Wherever you live in Canada, your summer can be much more comfortable with the right air conditioner sending cool air through every room in your home. This buying guide lists the top 5 questions you need to consider when shopping for a new air conditioner:

WHAT TYPE OF AIR CONDITIONER DO I NEED?

WHAT SIZE DO I NEED?

WHEN SHOULD I REPLACE?

WHERE TO INSTALL?

HOW DO I CONTROL MY AIR CONDITIONER?

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AIR CONDITIONER REPLACEMENT GUIDE

AWhat type of air conditioner do I need?

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There are many types of air conditioners, including portable,

window and in-wall units. This

guide deals with central air

conditioners, which use your

furnace to push air through your home’s ductwork. In these systems,

the main air conditioner

compressor is located outside your

home to expel warm air, and a

direct feed through a wall to your furnace in your basement to bring

in cool air.

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PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS

A portable, or ‘windowless’ air conditioner can be moved from room

to room, but often requires venting to remove the hot air generated by

the unit. Portables can be very effective when used with central air

conditioners, helping you to target cool air to specific rooms.

BENEFITS OF CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING:

Central air conditioners are much more energy efficient than other

types of air cooling equipment. They use less electricity, cost less every

month, and are quieter inside the home. In addition, when paired with a

digital programmable thermostat, you can reduce energy consumption

even more by controlling exactly when your air conditioner turns on

and off.

WINDOW AND IN-WALL AIR CONDITIONERS

The second type of smaller air conditioning units fit into either a

temporary open window frame, or a permanent, sealed wall opening.

In both cases, these units will only cool the room in which they are

installed, and often drop condensed water below the unit.

CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS

The most common way to cool a home is with a central air

conditioning system. The system includes an external condenser unit

which sits outside your home and expels hot air, and your furnace fan,

which blows the chilled air through your home’s duct work. These

units are much more efficient, use less energy to cool your home, and

create less noise inside your home. As a central air conditioner is

integrated with your furnace system, it can take advantage of the

furnace filter and any additional air purifying equipment you have

added. This ensures that your home’s air is clean year-round, and your

ducts remain free of dust and debris.

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What size should my air conditioner be?

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The required size of an air conditioner is determined by a

number of factors, including the

square footage of your home. It’s

critical to properly size the unit to

your home, a true science that can only be correctly calculated by a

home comfort expert. If you buy a

unit that’s too big, your home may

feel damp, if it’s too small, your

home will not be cooled sufficiently. A good rule of thumb, is that the

more rooms you have to cool, the

more powerful the air conditioner

needs to be. But other factors can

also play an important part in the calculation.

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TONNES, BTUs, SEER?

Central air conditioners are rated and specified by a number of different

measures. You may have heard of ‘1 ton air conditioners’. Surprisingly,

this doesn’t relate to the weight of the equipment, but rather, to ‘a ton of

refrigeration’, defined as the cooling power of one ton (907 kilograms) of

ice melting in a 24-hour period. BTU refers to the average heat generated

inside your home. A 1,400 square foot home generates about 18,000

BTU, and needs a 1.5 ton air conditioning unit to cool each room

efficiently. SEER relates to the Seasonal Energy-Efficiency Rating, and is

the amount of cooling output (measured in BTU) divided by its energy

usage (measured in watt-hours). Newer units have a SEER rating of up to

14.5 SEER

BENEFITS OF RIGHT-SIZING YOUR CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM:

If you underestimate the size of an air conditioner, your unit will run

continuously, struggling to cool your home’s air. This will increase your

seasonal energy costs dramatically, and could potentially lead to higher

maintenance costs. If you overestimate sizing, your home could end up

feeling cold, damp and humid, as the air conditioning cycle will be too

short to properly dehumidify the air.

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SQUARE FEET

Common sense tells us that the more rooms we have to cool, the more

powerful our air conditioner will need to be. Typically, a 1,500 square foot

home will need a 1.5 tonne air conditioning unit. That’s a good start. But

there are other factors that can dictate how much cooling capacity you will

need. If your home has more than the usual number of windows receiving a

lot of direct sunlight, has less roof or wall insulation, has non-standard

construction or leaky ducts, has 10’ or higher ceilings, or has a functional

attic...you may need a larger unit. Every home is different, and only a

certified home comfort expert has the tools to accurately calculate the

proper sized unit for your home.

AWhen is the best time to buy a new air conditioner?

