires a consultation with a professional Energy Management Consultant who looks at the factors that effect your home's cooling:5000 btu window air conditioner with heat pump Likewise, it's not a simple matter of dropping-in any air conditioning system. air conditioning units wollongongThe size is very important because the correctly sized air conditioner should run a proper full cycle and ensure your home stays cooler longer.daikin ac multi-split systems An over-sized AC system will quickly over-cool the air in your home and shut off too soon. However, the building structure itself (walls, wood, furniture, etc.) will not be cooled adequately and allow heat and humidity to creep back in, and the AC will kick-on again and again.

As a consequence, over-sized systems run for too short a time far too often. And it can cost you far too much. An undersized system, however, will not effectively cool your entire home. It will run continuously, waste energy, and wind up costing you more. Air conditioner sizes are rated in tons of cooling capacity. One ton of cooling is equal to 12,000 BTU's (British thermal units) per hour. For example, a typical residential unit is a 2-ton unit that cools 24000 BTU/hour and a larger 3-ton unit cools 36000 BTU/hour. While two air conditioners be the same tonnage, they could be completely different in terms of their energy efficiency or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER) . Once you have found the right tonnage-size to cool your home, you'll want to look over which ones have the best SEER rating as is practical within your budget. The higher the rating, the less energy it will use - roughly 5% less per SEER. So an older 12 SEER upgraded to a higher efficiency SEER 16 will be approximately 20% more efficient and will cost less to run.

Systems that are Energy Star qualified range between 12 and 23 SEER. Because air conditioning is one of the most expensive conveniences you can have in your home, it's important to be able to rely on a trained professional that you can trust to listen to your needs and guide you through this complex process. Direct Energy's central AC sizing experts have years of design and installation experience. They'll inform you about the different cooling options for your home and design the right-sized energy efficient cooling system to work with your home's heating system and help save you money. What’s the Cost of a New Central Air Conditioner in Arizona? If you’re in the market for a new central air conditioner in AZ, you’re probably wondering how much it will cost you when all is said and done. On average, the price to install a new central A/C unit can range from $4,000 to $25,000. The range varies greatly because there are lots of factors that affect the price.

Those factors can be grouped under 3 main components: The contractor you choose The A/C unit you choose Let’s take a closer look at each of these 3 components. Choosing the right contractor is important because they are responsible for 2 crucial steps: Performing the initial inspection—During this inspection, your contractor will perform what’s called a “load calculation”. This takes into account various aspects of your home (size, shape, insulation, local climate, etc.) and uses them to determine the size of the A/C unit(s) needed. Learn more: What Size Central Air Conditioner Do I Need? Installing the A/C Unit—The labor required to install your A/C accounts for the bulk of the overall price. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how much you’ll end up paying for contracted labor because some companies charge per hour and some charge flat rates. Beware of contractors who use rule of thumb estimates to determine your A/C size instead of performing a load calculation.

Shop around (but don’t skimp)! Get several quotes for installation prices and inspections and don’t assume the lowest priced contractor is the best option. Choose a contractor that is qualified so that if things go south, you don’t end up having to pay. To play it safe, the company should be licensed, bonded and insured. Beware of contractors that charge hourly. The price they give you is likely just an estimate that may end up costing you much more if they take longer than expected. These “add-on” prices can include: Duct installation—Your home’s ducts may need to be replaced or you may need new ones added. Duct cleaning and sealing—Your home’s ducts may be leaking and dirty. You may choose to have your A/C contractor take care of these problems at the same time that they replace your system. Insulation—Insulation may need to be added to your attic to save you money and keep you cooler. Adding/moving electrical lines—Your contractor may need to move or upgrade your A/C’s electrical lines.

Hi-tech thermostat—A high-tech thermostat can let you do cool things like automatically adjust to save you money or even letting you set it from your smartphone! Add-on warranty—Your contractor may offer add-on warranties on your new A/C system that will cover any unforeseen problems in the future. Look for an A/C contractor who does additional work like this (electrical, ductwork) themselves. You’ll likely save money by not having to hire several different contractors. Make sure, no matter what, that you at least have a 10-year warranty on the equipment and labor. Then, if the job wasn’t done right, you aren’t stuck paying for it! Here are the top 4 factors that affect the price of your A/C unit: SEER—The SEER rating measures how energy efficient an A/C unit is and how much it will save you in electric bills. See: How to Calculate The Energy Savings of Different Air Conditioners Size—A/C’s are sized in “tonnage” (1-ton, 2-ton, etc).

The ton refers to the unit’s cooling capacity per hour. See: How to Know What Size A/C You Need Quantity—Does your home need more than one unit replaced? Brand—Bigger brands like York, Trane and Carrier may be more expensive but usually offer better warranties. See: What is the Best Brand of Central Air Conditioner in Arizona? Don’t go up a size more than what is calculated for your home. A/C sizes are like clothing: the size that works best is the size that truly fits your home's cooling needs. Getting an A/C that’s too big results in high electric costs, poor cooling, and a shortened air conditioner lifespan. Remember that units with a higher SEER will be more expensive but offer more savings in the long run. Related: SEER Savings Calculator Tools: From Beginner to Advanced If your neighbor just had a new A/C put in and you decide to compare pricing, don’t get upset if the prices don’t match until you do a little more investigating. Did your quote have all the same bells and whistles as theirs?