7 Things To Consider Before An Air Conditioner Installation | Fort Worth, TX
Summers in Fort Worth, TX, are very hot, with daily temperatures reaching 90 degrees and above. When it gets this hot outside, your house can reach 120+ degrees without an air conditioner.
If you currently use window air conditioners, your home will be cool, but they can be a hassle for several reasons.
First, you have to install the units when it starts getting warm outside, and because window units are so heavy, it isn’t an easy job. When summer ends and the temperature begins to drop, you have to remove the units to prevent the cold air from leaking inside, and your home will be cooler than necessary. When you remove the units, you’ll need to find a place to store them, which can be challenging if you don’t have much extra space in your house.
If it’s unseasonably cold outside, it’s nice to be able to open the windows to let fresh air into the house. If you have window units in various rooms in your home, you can’t open the windows. In addition, window units are designed to cool one room, and you have to keep the doors closed if there’s a window unit in the room, closing you off from the rest of the house. Keeping rooms without doors cool, such as the kitchen and living room, can be challenging, and you’ll have to block the door with a blanket or a sheet. If you’re tired of the hassle involved with window units, you should consider a central air conditioner installation.
Central air conditioning isn’t a hassle. All you need to do when the cooling season starts is push a button to turn on the AC and push the same button when the cooling season ends, and you don’t have to worry about storage. In addition, there will be vents in every room of the house so you can keep the doors open and sheets don’t need to be hung, and you can open the windows anytime you like.
If you plan to install a central AC unit in your Fort Worth, TX home, there are plenty of things you need to consider, and a professional in air conditioner installation can help.
#1 Cost
The first thing that you should do before an air conditioner installation is create a budget. Before you can start shopping around for systems, you need to figure out how much money you have to spend. When creating your budget, you have to consider more than the cost of the system, and you need to include the installation cost and ductwork installation or sealing if necessary.
If you aren’t sure how much you’ll be charged for installation and work on the air ducts, contact a professional in AC installation. An HVAC tech can give you a breakdown of costs based on your situation, allowing you to create a budget that makes sense.
#2 Installation Areas
Another critical decision that needs to be made before an air conditioner installation is where it will be installed. Choosing the location first is essential because you’ll need to know how much space you have, and you can find a unit that will fit in the area you’ve chosen.
Most people install the indoor unit in the basement. If you don’t have a basement, the indoor unit can be installed in the crawlspace. You can also install the unit in the attic; however, it won’t get as cool in your home, and you’ll need to vent and insulate the attic.
Now that you’ve figured out where the indoor unit will go, it’s time to decide where to install the outdoor compressor. This part of the system should be installed close to the house in a shaded area. If the sun is beating on the compressor all day, it can overheat. In addition, you don’t want to install the compressor too close to trees or bushes because debris can get into the compressor or fan and could cause damage.
If you need help deciding where to install both components, a professional in air conditioner installation can look around your home and property to choose the best areas for installation.
#3 Size
Choosing the size air conditioner means two different things, and you should consider both before an air conditioner installation.
First, you need to look at the unit’s dimensions. The unit has to be the right size to fit the area you’ve chosen in your home. If the unit you select is too large for the location you’ve chosen for installation, the entire process will be delayed.
Next, you have to consider the size of your entire house. If you choose a unit that’s too small for your home’s square footage, it will be challenging for the unit to keep your home cool. It will have to work harder to keep your home at the desired temperature, causing your energy bills to increase and decrease the unit’s lifespan.
If you choose a unit that’s too high for your home’s square footage, it will cycle on and off more frequently than it should and won’t dehumidify your house effectively, affecting your home’s comfort.
If you need help choosing the best size unit for your home, a professional in AC installation in Fort Worth, TX, can help.
#4 Quality
When preparing for a new air conditioner installation, quality is a significant factor to consider when choosing the best unit for your home.
Many people will look for the least expensive model they can find, but this isn’t always the best idea. If you have the money in your budget, it’s best to go with a more expensive, higher-quality model. High-quality air conditioning systems tend to last longer, and you won’t have to replace it as soon as you would with a cheaper model, and it will require fewer repairs. Even if you can’t afford a top-of-the-line system, you can go with a less expensive model of the highest quality.
If you aren’t sure what makes an air conditioner high-quality, you can reach out to a professional in air conditioner installation in Fort Worth, TX, to guide you while selecting the highest quality model that works with your budget.
