Best Central Air Conditioning Buying Guide

Table Of Content

• What Are ENERGY STAR Ratings?
• ROYALTON Commercial/Residential 3-Ton 17600-BTU 14-Seer Central Air Conditioner
• Energy Efficiency for Air Conditioners
• Choose an Established Los Angeles HVAC Company
• What to Consider When Choosing the Best Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner
• Which Model Is Right for You?
• Warranty

If you are more concerned about the running costs than with purchase costs, you need to keep an eye on your unit’s SEER. Brands offer a wide range of SEER within its units, each appealing to a different range of audiences. Higher SEER ratings can lead to higher purchase costs, but also an equally lower running cost, thus saving on utility bills and paying for themselves in the long run. Bryant has 17 different air conditioners spread across 3 distinct series.

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What Are ENERGY STAR Ratings?

Affording a 20 SEER isn’t difficult thanks to Ruud’s ultra UA20, available only at $3,900. This unit runs only at USD 431 per annum thanks to the technologies incorporated into the unit’s compressor, which ensure uniform cooling throughout the house. Although Rheem offers all its units at low costs, as mentioned above, these lowered costs come at a price. Customers who have invested in Rheem often have to spend more on maintenance and replacement parts.

ROYALTON Commercial/Residential 3-Ton 17600-BTU 14-Seer Central Air Conditioner

Ruud’s central air conditioners are available in various sizes and designs, allowing the brand to be available to a much wider audience. The units are easy on the wallet in terms of purchase, running, and maintenance costs – though their installation is not as easy as that of competitors. Daikin – a Japanese HVAC manufacturer – is a great value-for-money brand that features good overall features including durability, efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. However, all these features are accompanied by a major flaw – poor customer service due to the brand’s international status, which results in presenting a language barrier.

Energy Efficiency for Air Conditioners

Models designed for sliding windows require support that can be attached to the exterior of your home. Two convenient air conditioner options are U-shaped and saddle-style units. Saddle-style air conditioning units are designed to fit over the bottom of the window frame. The U-shaped unit has a notch between the front and back that allows you to slide the window down. The window does not close all the way onto the unit, however, so you’ll need to use a strip of foam to seal the gap.

Keeping an on-time maintenance schedule will help your HVAC system last longer. With Los Angeles' extreme heat, AC problems are critical to fix for your safety and comfort. However, don't rush to sign a contract until you're convinced a company is the best fit for you. The company, which was founded almost 150 years ago in York, Pennsylvania, cools several major landmarks including the Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera House, and the U.S. The editorial team looks deeper into categories like excess complaints, add-on options and other miscellaneous factors that set a company above the competition.

Cool Down With Chill Week

In order to find a reliable, local HVAC or AC contractor, begin by looking for reputable professionals in your area. Talk with neighbors or colleagues, look up reviews on aggregate review sites and make personal phone calls to any company you’re interested in. A reliable HVAC contractor should be licensed, experienced and insured by a credible institution or organization specializing in HVAC services. A small percentage was given to each company based on the resources available to customers including warranty information and a user manual. While other American Standard products are readily available at major home center retailers, its AC offerings are a little harder to find—searching for a product dealer on the company’s website is the simplest method. Its website also provides plenty of educational information about HVAC systems.

Therefore, at the time of requesting a quote, it’s always wise to inquire if the service provider you’re considering can service the brand of system that you have. When the dog days of summer or chilly days of winter hit, it’s vital to have a working HVAC system. Your heating and cooling systems keep your home comfortable, so knowing which HVAC professionals you can count on in Los Angeles makes all the difference—especially if things stop working as they should. Obtain at least three detailed, written estimates from different companies for the best value. A good estimate should factor in additional fees such as permitting costs.

Which Model Is Right for You?

However, you’ll need to talk with a contractor or company directly about exactly which services they provide. On average, HVAC companies charge around $52 hourly for the labor component of your HVAC needs in Los Angeles, so keep that in mind when discussing the different projects above. Some may specialize in specific brands such as Lennox, Trane or Carrier.

Warranty

You may have to take some extra steps, such as getting permission from your landlord, before you install an AC in your apartment. The window air conditioners in CR’s tests have cooling capacities ranging from 5,000 to 12,500 Btu. If you happen to need heating as well as cooling—and you don’t mind giving up half your window for year-round climate support—the Frigidaire FHWH082WA1 is basically our runner-up pick with a built-in heat pump.

ComfortNet will also monitor the system and let the user know when it requires maintenance. Its design includes a sound-reduction cover consisting of high-density foam. Your local climate determines how hard the AC has to work and how low it has to lower your home’s temperature. Hot temperatures mean the AC has to work extra hard to cool the house, which can reduce its life span.

Additionally, the price range also increases as you increase the unit’s size. Following is a table showing the different sizes of central AC, and what size rooms they are best for. According to our analysis, Coleman central air conditioners are much like Daikin, offering a great return on investment.