Central air conditioning provides several advantages over individual window air conditioners, such as more effective cooling and lower costs overall than trying to cool an entire house with window units. No matter how well your central air conditioning may have served you over the years, however, there comes a time when you will need either to replace or upgrade your system. When deciding whether to upgrade or replace, there are several things to consider.
Replacing the Compressor
If you want to upgrade your central air conditioning system, you might choose to do this by replacing the outside A/C condenser while keeping the inside part of the system. This might allow you to achieve higher efficiencies without quite as high the initial outlay of replacing the entire system. Factors to consider:
- The condenser must be properly installed, which is something best left to a professional. Installation costs can be higher than if you bought a completely new system.
- There have been changes in the laws regarding air conditioning systems, so if you have an older system, it might be wise to replace everything.
Installing a New System
If you decide to install an entirely new system, look for a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio or SEER. This is the efficiency rating for a central air conditioner, and the higher it is, the greater your energy savings over the life of the system. While older central air conditioners might have ratings in the single digits, newer models are required to have a minimum of 13. The number represents 10 percent increases, so a 13 SEER rating is 30 percent more efficient than a 10 SEER rating.
Other Considerations
There are several other important points to remember when installing a new central air conditioning unit:
- Get the right size for your home. While too large a unit will not reduce the humidify in your home, too small a unit will not cool well enough.
- Ensure that the unit is in the best location and is well insulated
- Ensure that the ducts are properly connected to the unit and with their sections.
Upgrading or replacing your central air conditioning system is a big decision. If you would like further advice about options for your southwest Arizona home, please contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company in Yuma.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about central air conditioning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Co services the Yuma area in Arizona. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
