Tips For Buying A New Air Conditioner
The process of purchasing a new air conditioner can be stressful. There are so many different brands, models, and efficiency levels to choose from.
With Terralta and our Air-Tech Division, it doesn’t have to be.
We want to help our clients as much as possible, whenever possible. Our team put together a few questions to consider when buying a new AC unit for your home or business.
How much space do you need to cool?
For every 1,000 square feet, a 1-ton AC unit should cool the space. If you have a 2,500 square foot home or business, you might be looking at a unit that is 2.5-ton.
However, there are other components that affect the efficiency of an AC unit such as:
Size and age of your building
Airflow
The number and type of windows
Insulation
Hours of direct sun
How energy-efficient is your home or business?
The more air exchange with the outdoors, the harder your AC unit will be working to keep the space cool.
If you are in a newly built building with great air insulation, it will be much easier for your AC unit to do its job. But an older location, for example, with drafts, cracks, and old insulation, will put more stress on your AC unit (but we still love the look and feel that those buildings provide).
If you are looking to make your home more energy-efficient prior to upgrading or replacing your air conditioner, you may want to consider the Canada Greener Homes Grant.
Currently, the Greener Homes grant will also cover heat pumps, another option to help reduce your costs on natural gas.
Visit our most recent blog post for all the details!
If you are looking to make your business more efficient, chat with us about which grants or funding opportunities may be available!
How much will I need to spend on a new Air Conditioner unit?
Generally, there are 5 factors to determine the cost of a new AC unit.
The air conditioner type, which could be central, ductless split systems, heat pumps, or for commercial spaces, rooftop units.
The environmental choices you have from energy efficiency, sound output, air filtration options, and comfort-enhancing options.
Personal choices such as extended warranties, maintenance plans, and service guarantees.
The technical requirements for the unit include the size of your home or business, floor plan, number of stories, existing ductwork, and BTU load.
Safety, licensing and building code requirements.
Typically the size of the unit, based on the space you need to cool, the model type, which will include the environmental and personal choices you are looking for, and the brand of the unit will be the largest factors that impact the price of the AC unit.
In 2021, you can roughly expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 for a residential air conditioner in Alberta.
Commercial units are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
How do you pick the best installer?
More often than not, the installation itself will determine how well your air conditioner runs! The best AC unit on the market with all the bells and whistles may not work how it is designed if it isn’t installed properly.
That is why selecting not only the best unit for your home or business but also selecting the most thorough installer is very important.
At Terralta, we pride ourselves on our years of experience and expert knowledge of HVAC for both commercial and residential. Consulting with our team during the purchasing process will ensure that you cover all the factors.
Connect with us today or give us a call at 403.580.2665 to begin cooling down today!