#5 Energy Consumption
The amount of energy the air conditioner consumes should be considered before an air conditioner installation because it will affect the cost of your energy bills. Air conditioners have an energy-efficient rating, known as the Energy Efficient Ratio, or EER. This is a measure of how efficiently the air conditioner will operate based on the outdoor temperature. The EER is calculated by dividing the cooling capacity in BTUs per hour by the power input in watts. Fortunately, you don’t have to do the math yourself because the EER rating will be listed on the box. EER ratings range from 8 to 11.5, and the higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the system is. Units with a higher EER are more expensive but will cost less to operate, and the opposite is true with units with a lower EER.
If you need help choosing a unit with the best EER or help understanding how the unit you’re considering will affect your energy bills, a professional in air conditioner installation in Fort Worth, TX, can help. It’s best to speak with a professional before deciding on a system, so you aren’t disappointed when you get your first energy bill.
#6 Ductwork
If there has never been a central air conditioning system in your home, the ductwork will have to be installed during the air conditioner installation process. Depending on your home’s layout, the air ducts are installed behind the walls, under the floors, or above the ceilings, and they’re hidden to make your home more aesthetically pleasing. The air ducts are responsible for delivering the cold air from the unit to the vents in every room in the house. If you need to have ductwork installed, it will add from one to four days to the AC installation, and the length of time depends on the size of your home and how much ductwork your home needs.
As mentioned earlier, ductwork installation will increase the air conditioner installation budget. Ductwork installation cost ranges from $459 to $6,000, depending on the size of your home. The national average price for air duct installation is $3,067 but can cost as much as $15,000 if you live in a large house, and certain other circumstances can increase the price. A professional in air conditioner installation can look at the size of your home and the layout to give you an idea of what the ductwork installation will cost and how long it will take.
If the previous owner once had a central air conditioning system, but it has since been removed, air ducts will already be installed. Although there is ductwork, you’ll need a professional in air conditioner installation to inspect it. If it’s been a while since there was a central air conditioning system in your home, there could be cracks or breaks in the ducts, the seals may have failed, or there could be a rodent or insect infestation in the ducts. The tech will inspect the ductwork thoroughly and do what’s necessary to get them back in good condition, preventing air leaks and other issues when you start using your new central air conditioning system.
#7 Additional Equipment
The last thing you need to do before an air conditioner installation in your Fort Worth, TX home is deciding if you want to include any additional equipment. There are several add-ons for your new system that will improve the way the system performs.
It’s best to know what is available to make an informed decision.
- Air purifiers: The air quality in your home is essential to your family’s health. If you’re worried about your home’s air quality or a family member has allergies or asthma, you should consider adding an air purifier.
Your air conditioner has a filter to capture airborne particles, but an air purifier is more effective. A high-quality air purifier can capture up to 75 percent of organisms that are .30 microns and 95 percent of organisms larger than .30 microns. This is much more than the standard filter can handle, and you’ll notice a significant difference in your home’s air quality. If you aren’t sure which air purifier is best, your air conditioner installation tech can help. - Dehumidifier: Your new air conditioner will eliminate moisture and humidity from your home. Summers in Fort Worth, TX, tend to be humid, and if your home is prone to dampness, adding a dehumidifier will help. These units pull moisture from the air, making it cooler and more comfortable in your home. Adding a dehumidifier to your new air conditioner will ensure your home doesn’t get humid.
- UV lamp: It isn’t uncommon for mold and bacteria to grow on the indoor coils and the drain pan, which can affect your family’s health, and if it gets into the air conditioner, it can be challenging to eradicate. If mold growth occurs in the unit and the tech can’t get to it, you’ll need to replace the unit.
UV lamps fit inside the HVAC system and can kill harmful bacteria and mold to prevent serious problems. - Wi-Fi or Smart thermostats: It’s good to add a new thermostat to the air conditioner installation process. Because you’ll have a brand new air conditioner, you should have a brand new thermostat, and Wi-Fi and Smart thermostats are the best options.
Wi-Fi thermostats are great because you can adjust the thermostat using your Smartphone or tablet from anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection. This allows you to turn the system down when nobody is home to save money on your energy bills. You can also adjust the thermostat before you go home so your house will be cool and comfortable when you get home.
Smart thermostats work with Smart devices, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and you can adjust the thermostat using the sound of your voice when you’re home. You can control the thermostat when you aren’t home with the Smart device’s app on your cell phone.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth
If you’re planning a new air conditioner installation and want to work with the best HVAC company in the area, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We are a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988.
Our professionally trained, highly skilled technicians can help you through the entire installation process from start to finish and can advise you on the best unit for your home. We can also give you information regarding rebates and tax credits, which can save money on the new equipment.
To schedule an appointment to start the air conditioner installation process or any other HVAC service, give One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth a call today.