An AC unit is a huge investment, so when you replace yours, you should be sure of what you’re getting.
75% of American homes have air conditioners and the hotter the weather, the more they’re in use. With the summer weather in St. Louis routinely reaching into the 90s, a broken air conditioner unit is simply not an option.
In this post, we’re going to tell you the questions you need to ask when you’re replacing an AC unit. Investing in cool air is a no-brainer, but you need to be sure that your unit is going to stand the test of time. Ask your contractor the following questions and you’ll be ready to take on our summer heatwave.
1. What Size of New AC Unit Should I Get?
One of the more common mistakes that people make when buying a new AC unit is either going too big or too small. If your unit is too small, it won’t be able to properly cool your entire home. When it’s too big, it’ll cycle on and off all the time, which will waste energy and inflate your utility bill.
The best thing to do is have a licensed HVAC technician come into your home and perform a load calculation. This is important because replacing an AC unit isn’t as simple as putting the same model in; if you’ve made any adjustments to the home, you’ll need a different model.
A load calculation will determine the right unit size, as well as look at your ducts to determine if there are enough of them and if they’re in working order.
2. Which Unit Is the Best?
You can’t be expected to know everything there is about different brands and types of AC units. That’s your AC technician’s job – they should be able to educate and guide you towards the right unit for your home.
Anton’s Plumbing, Heating/Cooling and Energy Experts is partnered with Rheem, one of the leading companies for groundbreaking HVAC products. Our technicians are well-versed in the finer details of Rheem’s line of AC units, so we’ll make sure that you’re getting exactly what your home needs.
3. What Is the Cost of a New AC Unit?
There’s no denying that installing a new AC unit is going to be a major investment in your home. It’s something you should only have to replace every 10-15 years, so you shouldn’t spare any expense with your AC unit.
That being said, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into financially so that you can prepare. It’s also nice to know that there are deals and warranties in place to help protect you from any further repairs or replacements in the near future.
Our NATE-certified team of technicians eliminates any stress, damage, and unnecessary costs from the installation process. We offer installation coupons and financing so that you’re never under any financial stress as a result of your new AC unit.
4. How Do I Prolong The Lifespan?
As we said, a quality AC unit should last anywhere between 10-15 years, or more if you understand how to take care of it. There are things that you can do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis to keep your AC unit in great shape, but a yearly maintenance plan should also be in the cards.
As long as you pay attention to your AC unit, you won’t do anything to damage it. Replace the filters every 90 days, check for any leaking or moisture, and clean your ducts so that the unit can just do its job.
All of our customers have the option of becoming Ultimate Savings Club members. With this, you’ll get scheduled inspections and maintenance on your AC unit at a reduced cost. At a minimum, you should have your AC unit looked at once per year in order to prolong its lifespan.
5. What Is the AC Unit’s Efficiency?
Another thing that can reduce your overall energy costs is the efficiency of your AC unit. With Rheem products, efficiency and the environment are always at the forefront of their technology. Having a brand new AC unit installed is only going to lower your carbon footprint and raise your comfort level in your home.
Beyond the actual technology, we can retrofit your home to make it more efficient overall. One of the ways that we do this is with duct sealing. A lot of homes lose energy efficiency because their ducts leak air, making their AC units have to work harder.
Duct sealing and cleaning can prolong your AC unit’s lifespan, increase efficiency, and save you loads of money. It’ll also vastly improve your indoor air quality, which is something we’re passionate about at Anton’s Plumbing, Heating/Cooling and Energy Experts .
6. Can I See Ratings and Reviews?
If you’re shopping around for AC unit installers, one of the things you’ll want to ensure is that they’ve got a good reputation. Ask to see a company’s ratings and reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau before having them install your new unit.
At Anton’s, we’re proud of our 5-star reputation. All you have to do is visit our website and you’ll see how many happy St. Louis-area customers we’ve worked with over the years. With over 7,000 reviews, we’ve established ourselves as the premier HVAC company in our region.
7. Are You Certified and Insured?
The other important thing to look for in an HVAC company is licenses, certifications, and insurance. Every one of our technicians is certified by NATE, the country’s leading organization for heating and cooling certifications.
Insurance is important because it covers you in the event of any damage to your property while the HVAC company is there. If a company doesn’t have insurance, then they aren’t operating in an honest manner.
Replacing An AC Unit Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Replacing an AC unit can be easy if you work with a great HVAC company. Once you’ve got a new AC unit, giving it the proper maintenance, both at home and professionally will be the key to its longevity.
If you want to find out more about Anton’s Plumbing, Heating/Cooling and Energy Experts , visit our site and contact us to start talking about your AC unit replacement.