A frequent question we get at Top Notch Heating and Cooling is, “How much does it cost to get a new air conditioning system installed in my home?” This is a hard question to answer, given that every home is unique, which in turn makes every air conditioning installation different. Air Conditioning Installation is a big purchase and decision and is therefore heavily considered. Most people looking to install a new air conditioning system will buy a good quality system that lasts longer, uses less energy, and therefore pans out over the course of the years they plan to spend in their home.
The first question you have to answer is: ‘What’s the best type of Air Conditioner for My Home?’
Your home is unique. From its components, to its size, location, your style of living, your preferences, heat loss, and so on. Your air conditioning system will be specific to you. Below we will try our best to break down how we assess which AC system is best for your home, dependant on your situation. Below lists how we, as HVAC professionals, arrive at the expert advice we give to the unique homeowners that we serve in and around the Pittsburgh area.
Measuring Home Size (BTUs)
The size of your home is a major factor in determining the best air conditioning system. AC units are measured in British thermal units, (BTUs). They are measured by the amount of heat they remove in a home in one hour. The bigger your house, the more cooling power it will need. Get too large of a system, and it will cycle on and off which created a loud sound and also wastes energy. Get too small a system, and your AC will run all the time and inefficiently cool your home.
Lifestyle
The unique build of your home and how you use it will greatly affect which Air Conditioning System fits you best. Answering questions such as: Is your basement finished? How well is your attic insulated? How do you currently heat your home? Do you want the capability to cool some rooms and not others? Etc.
Calculated Heat Loss
A multitude of factors determines how much heat-loss your home has; this information helps decide its’ air conditioning needs. Your geographic location, area of ceilings, floors, and walls exposed to outside temperatures, the number and quality of windows and doors, the perimeter length of Slab on grade floors, your homes volume, and internal heat gains (from warm bodies, lights, appliances, etc) are all factors that make up your calculated heat loss.
Additional Considerations
At Top Notch, we also factor in such things as; the materials that make up your home, when it was built, past duct infrastructure, and more. We also look for problem areas such as preexisting duct leaks and seal problems, as well as potential draft locations, cheap windows, etc.
Unit Load Calculations
An air conditioning contractor will do a load calculation to determine the proper air conditioning unit for your home. We use a variety of computations to properly analyze your home’s cooling characteristics. We do this both for the whole house, and/or room by room to help determine duct size and assess all needs of the home thoroughly.
Would you like to get your home assessed by a Top Notch Cooling and Heating Professional? Let us help you find the best cooling solution for your unique home and lifestyle. Serving homeowners in and around the Pittsburgh area including:
• Allegheny County
• Butler County
• Somerset County
• Armstrong County
• Fayette County
• Washington County
• Beaver County
• Greene County
• Westmoreland County
Give us a Call today at 412-381-0598 or send us an email on our contact page. We look forward to serving you and making your home nice and cool for the rest of summer!
Stay tuned for our next blog post that will answer the question: How Much Does Air Conditioning Installation Cost for an Average Pittsburgh Home?