HVAC: Stay Warm and Keep Cool

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How to Choose the Best Air Conditioner For a New Home

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When having a new home built, you need to consider the type of air conditioner you'll have installed, as you may have more options than you realize. A home can actually be built without ductwork, using a split system unit instead; this cools just one space and not the entire home. When you are ready to discuss your options with your builder, note a few factors to consider so you know you make the right choice for your new home.

When there is humidity

An air conditioner actually works to remove humidity from the home and doesn't just cool the air. If your home will be built where there are high humidity levels, or you're simply more sensitive to humidity in the air, you want a central unit with ductwork. However, you don't want an oversized unit; one that pushes too much cool air into the space too quickly won't have time to remove that humidity. Opt for something on the low end of what is recommended for the space when it comes to power so it works long enough to remove humidity properly.

Lots of sun

You may not think that the area where the home will be built will be excessively warm if it's not in the tropics or near the beach, but remember that areas with lots of sunshine can mean a warm and stuffy home, even if the outside temperature doesn't always go up. That heat gets trapped in the home very easily, causing the inside temperatures to rise just as easily. In these areas, choose a ducted air conditioner that is at the high end of recommended power range, especially if you're opting for cheap insulation for the home, as this won't help to keep out all the heat produced by that sunlight.

Eco-friendly option

An energy efficient air conditioner is not the only choice you have for being very eco-friendly. A split system unit can be a good choice; this is not connected to ductwork but is vented right outside the home. A split system unit is not going to cool the entire house like a central unit, which is why they are more eco-friendly; you are not wasting energy cooling empty rooms. You may want to invest in the highest-quality insulation you can afford when choosing a split system unit; blown foam insulation, as an example, will seep into more cracks and crevices and provide greater protection against outside heat. This will mean a cooler space overall and will ensure your split system unit is sufficient.