Installing an air conditioning system is a great way to enhance your home's indoor comfort. An air conditioner works by removing the warmer air inside a house and replacing it with cooler air. This helps to make your interior living environment comfortable during the hot summer months.

There are many different types of air conditioners on the market today. Each type is specially designed with the needs of different homeowners in mind. Below are some tips you can use to select the correct type of air conditioning unit for your situation.

Consider the Cooling Capacity of the AC Unit 

Air conditioners come with a BTU rating, which is used to measure the cooling output they can produce in one hour. Air conditioning units with higher BTU ratings have greater cooling capacities than units with lower BTUs.

There are a variety of factors that determine how much BTUs you'll need to beat the summer heat. These include:

• The square footage of the space to be cooled, be it individual rooms or the whole house.
• The number of windows in your home and how much sunlight they let in.
• The number of people living in your home.
• How much insulation you have in your home and where it is installed.

A lot of careful consideration goes into AC system sizing. It's best to enlist a home cooling professional's help when determining the right size of AC system for your home so you can maximize the benefits.

Consider the SEER Rating of the Air Conditioner

Air conditioners run on electricity and can be major consumers of electricity at home. As a result, you should care about the amount of energy that your AC system will use to provide cooling output.

In addition to having a BTU rating, air conditioners also have a SEER rating. An AC unit with a higher SEER rating needs less energy than a unit with a lower rating to deliver a specific cooling capacity. While it will cost more upfront, it can prove to be a real bargain due to its lower operating costs over the long term.  

The right air conditioning system for your home depends on a combination of factors including your cooling needs, energy efficiency goals, and budget. If you can't figure out the perfect system for your home, a local HVAC professional can guide you through your options and help you make the right choice for your AC system installation.