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Shopping For Air Conditioners
Written by
Elizabeth Wood
Editor In Chief, United Home Improvement
With today's advanced technology, selecting an air condition has
become a complicated task, requiring much research and planning. If
you neglect to put time and energy into selecting the right air
conditioner, you will soon pay for it when you begin to lose money
due to a poor choice.
There are several things to consider when shopping for an air
conditioner. One of the most important things to pay attention to is
the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). According to the
current National Appliance Efficiency Standard, new homes require a
minimum SEER of 10.0 for air conditioners installed. The SEER rating
goes from 10-19. The higher the rating, the more expensive the
appliance, and the less expensive your utilities bills will be.
Many homeowners will purchase an air conditioner with a SEER of 10
simply because it is less expensive than one with a higher SEER.
However, it should be taken into account that the operating costs of
an air conditioner rated at 10 will end up costing you more than if
you were to just put out more money in the beginning for a higher
SEER rating. Think of it as purchasing a car with bad gas mileage.
Another important thing to consider is the climate in which you live
and how long you plan to live there. For those of you living in a
climate that requires you to use your air conditioner a lot, you
should seriously consider the SEER rating. Also, if you plan to live
in your home for more than three years, a higher efficiency unit
will suit you best.
In addition, you should pay close attention to the warranties
available. A warranty covers the performance for a specific amount
of time. If a part fails during the warranty period, the
manufacturer will provide a replacement part free-of-charge. The
better quality the unit is, the longer the warranty will be for.
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