Buying a new Air Conditioner is a hefty investment when moving to a new home. Having an Air Conditioning unit ensures that you are comfortable and increases the value of the house if you were to resell it.
Most ACs last for a minimum of 10 years to as much as 25 years. That being a relatively long time, choosing the right Air Conditioner for your home involves intensive research and deliberation. This ensures that you are making a wise decision.
You may not know where to begin, which brands to buy and what AC size and capacity to consider. Our Air Conditioning Installation Contractors in Oakville Ontario has helped 1000s of homes owners in Oakville, when getting a new AC unit. For this reason, feel free to consult with our TopCare HVAC of Oakville technicians beforehand to ensure you get the right fit for your home. We have completed many new AC installations near Glen Abbey, West Oak Trails, Morrison, Falgarwood and Ford Drive in Oakville Ontario.
When you make the right choice, it’s important to have a reliable HVAC company at your service. Doing this assures you that your AC unit will be maintained and serviced over the years. Air conditioners are expensive so maintenance is a must to prevent long term damages.
Having a well-running Air Conditioning unit complements your home, offering you comfort as well as safety.
In this process of acquiring a new AC, you can make some mistakes that may cost you more. Below are a few mistakes to avoid during this big decision and your purchase.
Buying the Wrong Size of AC
You might want a certain brand or type of AC for your home, but what is most important when selecting an AC is the space or size of your home. For a larger space, you might need a bigger AC and vice versa.
Choosing a larger air conditioner than needed for your house can lead to exaggerated energy costs, poor quality of air, damaged components and in some cases, the build-up of mold.
In the inverse situation, if the AC unit is smaller than the space you have, it will be overworked because it is over working to cool the air in a space larger than its capacity. This leads to less efficiency, high energy bills, and eventually, the AC may break down.
To make sure you are making the right choice, despite loving the brand and the model, work with a licensed and certified HVAC company technician to ascertain that the AC you want is well fitted and proportional to space in your home.
Taking the AC Price as Your First Priority
When it comes to buying an AC, less money doesn’t mean more value. Air conditioning units are long term investments, meaning that it would be best to buy a good quality one. Quality is not cheap, but it saves you in the long term.
Ordinarily, shoppers look for the lowest price and see it as the best deal. This is not the case with AC units.
More often than not, the lower-priced units will lack certain features to ensure efficient cooling in your home. At the end of the day, you might end up spending more money in the long run.
Pricing is only one part of the equation, also factor in the operating costs. Any AC unit with features to ensure that energy is used efficiently is more likely to save you money in the long run.
Missing Out on Several Estimates
In the same way you should shop around for a good price, consider getting estimates from multiple contractors. This ensures you are getting a good deal in.
You should at least get three estimates from different contractors. This widens your options in case one contractor has limited options.
The price of AC units varies – different contractors will probably have different prices that are non-inclusive of some features that you may need. Getting a variety of information from different sources assures you of making an informed choice.
Get the estimates from the different contractors in writing. Ensure that the warranty, timeframes, installation guarantee and potential costs are factored in.
Turning a Blind Eye to Energy Efficiency
When purchasing an AC unit, energy efficiency is one of the most important things to consider. Having an appliance that’s energy-efficient is a plus, and air conditioners are included.
Having an energy-efficient unit will have an effect on the cost of the AC year after year. If your air conditioner is more energy-efficient, your utility bills will be lower, freeing up money in your monthly budget for other allocations.
Also, it is a greater gain if the AC cost more initially and in the long run, it costs less to maintain. The hefty short-term expense of purchasing an energy-efficient unit saves money in the long term.
The SEER ratio – formally known as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio will indicate how much cooling your AC gives off for the amount of energy used. The higher this ratio is, the more energy the unit saves. The least number the ratio should be is 13, and proper energy efficiency starts from 16 going up.
Missed Rebate Chances
In a bid to be more energy-conscious and environmentally friendly, rebates within the environmental framework are being offered more than ever. This is to prompt homeowners who are renovating or buying new appliances for their homes, to buy energy-efficient products.
The government is offering mass rebates, in the hope of getting consumers to buy products that save energy and are environmentally friendly.
Utility companies have not been left behind. In a bid to stay competitive as well, they also offer rebates to consumers looking to buy new AC units. This encourages homeowners to buy good quality products while reducing the carbon footprint.
As you do your research, look out for these rebates to help you pay less and get more value for your air conditioning unit.
The process of buying a new AC conditioner may be a difficult ordeal and it may cost a lot, but it is a necessity. Avoiding the mistakes above can make the process easier and costs less in the long run.
Even if you have purchased an AC before, consult with several HVAC contractors before getting it. This will prevent a lot of the mistakes above from occurring. A decision of this magnitude should be well researched because if not, you will end up coughing up more money in the long run.
Taking it at your own pace will ensure that you can get value for money, make a sound purchase and even access resources that are at your disposal.
Contact TopCare HVAC of Oakville Ontario
As you embark on this journey, call us at (647) 493-0500 for Air Conditioner installation, maintenance, repair and diagnostics. We are an experienced HVAC company with certified and skilled technicians at your service.
