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shopping for
air conditioners
Shopping for Air Conditioners
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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