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The best time to buy an air conditioner will vary. If you are

upgrading your furnace, you’ll

save money by bundling an air

conditioner at the same time. If

you are building a new home, it will be easier to install the ducting

and optimally position the air

conditioner during construction,

rather than afterwards. If you are

upgrading just your air conditioner, be sure to check for

available rebates.

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SUMMER SALES OR WINTER SAVINGS?

When to buy a new air conditioner frankly, depend upon when you need

it most. If your A/C has just broken and summer’s in full swing, then

sooner is better. If you aren’t pressured by time, you may think that

winter would be the best time to buy, when demand is low. That’s not

usually the case these days, as many manufacturers typically don’t have

seasonal sales, with their product development cycles are measured in

years, rather than months.

BUNDLE UP AND SAVE

If you are looking to maximize your savings when buying a new Air

Conditioner, the best time to buy is probably when you need to

purchase an entire Home Comfort system. Bundling a new furnace, air

conditioner, air cleaner, humidifier and thermostat together brings

many benefits, the largest being the opportunity to reduce the overall

costs of the individual components. Other benefits include time and

convenience. As each of the components will be installed, tested and

optimized together, by the same technicians, the project will be

completed faster, and more efficiently than if you were to spread out

the project.

SUBSIDIES AND REBATES

Many local utilities, municipalities and Provinces have recently offered

rebates and incentives for homeowners to upgrade to newer high

efficiency air conditioners and other home comfort equipment. These

rebates can offer you significant savings. One resource you may want

to review is http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca for availability and qualification

details.

AWhere should I install my new Air Conditioner?

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When it comes to installing a central air conditioning system,

leave it to the experts. This is

complex technology that

requires proper planning, tools

and experience. That said, it’s always good to understand and

prepare for the installation

process. In this guide we’ll review

some of the basic location pre-

requisites.

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

A central air conditioning system is made up of multiple components.

The condenser/compressor is the most visible component, and should

be located outside your home, away from any doors or windows. This

unit will be expelling hot air when it operates — which you don’t want

cycling back into you your home through an open door or window. It’s

also best to have it located in a shady area if possible.

WINTER AND SPRING MAINTENANCE TIPS

Central air conditioners are very low maintenance appliances. It’s a good

idea to use an air conditioner cover to protect your outdoor unit from

winter’s snow, rain and any other windblown debris. Every Spring, use a

garden hose to clear any dust or leaves from the compressor cabinet,

and ensure no sticks or twigs are blocking the fan.

ON THE LEVEL

When positioning the compressor unit, ensure that it is sitting on a

stable, concrete, level surface, and won’t be in a high-traffic area where

it could get damaged by cars, bicycles or pets. Also, ensure it doesn’t

obstruct backyard access.

AWhat is the best way to control my air conditioner?

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A digital programmable thermostat is the best way to

control your air conditioner. It

enables you to schedule the

cooling periods to maximize

energy savings.

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TOTAL CONTROL

Just like your furnace, a central air conditioner is controlled by your wall

thermostat. If you have a new digital programmable thermostat, you’ll

have complete control over the temperature and schedule management.

Most people set their thermostat to activate the air conditioner a few

hours before they return home from work or school in an effort to save

electricity and wear and tear every day. And if your home is a part of

your municipality’s ‘time-of-use’ electricity rate structure, you can save

every month with some smart scheduling.

THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE

Scientists have defined the perfect temperature as that at which a person

wearing a normal amount of clothing feels neither too cold nor too

warm. This "thermal comfort" point varies between 21C and 24C,

depending upon relative humidity and your activity level. To find your

perfect temperature, set your thermostat a little higher and then reduce it

if you still feel warm. The goal is to balance comfort with energy

efficiency.

GIVE YOUR A/C AN ASSIST

There are many ways to keep your home cool during hot summer days,

in addition to turning on your air conditioner. When planning your

garden, consider planting shade-giving trees or other plants near

windows. If you are going out for a few hours, consider drawing the

shades on your windows to repel the sun’s heat. Also, if you do need to

stay in the home, the lower floors will always be cooler than upper floors,

where heat naturally rises and collects. For more tips on how to stay cool

while minimizing the a/c use: watch our video at:

http://blog.reliancehomecomfort.com/?p=364

1-888-837-1476

Invigorating hot showers, bursts of cool air on hot days, and warm toes on freezing nights. Whatever your home comfort need, we are the one-stop

source for quality products and dependable, professional service.

Rely on us for your house, so you can enjoy your home.

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