A Few Things To Consider Before Buying A New Central Air Conditioner

Whether you need to replace an existing central air conditioner or are looking to have one installed in your home, there are a few things you need to consider before committing to a purchase. If you take the time to consider the following, you could save yourself a lot of money and frustration.

State Incentives

Many states offer some type of incentive to keep your HVAC units as efficient as possible. You may be able to receive a grant to help pay for a new central air conditioning unit, a tax credit for upgrading your system, or be able to buy the unit on credit without having to pay any interest. Contact your local utility company to find out if there are any incentives available. There may be specific units or efficiency ratings required to receive the benefit.

Ducts

You may have ducts in place already if you are replacing a air conditioner or if the new unit can use the ducts in place for a heating system. However, these ducts may not be in the best shape. You could be losing quite a bit of your heated or cooled air through damaged ducts. You can choose to have the ducts inspected and repaired or go with ductless air conditioning. While it is not the same as a central unit, it may be a better alternative for your cooling bills. You can also choose to have only a few ductless units installed at first and then add on to them later as you have the money to do so.

When to Buy

If at all possible, it is best to wait until after summer to buy a new AC unit. Making the purchase in winter would be even better. Not only will the units go on sale, but the installation technicians will not be as busy as they are during the summer. This means contractors lower their bids in an effort to keep busy and have some work and income.

Once you have taken all this into consideration it is time to meet with a company that sells central air conditioning, such as Lakeside Heating & A/C Inc., to discuss what size of a unit you need. Make arrangements for the sales person to come to your home to get a good understanding of what you need. Having a unit that is too small will not keep your house comfortable and one that is too large will create higher energy bills. It would be best to have a few companies provide you with quotes on the new unit and installation. Listen to the technicians so you understand exactly what you need and then make your decision on which to buy and who to have do the installation.

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